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

1. A method for placing an embolic agent into an aneurysm comprising the steps of:

using a delivery catheter having a proximal section, an intermediate section, and a distal section which is formed from a relatively flexible polymeric material, the delivery catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen, and the delivery catheter having a pre-shaped retaining wire extending through the first lumen to form a normally deflected distal section;

inserting a straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section of the delivery catheter to become relatively straight;

introducing the delivery catheter into a vessel of a patient to a position where the normally deflected distal section is generally aligned with an aneurysm;

withdrawing the straightening wire from the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to again become deflected and thereby move to a position proximate to the aneurysm;

introducing an embolic agent deployment system into the second lumen of the delivery catheter and through the normally deflected distal section;

delivering an embolic agent into the aneurysm with the embolic agent deployment system;

withdrawing the embolic agent deployment system from the delivery catheter;

again inserting the straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to become relatively straight; and,

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

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the embolic agent deployment system is an embolic coil deployment system and the embolic agent is an embolic coil.

3. A method for placing an embolic agent into an aneurysm comprising the steps of:

using a delivery catheter having a proximal section, an intermediate section, and a distal section which is formed from a relatively flexible polymeric material and the delivery catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen;

inserting a straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter;

inserting a pre-shaped retaining wire into the first lumen of the delivery catheter to form a normally deflected distal section;

introducing the delivery catheter into a vessel of a patient to a position where the normally deflected distal section is generally aligned with the aneurysm;

withdrawing the straightening wire from the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to again become deflected and thereby move to a position proximate to the aneurysm;

introducing an embolic agent deployment system into the second lumen of the delivery catheter and through the normally deflected distal section;

delivering the embolic agent into the aneurysm with the embolic agent deployment system;

withdrawing the embolic agent deployment system from the delivery catheter;

again inserting the straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to become relatively straight; and,

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

4. A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein the embolic agent deployment system is an embolic coil deployment system and the embolic agent is an embolic coil.

5. A method for placing an embolic agent into an aneurysm comprising the steps of:

using a delivery catheter having a proximal section, an intermediate section, and a distal section which is formed from a relatively flexible polymeric material and the delivery catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen;

inserting a shape retaining wire into the first lumen of the delivery catheter;

shaping the distal section of the delivery catheter to form a normally deflected distal section;

inserting a straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section of the delivery catheter to become relatively straight;

introducing the delivery catheter into a vessel of a patient to a position where the normally deflected distal section is generally aligned with the aneurysm;

withdrawing the straightening wire from the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to again become deflected and thereby move to a position proximate to the aneurysm;

introducing an embolic agent deployment system into the second lumen of the delivery catheter and through the normally deflected distal section;

delivering the embolic agent into the aneurysm with the embolic agent deployment system;

withdrawing the embolic agent deployment system from the delivery catheter;

again inserting the straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to become relatively straight; and,

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

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , wherein the embolic agent deployment system is an embolic coil deployment system and the embolic agent is an embolic coil.

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

using a delivery catheter having a proximal section, an intermediate section, and a distal section which is formed from a relatively flexible polymeric material, the delivery catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen, and the delivery catheter having a pre-shaped retaining wire extending through the first lumen to form a normally deflected distal section;

inserting a straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section of the delivery catheter to become relatively straight;

introducing the delivery catheter into the vessel of a patient to a position where the normally deflected distal section is generally aligned with a pre-selected position within the vessel;

withdrawing the straightening wire from the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to again become deflected and thereby move to the pre-selected position within the vessel;

introducing a medical agent deployment system into the second lumen of the delivery catheter and through the normally deflected distal section;

delivering the medical agent into the vessel with the medical agent deployment system;

withdrawing the medical agent deployment system from the delivery catheter;

again inserting the straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to become relatively straight; and,

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

8. A method for placing a medical agent into a vessel comprising the steps of:

using a delivery catheter having a proximal section, an intermediate section, and a distal section which is formed from a relatively flexible polymeric material and the delivery catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen;

inserting a straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter;

inserting a pre-shaped retaining wire into the first lumen of the delivery catheter to form a normally deflected distal section;

introducing the delivery catheter into the vessel of a patient to a position where the normally deflected distal section is generally aligned with a pre-selected position within the vessel;

withdrawing the straightening wire from the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to again become deflected and thereby move to the pre-selected position within the vessel;

introducing a medical agent deployment system into the second lumen of the delivery catheter and through the normally deflected distal section;

delivering the medical agent into the vessel with the medical agent deployment system;

withdrawing the medical agent deployment system from the delivery catheter;

again inserting the straightening wire into the second lumen of the delivery catheter to cause the normally deflected distal section to become relatively straight; and,

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