Patent ID: 7481798

Claim:
An apparatus for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a target site within tissue, comprising: a tubular body comprising a proximal end, a sharpened distal end, a delivery lumen extending therebetween, and one or more outlet ports on the distal end communicating with the delivery lumen; and one or more seals sealing the one or more outlet ports to prevent leakage of a fluid from the delivery lumen out of the distal end of the tubular body, the one or more seals incapable of passing a fluid when intact, the one or more seals capable of being melted to allow a fluid to be delivered from the delivery lumen through the one or more outlet ports, the one or more seals having a melting point greater than body temperature, wherein the one or more seals have a melting point equal to one hundred degrees Celsius (100°C.) or less.