Importance

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Abstract

Catheters for delivering drugs or other agents within a lumen, such as an artery or vein, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a catheter comprises an outer shaft with a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. An inner shaft is slidably received within the outer shaft. A distal portion of the shaft comprises a plurality of grooved delivery members having a non-deployed position wherein the delivery members lie within and are compressed by the outer shaft, and a deployed position wherein the delivery members extend beyond the outer shaft. In the deployed position, the delivery members flare outward at an angle, beyond the diameter of the outer shaft to bear against a site of interest, which can be a thrombus or a vessel wall, for example. Drugs or other agents can be conveyed to the delivery members through a space between the inner and outer shafts. In another embodiment, distal portions of the grooved delivery members are coupled to an inner shaft at a first location and proximal portions of the grooved delivery members are coupled to an outer shaft at a second location. Movement of the inner and outer shafts with respect to each other to bring the first and second locations together causes the delivery members to buckle outward, deploying the members. Methods of drug delivery are also disclosed.

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First Claim