Systems and methods for treating ischemia

The invention relates to the local delivery of therapeutic agents, and more particularly, to systems and methods that deliver depots of therapeutic agents into a body of tissue to allow for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including coronary conditions and cardiovascular indications. A system and method for implanting pellets into myocardial tissue for treatment of coronary artery restenosis, ischemic heart disease, or cardiac conduction of disturbances. The mechanism of delivery can be transcatheter via chambers of the heart, endoscopic pericardial approach via minimally invasive transthoracic access, or intraoperative pericardial approach during open-chest surgery. Noncardiac tissues can also be treated.