Abstract: A transvascular system for delivering a drug to a tissue region from a blood vessel includes a catheter having a distal portion with puncturing, orientation, drug delivery, and imaging elements. The puncturing element is deployable for penetrating the vessel wall to access the tissue region. The orientation element has a predetermined relationship with the puncturing element, the imaging element detecting the location of the orientation element with respect to the tissue region to orient the puncturing element. The catheter is percutaneously introduced into the vessel, the puncturing element is oriented towards the tissue region, the puncturing element is deployed to access the tissue region, and the drug is delivered to the tissue region. An ablation device may also be deployed to create a cavity or fluid reservoir in the tissue region for receiving the drug therein, or an indwelling catheter may be advanced into and left in the tissue region.

Abstract: A transvascular system (10) for delivering a drug to a tissue region from a blood vessel, such as a coronary vein, includes a catheter (12) having a distal portion (26) with puncturing (14), orientation (16), drug delivery (62), and imaging elements (18). The puncturing element (14) is deployable for penetrating the vessel wall to access the tissue region. The orientation element (16), e.g. a “cage” including a plurality of struts (38) (40) and/or a radiopaque marker, has a predetermined relationship with the puncturing element (14), the imaging element (18) detecting the location of the orientation element (16) with respect to the tissue region to orient the puncturing element. The catheter (12) is percutaneously introducing into the vessel, the puncturing element (14) is oriented towards the tissue region, the puncturing element (14) is deployed to access the tissue region, and the drug is delivered to the tissue region.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for occluding blood flow within a blood vessel. In a first series of embodiments, the present invention comprises a plurality of embolic devices deployable through the lumen of a conventional catheter such that when deployed, said embolic devices remain resident and occlude blood flow at a specific site within the lumen of the blood vessel. Such embolic devices comprise either mechanical embolic devices that become embedded within or compress against the lumen of the vessel or chemical vaso-occlusive agents that seal off blood flow at a given site. A second embodiment of the present invention comprises utilization of a vacuum/cauterizing device capable of sucking in the lumen of the vessel about the device to maintain the vessel in a closed condition where there is then applied a sufficient amount of energy to cause the tissue collapsed about the device to denature into a closure.

Abstract: Balloon catheter, guide catheter and method for dilating openings in paranasal sinuses. A non-removable guide member (e.g., guidewire) extends from the distal end of the balloon catheter. The non-removable guide member initially passes through the opening of the paranasal sinus and is followed by the catheter body on which the balloon is mounted. The balloon is then inflated causing dilation of the opening of the paranasal sinus. In some embodiments, the non-removable guide member may be shapeable so that the operator may place the non-removable guide member in a desired shape prior to insertion of the balloon catheter. In some embodiments, the length of the non-removable guide member may be adjustable such that the operator may adjust the length of the non-removable guide member prior to insertion of the balloon catheter.

Abstract: A transvascular system (10) for delivering a drug to a tissue region from a blood vessel, such as a coronary vein, includes a catheter (12) having a distal portion (26) with puncturing (14), orientation (16), drug delivery (62), and imaging elements (18). The puncturing element (14) is deployable for penetrating the vessel wall to access the tissue region. The orientation element (16), e.g. a “cage” including a plurality of struts (38) (40) and/or a radiopaque marker, has a predetermined relationship with the puncturing element (14), the imaging element (18) detecting the location of the orientation element (16) with respect to the tissue region to orient the puncturing element. The catheter (12) is percutaneously introducing into the vessel, the puncturing element (14) is oriented towards the tissue region, the puncturing element (14) is deployed to access the tissue region, and the drug is delivered to the tissue region.