CPC A61B 5/063 (2013.01) [A61B 5/4839 (2013.01); A61B 5/6852 (2013.01); A61B 5/6885 (2013.01); A61B 5/74 (2013.01); A61B 90/06 (2016.02); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02)] | 11 Claims |
1. A system for internal delivery and injection of therapeutic substances into tissue within a body, comprising:
a catheter comprising:
a flexible elongate shaft with proximal and distal ends;
a lumen extending through at least a portion of said shaft and having an opening exiting proximate to said distal end of said shaft;
a first contact sensor attached to said catheter proximate to said distal end, said first contact sensor configured to generate a contact output indicative of contact between the catheter and the tissue;
a therapy delivery needle disposed within said lumen, said therapy delivery needle fluidly connected to a supply of therapeutic solution and being selectively moveable between a retracted position disposed within said catheter and an extended position where a tip of said needle is disposed a predetermined distance beyond said opening; and
a control unit configured to compare a first contact output
generated when the therapy delivery needle is positioned in the retracted position with a second contact output generated when the therapy delivery needle is positioned in the extended position, to generate an output indicative of needle insertion into the tissue based on said comparison.
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