Ultrasound imaging and treatment

• US 20020150539A1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1989
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Evan C. Unger
• Original Assignee: Evan C. Unger
• Inventors: Unger, Evan C.
• Application Number:
  US10/113,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20020150539A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/9.52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00716 simulating physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22088 ultrasound absorbing, drug activated by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0028 Disruption, e.g. by heat or ultrasounds, sonophysical or sonochemical activation, e.g. thermosensitive or heat-sensitive liposomes, disruption of calculi with a medicinal preparation and ultrasounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0052 Thermotherapy; Hyperthermia; Magnetic induction; Induction heating therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6911 the form being a liposome
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6925 the form being a microcapsule, nanocapsule, microbubble or nanobubble
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/1815 compo-inhalant, e.g. breath tests
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/22 Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/223 Microbubbles, hollow microspheres, free gas bubbles, gas microspheres
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/227 Liposomes, lipoprotein vesicles, e.g. LDL or HDL lipoproteins, micelles, e.g. phospholipidic or polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/127 Liposomes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1277 Processes for preparing; Proliposomes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1278 Post-loading, e.g. by ion or pH gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0476 Oxygenated solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3145 Filters incorporated in syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/025 interstitial
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Methods of and apparatus for preparing temperature activated gaseous precursor-filled liposomes are described. Gaseous precursor-filled liposomes prepared by these methods are particularly useful, for example, in ultrasonic imaging applications and in therapeutic drug delivery systems.

Gas, gaseous precursors and perfluorocarbons are presented as novel potentiators for ultrasonic hyper-thermia. The gas, gaseous precursors and perfluorocarbons which may be administered into the vasculature, interstitially or into any body cavity are designed to accumulate in cancerous and diseased tissues. When therapeutic ultrasonic energy is applied to the diseased region heating is increased because of the greater effectiveness of sound energy absorption caused by these agents.

Claims

1. An ultrasound method comprising (i) administering to a patient a composition which comprises a gaseous precursor, and (ii) applying ultrasound to the patient, wherein said gaseous precursor forms a gas as a result of a change in temperature or pressure.