title: A new catheter for prolonged local drug application.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Local drug delivery using a new 5F catheter with six small needles is described. The needles can be extended laterally into vascular tissue for drug deposition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A fluorescent indicator (Photofrin) was injected with a new local drug delivery device into porcine carotid arteries. The vessels were explanted 15, 30, 60 min and 14 days after local drug delivery. Vascular segments were analyzed using semi-quantitative measurement of fluorescence (calculated in relation to a standard, 100% representing the maximum fluorescence achieved by systemic intravenous application of Photofrin).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximum fluorescence was found in adventitia (15 min: 374%; 30 min: 388%; 60 min: 251%). In intimal tissue, the detected fluorescence was 107% after 15 min, 294% after 30 min, and 25% after 60 min. Media fluorescence was lower (15 min: 151%, 30 min: 102%, 60 min: 55%). No systemic drug content was measured. Fourteen days after local drug delivery, 15% of maximal fluorescence was still found in media but no adverse tissue hyperplasia was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These experiments demonstrate that high-dose perivascular local drug delivery is feasible and allows prolonged and selective application of drugs in a vessel segment without side effects.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department I, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonschior
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Huehns
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Höfling
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000166:cytology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D015552:Injections, Intralesional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013552:Swine