SYSTEMS, COMPOSITIONS, AND METHODS FOR LOCAL IMAGING AND TREATMENT OF PAIN
First Claim
1. A method for conducting a medical procedure related to a localized, active source of pain at a location associated with a region of tissue in a patient, comprising:
- artificially labeling a pain factor at the location in a manner substantially increasing the ability to image the pain factor with an imaging tool; and
imaging the labeled pain factor in a manner sufficient to selectively differentiate a first concentration of the labeled pain factor at the location versus a second concentration of the labeled pain factor in tissue adjacent to the location.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Pain factors are labeled with targeted agents or markers delivered into the body. The labeled pain factors are imaged with appropriate imaging tools in a manner allowing selective identification and localization of areas of pain source or transmission. The labeled pain factors allow spatial differentiation in the imaging sufficient to specify the location of the pain so as to drive therapeutic decisions and techniques in order to treat the pain. Pain factors labeled and imaged in this manner may include one or more of nerve factors, blood vessel factors, cellular factors, and inflammation factors. Labeled markers may include for example radioactive materials (e.g. tritiated or iodinated molecules) or other materials such as metal (e.g. gold) nanoparticles. Intermediary binding materials may be used, such as for example bi-specific antibodies. Therapeutic components of the system and method include for example localized energy delivery or ablation treatments, or local drug or other chemical delivery. Locations containing pain factor selectively bound by targeted agents are selectively treated with directed energy into a region containing the targeted agent bound to the pain factor.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. A method for conducting a medical procedure related to a localized, active source of pain at a location associated with a region of tissue in a patient, comprising:
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artificially labeling a pain factor at the location in a manner substantially increasing the ability to image the pain factor with an imaging tool; and imaging the labeled pain factor in a manner sufficient to selectively differentiate a first concentration of the labeled pain factor at the location versus a second concentration of the labeled pain factor in tissue adjacent to the location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A system for treating pain at a location within a body of a patient, comprising:
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a targeted agent that comprises a targeted label that is adapted to bind to and label a pain factor associated with a source of pain at the location; a delivery assembly that is adapted to deliver the targeted label into the patient; an imaging system that is adapted to image at least one of the targeted label or the labeled pain factor and in a manner sufficient to selectively differentiate a first concentration of the labeled pain factor at the location versus a second concentration of the labeled pain factor in tissue adjacent to the location; and a therapeutic device assembly that is adapted to provide therapy in a substantially localized manner that is substantially isolated to the location.
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80. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient, comprising:
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delivering a material to a region within a body of a patient; wherein the material has a preferential binding affinity to a pain factor located within the region sufficient to preferentially bind to the pain factor versus other structures within the region, and such that the material accumulates at a higher concentration within a first portion of the region having a higher amount of the pain factor than other portions within the region; and after delivering the material to the region, delivering energy to the region in a manner that selectively treats the first portion versus the other portions and such that pain is reduced in the region.
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81. A system for treating a patient, comprising:
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a volume of material that comprises a metal; wherein the material exhibits a binding affinity to a pain factor such that when the material is delivered to a region within a body of a patient that includes the pain factor the material differentially binds to the pain factor with more affinity than to other structures within the region, and such that the material accumulates at a higher concentration within a first portion of the region having a higher amount of the pain factor than other portions within the region; and an energy source that is adapted to deliver energy to the region in a manner that substantially locally treats the first portion versus the other portions.
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82. A method for preparing a system for performing a medical procedure on a patient, comprising:
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diagnosing the patient with pain; based upon the diagnosis, preparing a volume of a targeted agent for delivery into the patient; and wherein the prepared dose of targeted agent is configured to differentially bind to a pain factor associated with the pain in a manner adapted to enhance at least one of (i) diagnostic localization of the pain and (ii) selective tissue therapy in an area associated with the bound pain factor in response to a delivered energy to the area.
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83. A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient, comprising:
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a volume of a targeted agent prepared for delivery into a patient diagnosed with pain; and wherein the targeted agent is configured to differentially bind to a pain factor associated with the pain in a manner adapted to enhance at least one of (i) diagnostic localization of the pain and (ii) selective tissue therapy to a location containing the bound pain factor in response to a delivered energy to an area containing the location.
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84. A method for selectively treating one or more tissue regions associated with pain in a patient, comprising:
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delivering a targeted agent into the patient configured to differentially bind to a pain factor associated with the pain; allowing the delivered targeted agent to differentially bind to the pain factor so as to form a differentially bound pain factor; delivering energy into the patient in a manner that differentially treats the one or more regions associated with the differentially bound pain factor.
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85. A system for selectively treating one or more tissue regions associated with pain in a patient, comprising:
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a volume of targeted agent; an energy delivery system; wherein the energy delivery system is configured to deliver energy into the patient; and wherein the volume of targeted agent is configured for delivery into a patient and to differentially bind to a pain factor associated with the pain in a manner such that tissue regions containing a first concentration of the differentially bound pain factor exhibit a differential and selective therapeutic response to the delivered energy versus other regions with lower concentrations of the differentially bound pain factor.
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Specification