Needle Array Assembly and Method for Delivering Therapeutic Agents

Abstract

A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.

1 . A device for delivery of a fluid to a solid tissue, comprising: a plurality of needles arranged in an array; a plurality of reservoirs, each in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of needles; and a plurality of actuators operatively coupled to respective ones of the plurality of reservoirs and configured to control a fluid pressure within the reservoir, wherein each of the plurality of needles comprises a plurality of ports distributed along its length. 
     
     
         2 . A device for delivering a fluid to a solid tissue, comprising: a dispenser including: a needle having a plurality of ports distributed along a length thereof, a reservoir in fluid communication with the dispensing needle, and a plunger having a first end positioned in the reservoir; and a plunger driver coupled to a second end of the plunger and configured to depress the plunger at a selectably variable rate. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the dispenser is one of a plurality of dispensers arranged in a dispenser array, each comprising a needle, a reservoir, and a plunger having first and second ends. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the plunger driver is coupled to the second end of the plunger of each of the plurality of dispensers and is configured to depress each of the plungers simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , comprising a plurality of cylindrical tubes arranged in an array corresponding to the dispenser array, each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes being sized and positioned to receive the needle of a respective one of the plurality of dispensers. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the plunger driver comprises a driver shaft coupled to the plunger and having a threaded region, the plunger driver configured such that rotation of the driver shaft in a first direction depresses the plunger a distance corresponding to a thread pitch of the threaded region and a number of revolutions of the driver shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , comprising a motor having a rotor coupled to the driver shaft of the plunger driver such that the rotor and the driver shaft are rotationally fixed with respect to each other, the motor being controllable to rotate the rotor at a selectably variable rate. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , comprising a motor having a rotor coupled to the driver shaft of the plunger driver such that the rotor and the driver shaft are rotationally fixed with respect to each other, the motor being controllable to rotate the rotor to a selectable angle of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , comprising a controller coupled to the motor, the controller being programmable to control direction and speed of rotation of the rotor and to control a number of degrees from a start of rotation to an end of rotation. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 2  wherein: the dispenser comprises a dispenser cylinder; a first portion of the dispenser cylinder defines the reservoir; and a second portion of the dispenser cylinder defines the needle. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of ports are sized and positioned along the length of the needle so as to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along the length of the needle. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of ports is evenly distributed along a portion of the length of the needle. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 2  wherein a size of each of the plurality of ports is inversely related to a distance of the respective port from a tip-end of the needle. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 2  wherein a distribution density of the plurality of ports is inversely related to a distance of the respective port from a tip-end of the needle. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of ports is distributed in a spiral pattern along the length of the needle. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of ports is arranged in pairs of ports on opposite sides of the needle, with each pair of ports rotated 90 degrees with respect to adjacent pairs of ports along the length of the needle. 
     
     
         17 . A fluid agent-delivering device comprising:
 (i) a plurality of needles arranged in an array, each of said needles having, independently, one or a plurality of ports distributed along its length wherein at least one needle has said plurality of ports,   (ii) a plurality of reservoirs containing the fluid agent, each of said reservoirs being in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of needles, and   (iii) a plurality of plungers, a first end of each plunger being received in a respective one of the plurality of reservoirs and a second end of each plunger being depressable such that depressing each plunger results in injection of the fluid agent through the respective one of the plurality of needles.