Devices and methods for delivering a drug

Abstract

The present invention provides for the needleless delivery of selected agents to target tissues within a subject body by providing the agents in one or more high-energy jets or streams directed against selected wall or surface regions of such tissues. One general embodiment of the apparatus includes (i) an elongate jacket having (a) proximal and distal ends, (b) a lumen extending between such ends, and (c) a blunt, distal-end face defining one or more outlet ports in fluid communication with the lumen; (ii) an introduction port for feeding such agent(s) into the lumen; and (iii) a pump communicating with a proximal end of the jacket. The pump is operable to generate an increased pressure within the lumen such that an agent introduced therein will be propelled out of the distal outlet port(s), thereby forming respective high-energy, narrow, fluid jets or streams capable of penetrating a selected tissue. In an exemplary use, wherein a patient's heart is treated with an agent for transferring genetic information to the heart tissue, the distal end of the jacket is positioned adjacent a selected region of the heart wall, and high-energy fluid jets are directed thereagainst in a manner effective to penetrate the wall, thereby delivering the agent into the myocardium.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for delivering one or more selected diagnostic or therapeutic agents to a target site within a selected body tissue, comprising: 
 an elongate jacket having (i) proximal and distal ends, (ii) one or more lumens extending between said ends, and (Iii) a substantially blunt, distal-end face defining one or more outlet ports communicating with one or more of said lumens; with each of said outlet ports having a diameter of about 0.025″ or less; and    a pressure-control source adapted for fluid communication with one or more of said lumens, said source being operable to establish an elevated pressure within such lumen(s) such that an agent placed therein will be propelled toward, and out of, one or more of said outlet ports, thereby forming one or more respective fluid jets or streams capable of penetrating a selected tissue disposed adjacent thereto.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said outlet ports has a central, longitudinal axis angled no greater than about 35 degrees in respect to a central, longitudinal axis of said jacket at its distal end.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the central, longitudinal axis of at least one of said outlet ports is oriented substantially parallel to the central, longitudinal axis of said jacket at its distal end.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said jacket is adapted to withstand an internal pressure of at least about 300 psi along its proximal end, and at least about 100 psi along its distal end.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least two separate lumens extend through said jacket, each distally terminating at a fluid connection with at least one of said outlet ports.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said separate lumens are defined by respective elongate tubes extending through said jacket, with each tube having an internal passage with a diameter of from about 0.010″ to about 0.020″.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate-like member mounted substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said jacket at its distal-end region, with said plate-like member defining said distal-end face; and one or more bores extending through said plate-like member, with each bore defining one of said outlet ports.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate catheter sleeve having (i) proximal and distal ends and (ii) one or more lumens between said ends; with one such lumen being adapted to removably receive said jacket.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein one of said lumens, other than said jacket receiving lumen, defines a guidewire channel.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said jacket-receiving lumen and said guidewire channel extend side-by-side from the proximal end to the distal end of said sleeve.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein (i) said jacket-receiving lumen extends from the proximal end to the distal end of said sleeve, and (ii) said guidewire channel is provided near a distal end of said sleeve to enable use of said apparatus as a rapid-exchange type catheter.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for delivering one or more selected diagnostic or therapeutic agents to a target site within a selected body tissue, comprising: 
 an elongate jacket having (i) proximal and distal ends, (ii) a lumen at least along the distal end of said jacket, and (iii) a distal-end face defining one or more outlet ports communicating with said lumen;    an agent-holding region adapted for fluid communication with said lumen; and    means for moving such aged it(s) from said holding region and through said outlet port(s) in a fashion effective to cause the agent(s) to penetrate a selected tissue disposed adjacent thereto.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , for use with one or more agents coated on a plurality of carrier micro-particles, wherein said moving means includes a biolistic particle-delivery assembly disposed along a distal-end region of said jacket.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said propelling means includes an ultrasonic transducer disposed across said lumen along a distal-end region of said jacket.  
     
     
         15 . A method for delivering one or more selected diagnostic or therapeutic agents to a target site within a selected body organ or tissue, comprising: 
 directing one or more fluid jets or streams against a wall or surface of a selected, internal body organ or tissue, with each jet or stream (i) carrying such agent(s), (ii) having a maximum diameter of about 0.025″, or less, as it contacts the wall or surface, and (iii) having an energy sufficient to permit the agent(s) to penetrate the organ or tissue to a depth of at least about 2 mm.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said directing step is effected using an agent elongate jacket having (a) proximal and distal ends, (b) one or more lumens extending between said ends, and (c) a substantially blunt, distal-end its communicating with one or more of said lumens; from said outlet port(s) against such wall or surface.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each jet or stream is formed by propelling said agent(s) through at least a portion of said lumen and out of one of said outlet ports under condition of an increased pressure at said port of up to about 100 psi.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one jet or stream is directed substantially along a line angled no greater than about 35 degrees in respect to a line normal to such wall or surface.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one jet or stream is directed substantially along a line normal to such wall or surface.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected tissue is myocardial tissue, and the selected agent is directed against an endocardial wall, a septal wall, or an epicardial wall from a distance no greater than about 5 mm from such wall.