Delivery of therapeutic compositions using ultrasound

• US 20040229830A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gary Lichttenegger, James Robert Anderson, Katsuro Tachibana, Shunro Tachibana
• Original Assignee: Gary Lichttenegger, James Robert Anderson, Katsuro Tachibana, Shunro Tachibana
• Inventors: Lichttenegger, Gary, Tachibana, Katsuro, Tachibana, Shunro, Anderson, James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/782,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20040229830A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00853 low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22002 preventing restenosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22021 electric leads passing through the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22062 to be filled with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22088 ultrasound absorbing, drug activated by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0047 Sonopheresis, i.e. ultrasonically-enhanced transdermal delivery, electroporation of a pharmacologically active agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Therapeutic compositions are delivered to a target site using a catheter which includes at least one ultrasound transducer coupled to an energy source. The therapeutic compositions include genetic material and the target site may be a DNA with affinity for the genetic material.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a therapeutic composition to a target site comprising:

delivering the therapeutic composition comprising genetic material through a catheter to the target site; and

delivering ultrasound energy to the target site,

wherein the catheter has an elongated catheter body with at least one axial lumen for delivery of genetic material therethrough, the catheter comprising at least one ultrasound transducer coupled to an energy source, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer generates a sufficient level of ultrasound energy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic composition further comprises a light activated compound.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the genetic material is selected from the group consisting of DNA, RNA and analogs thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the genetic material is synthetic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the genetic material is recombinant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic composition further comprises a microbubble.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the therapeutic composition further comprises a microbubble.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the genetic material comprises an oligonucleotide.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the oligonucleotide has an affinity for a DNA in the target site.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the DNA is a viral DNA.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the DNA is an oncogene DNA.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the light activated drug is covalently bound to the genetic material.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one ultrasound assembly is positioned about a circumference of the elongated catheter body, the at least one support member supporting the at least one ultrasound transducer so as to define a chamber between the at least one transducer and the outer circumference of the elongated catheter body.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the chamber is filled with a media that absorbs ultrasound energy such that a transmission of ultrasound energy from the ultrasound transducer to the elongated catheter body is reduced.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the media is a gas selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, air and nitrogen.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the media is a solid media selected from the group consisting of silicon and rubber.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the chamber is evacuated using a negative pressure.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises:

a balloon positioned about the circumference of the elongated catheter body;

at least one media delivery port in fluid communication with the at least one axial lumen for delivery of an expansion media to expand the balloon; and

at least one media delivery port in fluid communication with the at least one axial lumen for delivery of a medicament.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the balloon is positioned about the ultrasound assembly.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the balloon is positioned about the circumference of the elongated catheter body adjacent to the ultrasound assembly.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to deliver ultrasound energy of approximately 0.3 W/cm² at a frequency of approximately 1.3 MHz.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein pressure is used to drive the media across the balloon.

25. The method of claim 6, wherein the microbubble comprises a lipid substrate.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the lipid substrate comprises a liposome.

27. The method of claim 6, wherein the interior of the microbubble includes a gas.

14. A therapeutic composition comprising a light activated drug in combination with a nucleic acid.