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

1 - 2 . (canceled)

3 . A method for placing a medical agent within a vessel 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 polymeric material, said intermediate section being normally shaped in a generally bowed configuration; and said catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen with a side opening at a location within the intermediate section;

preloading the second lumen of the delivery catheter with a guidewire extending through said second lumen to thereby cause the intermediate section of the catheter to straighten;

introducing the catheter into the vessel of a patient to generally align the side opening at a preselected position within the vessel;

withdrawing the guidewire to thereby permit the intermediate section of the catheter to straighten;

introducing a medical agent deployment device into the second lumen of the delivery catheter and through the side opening to deliver the medical agent at the preselected position;

reinserting the guidewire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to thereby again cause the intermediate section of the catheter to straighten; and,

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

4 . A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein said medical agent comprises a diagnostic agent.

5 . A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein said medical agent comprises a therapeutic agent.

6 . A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein said medical agent comprises an embolic coil.

7 - 13 . (canceled)