NANOPARTICLE TISSUE BASED IDENTIFICATION AND ILLUMINATION

• US 20080255460A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Voegele, James W., Hess, Christopher J., Murray, Michael A., Gill, Robert P., Shurtleff, Carl J.
• Application Number:
  US11/771,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0052 Thermotherapy; Hyperthermia; Magnetic induction; Induction heating therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0017 Fluorescence in vivo
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0093 Nanoparticle, nanocapsule, nanobubble, nanosphere, nanobead, i.e. having a size or diameter smaller than 1 micrometer, e.g. polymeric nanoparticle

Abstract

Various compositions, methods, and devices are provided that use fluorescent nanoparticles to function as markers, indicators, and/or light sources. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluorescent nanoparticles are biocompatible, and more preferably they can be formed from a fluorophore core surrounded by a biocompatible shell, such as a silica shell. In one aspect, the fluorescent nanoparticles can be delivered to tissue to mark the tissue, enable identification and location of the tissue, and/or illuminate an area surrounding the tissue.

Claims

1. A method for locating, marking, or illuminating tissue, comprising:

delivering at least one biocompatible fluorescent nanoparticle to tissue;

delivering energy to the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle to cause the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle to fluoresce; and

collecting light fluoresced from the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent nanoparticle is formed from a fluorescent core and a biocompatible shell surrounding the fluorescent core.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is collected through an elongate cannula.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle is delivered in a carrier solution.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the carrier solution contains an adhesive.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises an organ.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises a tubular structure.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a location of the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle based on the collected light.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle is injected into the tissue.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle is delivered into the tissue using an intravenous catheter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering at least one fluorescent nanoparticle to tissue comprises coating a solution containing at least one fluorescent nanoparticle onto a tissue surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tissue surface is in a body cavity and wherein the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle illuminates the body cavity when energy is delivered thereto.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the body cavity is selected from the group consisting of the stomach, uterus, abdominal cavity, thoracic cavity, vaginal canal, nasal passages, and ear canal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering at least one fluorescent nanoparticle to tissue comprises delivering at least one fluorescent nanoparticle into a kidney, and wherein the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle has a property such that the kidney filters the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle into the ureter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering at least one fluorescent nanoparticle to tissue comprises delivering at least one fluorescent nanoparticle into a liver, and wherein the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle has a property such that the liver filters the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle into the colon.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering at least one fluorescent nanoparticle to tissue comprises applying the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle onto a tissue surface using an applicator.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the applicator is introduced through a cannula having a working channel extending into a body cavity containing the tissue.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle is applied to tissue to be removed.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising locating the tissue based on the collected light, and removing the tissue containing the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluorescent nanoparticle includes visible and non-visible dyes therein, and wherein the method further includes locating the tissue by viewing light emitted from the visible dyes, and delivering energy to the tissue to view the non-visible dyes.