Methods of sealing an injection site

Abstract

Methods of sealing an injection site of a tissue are provided, where therapeutic agent has been injected into tissue, resulting in increased efficiency or agent uptake. Also provided are methods for delivering therapeutic agent to a tissue, which include injecting a therapeutic agent into a tissue and subsequently sealing the injection site, or engaging an injection device with the tissue for a sufficient period of time that sealing is not necessary to avoid leakage of the therapeutic agent. In one embodiment radio frequency cautery is used to seal the injection site upon needle removal from the tissue. In other embodiments, the injection site is sealed by resistance heating, laser heating or plugging the site with a solid plug or coagulating material at the site.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of sealing an injection site comprising 
 performing radio frequency cautery at a mouth of a needle track in tissue to seal the mouth;    wherein the needle track is formed by injecting a therapeutic agent into a tissue with an injection device and removing the injection device from the tissue.    
     
     
         2 . A method of sealing an injection site comprising 
 performing resistance heating at a mouth of a needle track in tissue to seal the mouth;    wherein the needle track is formed by injecting a therapeutic agent into a tissue with an injection device and removing the injection device from the tissue.    
     
     
         3 . A method of sealing an injection site comprising 
 performing laser heating at a mouth of a needle track in tissue to seal the mouth;    wherein the needle track is formed by injecting a therapeutic agent into a tissue with an injection device and removing the injection device from the tissue.    
     
     
         4 . A method of sealing an injection site comprising 
 plugging a mouth of a needle track in tissue with a solid plug to seal the mouth;    wherein the needle track is formed by injecting a therapeutic agent into a tissue with an injection device and removing the injection device from the tissue.    
     
     
         5 . A method of sealing an injection site comprising 
 coagulating at least one material at a mouth of a needle track in tissue to seal the mouth;    wherein the needle track is formed by injecting a therapeutic agent into a tissue with an injection device and removing the injection device from the tissue.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said material is a polymeric material or a monomeric material that is polymerized into a polymeric material.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of poly(oxyalkene) polymers and copolymers and blends with poly(alpha-hydroxy) acids, collagen, fibrin, elastin, agarose, agar, hyaluronic acid, hyalobiuronic acid, heparin, cellulose, alginate, curdlan, chitin, chitosan, and derivatives thereof, cellulose acetate, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, cellulose sulfate sodium salt, ethylcellulose, poly(acrilic acids), poly(acrylates), polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylene glycols, ethylene vinyl acetates, and amino containing polymers.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said material is a non-polymeric material.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said non-polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of sterols, cholesteryl esters, C 12 -C 14  fatty acids, C 18 -C 3 , mono-, di- and triacylglyciderides, sucrose fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, C 16 -C 18  fatty alcohols, esters of fatty alcohols, esters of fatty acids, anhydrides of fatty acids, phospholipids, sphingosine, spingomyelins, ceramides, glycosphingolipids, lanolin, lanolin alcohols, and derivatives, combinations, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A method for delivering a therapeutic agent into a tissue in a mammal, comprising 
 injecting a therapeutic agent into tissue of a mammal in need of said therapeutic agent, with an injection device; and    delivering a thickening agent to the tissue of said mammal, in combination with said therapeutic agent.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of albumin, iohexol, alginates, polyacrylic acid, hyaluronic acid, dextran, poloxamers, collagen, gelatin, polyethylene glycol, polycarboxylic acids, cellulosic polymers, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydrogels, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polyvinyl alcohols, copolymers of vinyl monomers, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl aromatics, polyethylene oxides, glycosaminoglycans, polysaccharides, ethylene vinylacetate, polyesters, polyacrylamides, polyethers, polyether sulfone, polycarbonate, polyalkylenes, halogenated polyalkylenes, polyurethanes, polyorthoesters, proteins, polypeptides, silicones, siloxane polymers, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polycaprolactone, polyhydroxybutyrate valerate and blends and copolymers thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said combination is sufficient to inhibit leaking of said agent from said tissue when said device is withdrawn from said tissue.  
     
     
         13 . A method for delivering a therapeutic agent into a tissue in a mammal, comprising 
 injecting a therapeutic agent into tissue of a mammal in need of said therapeutic agent, with an injection device; and    delivering a bioadhesive material to the tissue of said mammal, in combination with said thickening agent.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said bioadhesive material is selected from the group consisting of fibrinogen with or without thrombin, fibrin, fibropectin, elastin, laminin, cyano-acrylates, polyacrylic acid, polystyrene, polymers derivatized with arginine, polymers derivatized with glycine, polymers derivatized with aspartic acid, and copolymers.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said combination is sufficient to inhibit leaking of said agent from said tissue when said device is withdrawn from said tissue.  
     
     
         16 . A method for delivering a therapeutic agent into a tissue in a mammal, comprising 
 injecting a therapeutic agent into tissue of a mammal in need of said therapeutic agent, with an injection device; and    delivering a tissue sealant to the tissue of said mammal, in combination with said therapeutic agent.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tissue sealant is selected from the group consisting of cyanoacrylates, collagen, fibrinogen with or without thrombin, fibrin, fibrin glue, fibropectin, elastin, laminin, cyano-acrylates, polyacrylic acid, polystyrene, polymers derivatized with arginine, polymers derivatized with glycine, polymers derivatized with aspartic acid, and copolymers.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said combination is sufficient to inhibit leaking of said agent from said tissue when said device is withdrawn from said tissue.  
     
     
         19 . A method for delivering a therapeutic agent into a tissue in a mammal, comprising 
 injecting a therapeutic agent into tissue of a mammal in need of said therapeutic agent, with an injection device;    withdrawing said injection device from said tissue forming a needle track having a mouth in the tissue; and    sealing the mouth of said needle track.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mouth of the needle track is sealed by radio frequency cautery.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mouth of the needle track is sealed by resistance heating.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mouth of the needle track is sealed by laser heating.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mouth of the needle track is sealed by plugging the mouth with a solid plug.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the mouth of the needle track is sealed by coagulating a material at the site.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of fibrin glue and cyanoacrylate adhesive.