Device, systems and methods for localized heating of a vessel and/or in combination with mr/nmr imaging of the vessel and surrounding tissue
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Abstract
Featured are devices, systems and methods for localized heating of a vessel as well as devices, systems and methods for MR/NMR imaging of a vessel while locally heating a portion of the vessel. More particularly featured are such devices, systems and methods for use when administering or delivering therapeutic agents including genes and/or drugs to the tissues of the vessel. Such a method includes positioning a thermal energy delivery device proximal a target site within the vessel of a body and activating the thermal energy delivery device so as to heat the target site thereby locally increasing a temperature of tissue at the target site. In further embodiments, the method includes introducing a therapeutic medium to the target site over a predetermined time period, and wherein said activating occurs at least one of before, during or after said step of introducing.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1-12. -12. (canceled)
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13. A device for delivering thermal energy to a target site within a vessel lumen of a body, the thermal energy delivery device comprising:
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a catheter, said catheter including a heating element; and a power source operably coupled to the heating element and being configured so as to selectively energize the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A device for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site within a vessel of a body, the therapeutic delivery device comprising:
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a catheter, said catheter including a heating element and being configured and arranged so as to disperse therefrom the therapeutic agent; and a power source operably coupled to the heating element and being configured so as to selectively energize the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An MR/NMR imaging and therapeutic medium delivery system comprising;
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a delivery device including a guide wire configured and arranged so as to form a loopless MR/NMR receiver antenna being tuned to receive signals at a predetermined frequency and also to generate heat energy responsive to power signals inputted to the guide wire; an MR/NMR signal receiving apparatus operably coupled to the guide wire; a power source operably coupled to the guide wire; and a mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and each of the power source and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals in one frequency band are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and so signals outside said one frequency band are not coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus that selectively delivers therapeutic medium to a target site of a vessel of a body and is capable of being coupled to a MR/NMR imaging system for imaging tissues at least at, about or proximal the target site, said apparatus comprising:
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a therapeutic medium delivery device being configured and arranged so as to selectively deliver the therapeutic medium to tissues of the target site;
said therapeutic delivery device including a guide wire;a power source operably coupled to the guide wire; wherein the guide wire is configured and arranged so as to form a loopless MR/NMR receiver antenna being tuned to receive signals at a predetermined frequency and also to generate heat energy responsive to power signals inputted to the guide wire from the power source; and a mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and each of the power source and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals in one frequency band are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and so signals outside said one frequency band are not coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. (canceled)
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48. A device for delivering thermal energy to a target site within a vessel lumen of a body, the thermal energy delivery device comprising:
a catheter, said catheter including a heating element.
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49. A device for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site within a vessel of a body, the therapeutic delivery device comprising:
a catheter, said catheter including a heating element and being configured and arranged so as to disperse therefrom the therapeutic agent.
Specification