Thema: Patent: Method for convection enhanced delivery catheter

United States Patent 6,974,448 - Petersen - December 13, 2005

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Method for convection enhanced delivery catheter to treat brain and other tumors


Abstract
A method is provided for delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism. More particularly, the invention allows for the simultaneous delivery of therapeutics to multiple treatment locations from a single catheter using a single pumping source. The catheter utilizes a microporous membrane that allows for the distribution of therapeutic agents from multiple longitudinal positions.

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1. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism, comprising the steps of:

identifying the selected sites for delivering the therapeutic agent;

selecting a catheter having a tubular section and a solid catheter tip, the tubular section having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end attached to the solid catheter tip, the tubular section comprising solid sections and microporous membrane sections, each of the microporous membrane sections including, a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end coupled to the solid sections forming a continuous cross section of the tubular section, the tubular section having a substantially uniform diameter;

placing the catheter in the organism so that the microporous membrane sections are placed at the selected sites;

coupling the catheter to a pump for delivering the therapeutic agent to the selected sites;

actuating the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the selected sites through the microporous membrane sections; and

wherein the catheter is configured to allow the therapeutic agent to fill a lumen of the catheter until a predetermined luminal pressure exceeding the external pressure of the selected site is reached, and the microporous membrane sections are configured to deliver the therapeutic agent at the predetermined luminal pressure.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the solid section comprises a radio opaque material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pump is an implantable pump.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pump is an external pump.

5. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism, comprising the steps of:

identifying the selected sites for delivering the therapeutic agent;

selecting at least two catheters, the at least two catheters each comprising a tubular section and a solid catheter tip, the tubular section having a solid section and a microporous membrane section, the microporous membrane section including, a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end coupled to the solid section forming a continuous cross section of the tubular section, the tubular section having a substantially uniform diameter;

placing the catheters in the organism so that the microporous membrane sections are located at the selected sites;

connecting each catheter proximal end to a manifold,

coupling the manifold to a pump for delivering the therapeutic agent to the selected sites;

actuating the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the selected sites; and

wherein the at least two catheters are configured to allow the therapeutic agent to fill a lumen of the at least tow catheters until a predetermined luminal pressure exceeding the external pressure of the selected site is reached, and the microporous membrane sections are configured to deliver the therapeutic agent at the predetermined luminal pressure.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the solid section comprises a radio opaque material.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the pump is an implantable pump.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the pump is an external pump.

9. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism, comprising the steps of:

identifying the selected sites for delivering the therapeutic agent;

selecting at least two catheters, the at least two catheters comprising a tubular section, the tubular section having a solid section and a diffusion area, and an outer tubular wall and an inner tubular wall, the outer tubular wall having at least one opening through to the inner tubular wall, the inner tubular wall lined with a microporous membrane;

placing each catheter in the organism so that the diffusion area is located at the selected sites;

connecting each catheter proximal end to a manifold,

coupling the manifold to a pump for delivering the therapeutic agent to the selected sites;

actuating the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the selected sites; and

wherein the at least two catheters are configured to allow the therapeutic agent to fill a lumen of the at least two catheters until a predetermined luminal pressure exceeding the external pressure of the selected site is reached, and the diffusion areas configured to deliver the therapeutic agent at the predetermined luminal pressure.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the catheter solid tubular section comprises a radio opaque material.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the catheter microporous membrane is located in the diffusion area.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the catheter microporous membrane further comprises, an outer area and an inner area, the outer area having an interference fit with the inner tubular wall.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the catheter microporous membrane further comprises, an outer area and an inner area, the outer area having an interference fit with the inner tubular wall.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the pump is an implantable pump.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the pump is an external pump.

16. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism, comprising the steps of:

identifying the selected sites for delivering the therapeutic agent;

selecting at least two catheters, the at least two catheters each having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least two catheters each having a tubular section, the tubular section including a solid section and at least two diffusion sections, the at least two diffusion sections longitudinally aligned from the distal end corresponding to the selected sites;

placing each catheter in the organism so that the at least two diffusion sections are located at the selected sites;

connecting each catheter proximal end to a manifold,

coupling the manifold to a pump for delivering the therapeutic agent to the selected sites; and

actuating the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the selected site;

wherein the tubular section further comprises, an outer tubular well and an inner tubular wall, the outer tubular wall having at least one opening within each of the at least two diffusion sections through to the inner tubular wall, the inner tubular wall lined with a microporous membrane; and

wherein the at least two catheters are configured to allow the therapeutic agent to fill a lumen of the at least two catheters until a predetermined luminal pressure exceeding the external pressure of the selected site is reached, and the diffusions sections confirmed to deliver the therapeutic agent at the predetermined luminal pressure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pump is an implantable pump.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the pump is an external pump.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the solid section comprises a radio opaque material.

20. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism, comprising the steps of:

identifying the selected sites for delivering the therapeutic agent;

selecting at least two catheters, the at least two catheters each having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least two catheters each having a tubular section, the tubular section including a solid section and at least two diffusion sections, the at least two diffusion sections longitudinally aligned from the distal end corresponding to the selected sites;

placing each catheter in the organism so that the at least two diffusion sections are located at the selected sites;

connecting each catheter proximal end to a manifold,

coupling the manifold to a pump for delivering the therapeutic agent to the selected sites;

actuating the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the selected site;

wherein the catheter tubular section further comprises, an outer tubular wall and an inner tubular wall, the outer tubular wall having at least one opening within each of the at least two diffusion sections through to the inner tubular wall, the inner tubular wall lined with a microporous membrane, the microporous membrane located at the at least two diffusion sections; and

wherein the at least two catheters are configured to allow the therapeutic agent to fill a lumen of the at least tow catheters until a predetermined luminal pressure exceeding the external pressure of the selected site is reached, and the diffusions sections configured to deliver the therapeutic agent at the predetermined luminal pressure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the pump is an implantable pump.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the pump is an external pump.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the solid section comprises a radio opaque material.

24. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism, comprising the steps of:

identifying the selected sites for delivering the therapeutic agent;

selecting at least two catheters, the at least two catheters each having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least two catheters each having a tubular section, the tubular section including a solid section and at least two diffusion sections, the at least two diffusion sections longitudinally aligned from she distal end corresponding to the selected sites;

placing each catheter in the organism so that the at least two diffusion sections are located at the selected sites;

connecting each catheter proximal end to a manifold,

coupling the manifold to a pump for delivering the therapeutic agent to the selected sites;

actuating the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the selected site;

wherein the catheter tubular section further comprises, an outer tubular wall and an inner tubular wall, the outer tubular wall having at least one opening within each of the at least two diffusion sections through to the inner tubular wall, the inner tubular wall lined with a microporous membrane, the microporous membrane further comprising, an outer area and an inner area, the outer area having an interference fit with the inner tubular wall; and

wherein the at least tow catheters are configured to allow the therapeutic agent to fill a lumen of the at least tow catheters until a predetermined luminal pressure exceeding the external pressure of the selected site is reached, and the diffusions sections configured to deliver the therapeutic agent at the predetermined luminal pressure.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the pump is an implantable pump.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the pump is an external pump.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the solid section comprises a radio opaque material.

28. A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism, comprising the stops of:

identifying the selected sites for delivering the therapeutic agent;

selecting at least two catheters, the at least two catheters each having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least two catheters each having a tubular section, the tubular section including a solid section and at least two diffusion sections, the at least two diffusion sections longitudinally aligned from the distal end corresponding to the selected sites;

placing each catheter in the organism so that the at least two diffusion sections are located at the selected sites;

connecting each catheter proximal end to a manifold,

coupling the manifold to a pump for delivering the therapeutic agent to the selected sites;

actuating the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the selected site;

wherein the catheter tubular section further comprises, an outer tubular wall and an inner tubular wall, the outer tubular wall having at least one opening within each of the at least two diffusion sections through to the inner tubular wall, the inner tubular wall lined with a microporous membrane, the microporous membrane located at the at least two diffusion sections, the microporous membrane further comprising, an outer area and an inner area, the outer area having an interference fit with the inner tubular wall; and

wherein the at least two catheters are configured to allow the therapeutic agent to fill a lumen of the at least two catheters until a predetermined luminal pressure exceeding the external pressure of the selected site is reached, and the diffusions sections configured to deliver the therapeutic agent at the predetermined luminal pressure.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the pump is an implantable pump.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the pump is an external pump.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the solid section comprises a radio opaque material.