Method for infusing an immunotherapy agent to a solid tumor for treatment
A method for delivering an immunotherapy agent to a tumor includes advancing the delivery device into a vessel of a patient, and infusing the agent under pressure into the vessel to penetrate the tumor. The delivery device prevents reflux of the agent toward non-treatment sites.
1. A method of delivering an immunotherapy agent through a target vessel in communication with a tumor, the vessel having an initial intravascular pressure, the method comprising:
a) providing an immunotherapy delivery device including a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, an expandable fluid pressure modulating structure fixed adjacent the distal end of the catheter, an agent delivery lumen extending through the catheter and opening to an orifice at a distal tip of the catheter;
b) providing an immunotherapy agent;
c) inserting said device into the target vessel;
d) using the expandable fluid pressure modulating structure to modulate the pressure in the target vessel relative to the initial intravascular pressure; and then
e) infusing the immunotherapy agent through the lumen and out of the orifice of the catheter.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the pressure in the vessel is modulated to reduce the pressure in the vessel relative to the initial intravascular pressure prior to infusing.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the immunotherapy agent is infused at a pressure different than the initial intravascular pressure.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
while infusing, preventing reflux of the immunotherapy agent into non-target vessels.