Patent ID: 7691086
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A direct injection catheter comprising: a hollow catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a shaft tip, the hollow catheter shaft defining a main lumen and the hollow catheter shaft being constructed and arranged to include a trigger assembly at the proximal end of the hollow catheter shaft, said trigger assembly controlling bendable movement of the distal end of the catheter shaft, so as to be steerable; a hollow first needle shaft and a hollow second needle shaft that each reside parallel to the main lumen and extend to the shaft tip, each of the first needle shaft and the second needle shaft respectively including, on a distal end thereof, a first needle and a second needle each respectively in fluid communication with the first needle shaft and the second needle shaft and each being constructed and arranged to deliver an agent therefrom when engaging a tissue, the first needle shaft and the second needle shaft each being axially movable so as to respectively locate the first needle and the second needle in each of a retracted position with respect to the shaft tip and an extended position in which each of the first needle and the second needle extend distally past the shaft tip, each of the first needle and the second needle defining a curved shape when in the extended position so as to thereby project outwardly in opposing directions at an angle constructed and arranged to anchor the first needle and the second needle into adjacent tissue areas with the shaft tip engaging with the tissue between the anchored adjacent tissue areas; a guide at the shaft tip that causes each of the first needle and the second needle to assume a substantially straight shape within the shaft tip in the retracted position; wherein each of the first needle and the second needle include a plurality of body apertures located along a medial side of each of the first needle and the second needle to thereby allow for a wide range of exposure of the agent to the tissue in the extended position of the first and second needles; wherein the guide includes a first needle lumen in which the first needle shaft resides and a second needle lumen in which the second needle shaft resides, each of the first needle lumen and the second needle lumen extending along the catheter shaft on opposing sides of the main lumen, each of the first needle lumen and the second needle lumen extending from the proximal end of the hollow catheter shaft to the shaft tip, each of the first needle lumen and the second needle lumen having at the shaft tip a respective first needle lumen distal end and second needle lumen distal end; and wherein said plurality of body apertures of each needle are located along the medial side so as to deliver the agent in a direction facing away from the shaft tip.