INTERVENTIONAL PHOTONIC ENERGY EMITTER SYSTEM

• US 20010003800A1
• Filed: 09/02/1997
• Published: 06/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Steven J. Frank
• Inventors: CROWLEY, ROBERT J.
• Application Number:
  US08/922,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003800A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22021 electric leads passing through the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4057 by using radiation sources located in the interior of the body A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

A miniature light device delivers high energy modular photonic energy to an internal tissue region for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. The miniature light device is a light source that can be placed at or near a distal end of an interventional device, providing localized application of energy in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Claims

1. An interventional device, comprising:

a sonoluminescent light module for placement inside a body.

2. The interventional device of

claim 1

wherein the sonoluminescent light module comprises:

a housing;

an acoustic transducer; and

an acoustic conducting medium disposed inside the housing and adjacent the acoustic transducer.

3. The interventional device of

claim 2

wherein the acoustic transducer comprises a piezoelectric material and a wave matching layer.

4. The interventional device of

claim 2

wherein the light module further comprises a lens disposed between the acoustic transducer and the acoustic conducting medium, thereby focusing sound waves generated by the acoustic transducer in the acoustic conducting medium.

5. The interventional device of

claim 2

wherein a distal end of the housing is shaped to provide reflection and concentration of sound waves in the acoustic conducting medium.

6. The interventional device of

claim 2

wherein a distal end of the housing is open to focus sound waves in the tissue.

7. The interventional device of

claim 2

wherein the acoustic conducting medium comprises water.

8. The interventional device of

claim 2

wherein the acoustic conducting medium comprises a solid substance or target on which sonoluminescent effect can be observed.

9. The interventional device of

claim 3

wherein the piezoelectric material comprises lead zirconate-titanate.

10. The interventional device of

claim 1

wherein the sonoluminescent light module is disposed near a distal end of the interventional device.

11. The interventional device of

claim 10

further comprising a pulse generator in communication with the sonoluminescent light module through electrical conduits positioned inside the interventional device.

12. The interventional device of

claim 2

wherein the sonoluminescent light module is disposed near a distal end of the interventional device and the distal end of the interventional device performs as the housing.

13. The interventional device of

claim 10

wherein at least a portion of the interventional device comprises an optically transparent material.

14. The interventional device of

claim 13

wherein a position of the light module inside the interventional device is adjustable.

15. The interventional device of

claim 10

wherein the interventional device has an optically transparent window comprising a material selected to transmit light having a predetermined wavelength.

16. An interventional device, comprising:

an x-ray generating light source for placement inside a body.

17. The interventional device of

claim 16

wherein the x-ray generating light source comprises a sonoluminescent light source.

18. A method for generating light inside a body comprising:

placing a distal end of an interventional device which includes a sonoluminescent light source inside the body, the light source comprising an acoustic transducer and an acoustic conducting medium;

providing a series of high voltage pulses to the light source, thereby generating sound waves; and

focusing the generated sound waves in the acoustic conducting medium, thereby generating light.

19. The method of

claim 18

wherein the light generated comprises x-ray light.

20. An interventional device, comprising:

an arc lamp for placement inside a body.

21. The interventional device of

claim 20

wherein the arc lamp comprises:

a housing, and

a first and a second electrode positioned inside the housing and in relation to each other to strike an arc.

22. The interventional device of

claim 21

wherein the first electrode has a hemisphere shape and is coated with a metal.

23. The interventional device of

claim 21

wherein the second electrode is formed on an inner surface of the housing by flash metallization.

24. The interventional device of

claim 21

wherein the first and the second electrode are sealed inside the housing with sintered metal and a seal material that yields under high pressure.

25. The interventional device of

claim 24

wherein the sintered metal comprises copper wool.

26. The interventional device of

claim 20

wherein a distal end of the housing is dome shaped for collecting and redirecting light generated by the arc lamp.

27. The interventional device of

claim 21

wherein a material for the housing comprises quartz.

28. The interventional device of

claim 21

further comprising a feedback system and a light guide disposed adjacent a housing wall for supplying light output to a feedback system.

29. The interventional device of

claim 20

wherein the arc lamp is positioned near a distal end of the interventional device.

30. The interventional device of

claim 29

wherein the distal end of the interventional device performs as the housing.

31. A method for generating modular photonic energy inside a body, comprising:

placing a distal end of an interventional device which includes an arc lamp inside the body;

applying gradually increasing voltage to the arc lamp to strike an arc; and

quickly dropping the voltage applied to the arc lamp to sustain the arc generated.

32. An interventional device, comprising:

a fluorescent light source for placement inside a body.

33. The interventional device of

claim 32

wherein the fluorescent light source comprises a flash tube coated with a phosphorescent or fluorescing material.

34. The interventional device of

claim 32

wherein the fluorescent light source comprises an equipotential flash tube shaped to discharge uniformly.

35. The interventional device of

claim 34

wherein the fluorescent light source further comprises a dielectric material surrounding the flash tube and a pair of electrodes disposed at opposite sides of the dielectric material.

36. The interventional device of

claim 32

wherein the fluorescent light source is placed near a distal end of the interventional device.

37. The interventional device of

claim 36

comprising a balloon catheter having a polymeric stent placed on an external surface of a balloon portion.

38. The interventional device of

claim 37

wherein the polymeric stent becomes hardened when exposed to radiation generated by the fluorescent light source.

39. The interventional device of

claim 38

wherein the polymeric stent comprises a ultraviolet curable epoxy or adhesive material.

40. The interventional device of

claim 32

wherein the fluorescent light source comprises:

a Gunn-effect diode for generating radio-frequency energy;

a dielectric resonator disposed adjacent the diode; and

a gas tube comprising a gaseous substance that fluoresce when subjected to RF energy.

41. An interventional device, comprising:

a spark gap module for placement inside a body.

42. The interventional device of

claim 41

wherein the spark gap comprises two electrodes positioned in relation to each other for generating a spark across a gap between the two electrodes.

43. The interventional device of

claim 42

wherein the two electrodes are sealed in a transparent housing.

44. The interventional device of

claim 43

further comprising a filter disposed at a distal end of the housing for enhancing a desired light output.

45. A method for performing spectral analysis of tissue, comprising:

placing a distal end of an interventional device which includes a spark gap module inside a body near the tissue;

supplying a voltage pulse to the spark gap module, thereby generating a spark; and

exciting the tissue with the generated spark; and

characterizing the tissue based on the excitation.

46. The method of

claim 45

wherein

exciting the tissue comprises exciting fluorophors which may be present in the tissue;

and

characterizing the tissue comprises detecting the presence of fluorophors in the tissue.

47. An interventional device, comprising:

an incandescent lamp for placement inside a body and for generating short duration high intensity light waves.

48. The interventional device of

claim 47

wherein short duration comprises duration of less than 100 milliseconds.

49. The interventional device of

claim 47

wherein the incandescent lamp comprises a housing, a pair of electrodes placed inside the housing and a filament connecting the pair of electrodes.

50. The interventional device of

claim 49

wherein the filament comprises an oxidizing filament and the housing is filled with a selected gas for generating light having a predetermined color.

51. A method for generating modular photonic energy, comprising:

placing a distal end of an interventional device which includes an incandescent lamp inside a body; and

passing electric pulses to the incandescent lamp, thereby generating short duration light waves.