Drug delivery module

Claim 2

A drug delivery device for medicating internal tissue during minimally invasive surgery and/or other surgical procedures, the device comprising: (a) a drug delivery needle having a piercing tip and attached to a distal end of a drug conduit, the drug conduit also having a proximal end; and (b) a detachable drug delivery module for metering the drug, the detachable drug delivery module including: (i) a housing having a quick-disconnect interface for coupling to said drug conduit; (ii) at least one drug reservoir communicating with the drug conduit, the at least one reservoir mounted within the housing; and (iii) an actuating means for (1) advancing the drug delivery needle, (2) displacing drug from the at least one reservoir through the drug delivery needle via the drug conduit, and (3) retracting the drug delivery needle, the actuating means also mounted within the housing; (c) a body member at the proximal end of said drug conduit, said body member adapted for connecting a visualization scope thereto, the body member being attached to the housing; and (d) an introducer having a length sufficient to reach a treatment site at target tissue, the introducer defining a working channel wherein the advanceable drug delivery needle with attached drug conduit is disposed therein, the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle being egressable at the introducer's distal end.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 which further comprises a rigid endoscope having a visualization scope, the introducer further including: (i) a rigid tubular member that slidably encompasses the endoscope; and (ii) a transparent distal tip member that encloses the tubular member's distal end, said tip member enabling visualization of the working channel's distal end.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 , wherein the tubular member and the transparent distal tip member form a unitary member made of an optically transparent polymer material, the unitary member having a uniform wall thickness.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 , wherein the endoscope's distal end is essentially normal to the axis of the introducer, thereby providing visualization in a forward direction, and the working channel directs the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle past the introducer's distal end at an angle essentially parallel to the introducer.

Claim 6

The device of claim 2 , wherein the endoscope's distal end is essentially normal to the axis of the introducer, thereby providing visualization in a forward direction, and the working channel directs the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle past the introducer's distal end at an angle to the introducer.

Claim 7

The device of claim 2 , wherein the endoscope's distal end is at an angle with respect to an axis of the introducer, thereby providing visualization in a direction at an angle to the axis of the introducer, and the working channel directs the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle past the introducer's distal end in a direction essentially parallel to the axis of the introducer.

Claim 8

The device of claim 2 , wherein the endoscope's distal end is at an angle with respect to an axis of the introducer, thereby providing visualization in a direction at an angle to the axis of the introducer, and the working channel directs the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle past the introducer's distal tip at an angle to the axis of the introduce.

Claim 9

A drug delivery device for medicating internal body tissue during catheter and/or other percutaneous procedures, the device comprising: (a) a drug delivery needle having a piercing tip, said needle being attached to a distal end of a drug conduit, the drug conduit also having a proximal end; and (b) a detachable drug delivery module for metering the drug, the detachable drug delivery module including: (i) a housing having a quick-disconnect interface for coupling to said drug conduit; (ii) at least one drug reservoir communicating with the drug conduit, the at least one reservoir mounted within the housing; and (iii) actuating means for (1) advancing the drug delivery needle, (2) displacing drug from the at least one reservoir through the drug delivery needle via the drug conduit, and (3) retracting the drug delivery needle, the actuating means mounted within the housing; (c) an introducer having a length sufficient to reach a treatment site at target tissue, the introducer being attached to the quick-disconnect interface, the introducer defining at least one working channel in which said drug delivery needle and said drug conduit are disposed, the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle being egressable at the introducer's distal end.

Claim 10

A drug delivery device for medicating internal body tissue during catheter and/or other percutaneous procedures, the device comprising: (a) a drug delivery needle having a piercing tip, said needle being attached to a distal end of a drug conduit, the drug conduit also having a proximal end; and (b) a detachable drug delivery module for metering the drug, the detachable drug delivery module including: (i) a housing having a quick-disconnect interface for coupling to said drug conduit; (ii) at least one drug reservoir communicating with the drug conduit, the at least one reservoir mounted within the housing; and (iii) actuating means for (1) advancing the drug delivery needle, (2) displacing drug from the at least one reservoir through the drug delivery needle via the drug conduit, and (3) retracting the drug delivery needle, the actuating means mounted within the housing; (c) an introducer having a length sufficient to reach a treatment site at target tissue, the introducer being attached to the quick-disconnect interface, the introducer defining at least one working channel in which said drug delivery needle and said drug conduit are disposed, the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle being egressable at the introducer's distal end.

Claim 11

A detachable drug delivery module kit for visualizing and medicating internal body tissue during MIS and other surgical procedures and for catheter and/or percutaneous procedures, the kit comprising: (a) a drug delivery needle having a piercing tip, said needle being attached to a distal end of a drug conduit, the drug conduit also having a proximal end; and (b) a detachable drug delivery module for metering the drug, the detachable drug delivery module including: (i) a housing having a quick-disconnect interface for coupling to said drug conduit; (ii) at least one drug reservoir communicating with the drug conduit, the at least one reservoir mounted within the housing; and (iii) actuating means for (1) advancing the drug delivery needle, (2) displacing drug from the at least one reservoir through the drum delivery needle via the drug conduit, and (3) retracting the drug delivery needle, the actuating means also mounted within the housing; (c) a visualization scope having a body member for attachment to said housing, said visualization scope including a viewing means for optical viewing at the distal end of the drug conduit; (d) an endoscope-type introducer having a length sufficient to reach a treatment site, the endoscope-type introducer defining a working channel in which said drug delivery needle and said drug conduit are disposed, the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle being egressable at the endoscope-type introducer's distal end; and (e) a catheter introducer having a length sufficient to reach a treatment site, the catheter introducer defining a working channel in which said drug delivery needle and said drug conduit are disposed, the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle being egressable at the catheter introducer's distal end.

Claim 12

A detachable drug delivery module kit for visualizing and medicating internal body tissue during MIS and other surgical procedures and for catheter and/or percutaneous procedures, the kit comprising: (a) a drug delivery needle having a piercing tip, said needle being attached to a distal end of a drug conduit, the drug conduit also having a proximal end; and (b) a detachable drug delivery module for metering the drug, the detachable drug delivery module including: (i) a housing having a quick-disconnect interface for coupling to said drug conduit; (ii) at least one drug reservoir communicating with the drug conduit, the at least one reservoir mounted within the housing; and (iii) actuating means for (1) advancing the drug delivery needle, (2) displacing drug from the at least one reservoir through the drum delivery needle via the drug conduit, and (3) retracting the drug delivery needle, the actuating means also mounted within the housing; (c) a visualization scope having a body member for attachment to said housing, said visualization scope including a viewing means for optical viewing at the distal end of the drug conduit; (d) an endoscope-type introducer having a length sufficient to reach a treatment site, the endoscope-type introducer defining a working channel in which said drug delivery needle and said drug conduit are disposed, the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle being egressable at the endoscope-type introducer's distal end; and (e) a catheter introducer having a length sufficient to reach a treatment site, the catheter introducer defining a working channel in which said drug delivery needle and said drug conduit are disposed, the piercing tip of the drug delivery needle being egressable at the catheter introducer's distal end.