Patent ID: 7211041

Claim:
A method for delivering a selected diagnostic or therapeutic agent to a target site within a selected body tissue having a surface, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a drug-delivery tool comprising (i) an accessing device having distal and proximal ends, an inner lumen extending therebetween, a drug-delivery reservoir, and a user-control structure; (ii) a tissue-penetrating implement carried on the distal end of the accessing device for axial movement in and out of the lumen, wherein the implement comprises a tip for penetrating the body tissue, and is operatively connected to the user-control structure; and (iii) at least a first transducer located at the distal end of the accessing device; (b) placing the distal end of the accessing device into contact with a selected body tissue surface; (c) manipulating the orientation of the accessing device to a desired orientation, based on at least one signal from the first transducer; (d) applying pressure to the selected body tissue surface with the distal end of the accessing device to create a seal; (e) selectively actuating the tissue-penetrating implement to penetrate the selected body tissue surface; and (f) delivering a drug while maintaining the seal.