Method and apparatus for placing a medical agent into a vessel of the body

1 - 6 . (canceled)

7 . A method for placing a medical agent into an aneurysm comprising the steps of:

providing a delivery catheter having a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section which is formed from a relatively flexible polymer material, said intermediate section being normally shaped in a generally U-shaped configuration; and said catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen with a side opening at a location within the intermediate section;

inserting a straightening wire into the second lumen of the catheter to cause said intermediate section of the catheter to become relatively straight;

introducing the delivery catheter into the vessel of a patient to generally align the side opening with the aneurysm;

withdrawing the straightening wire from said second lumen to cause the intermediate section of the delivery catheter to return to the U-shaped configuration at a location proximal to the aneurysm to thereby cause the side opening to move to a position adjacent to the aneurysm;

introducing a medical agent deployment device into the delivery catheter through the second lumen and through the side opening into the aneurysm;

delivering a medical agent into the aneurysm;

withdrawing the medical agent deployment device from the delivery catheter;

again inserting the straightening wire into the second lumen of the catheter to cause said intermediate section to become relatively straight; and,

thereafter withdrawing the delivery catheter from the vessel of the patient.

8 . A method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said medical agent comprises a diagnostic agent.

9 . A method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said medical agent comprises a therapeutic agent.

10 . A method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said medical agent comprises an embolic coil.

11 - 13 . (canceled)