Patent ID: 7628780

Claim:
A method for epicardially injecting a substance into an area of tissue of a heart having an epicardial surface and disposed within a torso, the method comprising: providing a substance-injecting device including a suction member comprising a suction pad comprising a plurality of suction ports, a plurality of needles slidably coupled to the suction member, an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a proximal region, a distal region, and a needle driver coupled to the elongate shaft distal region for driving the needles substantially parallel to the elongate shaft distal region longitudinal axis through the suction member and into tissue; making an opening into the torso; advancing the injecting device through the opening to the epicardial surface of the heart; grasping an area of tissue of the heart via the suction member; driving the needles into the area of tissue grasped by the suction member; and injecting the substance from the device into the area of tissue grasped by the suction member.