Patent ID: 7500970

Claim:
A method of delivering a therapeutic agent through a catheter to the heart of a patient, said method comprising the steps of: providing a catheter comprising: an outer catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; a penetrating element disposed within the distal end of the outer catheter body, said penetrating element being longitudinally movable relative to the outer catheter body; a delivery tube running from the proximal end of the outer catheter body to the distal end of the outer catheter body, wherein said delivery tube is in communication with the penetrating element; inserting the catheter into the patient such that the penetrating element is capable of delivering the therapeutic agent to a desired location within the interstitium of the heart of the patient; delivering the therapeutic agent through the delivery tube and penetrating element to the desired location, said therapeutic agent comprising at least one of macromolecules, liposomal encapsulations of molecules, micro-drug delivery systems, liposomes, nanoparticles, biodegradable controlled release polymer matrices, biodegradable microspheres, cells or cellular materials or gene therapy preparations; providing a fluid to the catheter such that the penetrating element can deliver the fluid to the desired location; and thereafter, flushing therapeutic agent remaining in the delivery tube with the fluid by delivering the fluid to the desired location; thereby redistributing the therapeutic agent within the interstitium of the heart with the fluid; and preventing the therapeutic agent from flowing back out of the desired location.