SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR SONODYNAMIC THERAPY

• US 20090062724A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 1744244 Ontario, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 1744244 Ontario, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Rixen
• Application Number:
  US11/849,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20090062724A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• 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

The present invention relates to diffuse ultrasound along with chemical agents to treat tissue, called sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and a system for treatment using SDT that comprises a whole body ensonification apparatus and control system. The whole body ensonification may reduce the chances of missing desired tissue that may not be easily detectable or may be found throughout the body. The apparatus has a plurality of diffuse ultrasound transducers for ensonifying at least part of a chamber filled with fluid and designed to accommodate a body for treatment. The person may be treated with sono-sensitive chemical agents, which may be activated when ensonified by the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the whole-body ensonification of a target body for use in conjunction with a therapeutic agent for sonodynamic therapy, comprising:

a. a chamber for accommodating a person, the chamber at least partially filled with fluid, the fluid permitting the transmission of diffuse ultrasound; and

b. a first transducer and a second transducer, each producing diffuse ultrasound, the first transducer and the second transducer positioned so as to ensonify one or more parts of the chamber containing fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motional apparatus, and wherein the first transducer is located on the motional apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the chamber has an axis along its length, and the motional apparatus moves laterally along the axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the motional apparatus moves transversely relative to the axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the motional apparatus moves rotationally about the axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transducer operates at a first frequency, and the second transducer operates at a second frequency.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first transducer is placed adjacent to the second transducer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are each shaped with a convex transducer element face to produce diffuse ultrasound.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a safety mechanism mounted on the motional apparatus, to deactivate the first transducer and the second transducer when triggered.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the safety mechanism comprises at least one mechanical rod connected to a switch to deactivate the first transducer and the second transducer.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the safety mechanism comprises at least one sensor to deactivate the first transducer and the second transducer, the at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

light sensors, laser sensors, infrared sensors, motion sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fluid pump, and wherein the fluid in the chamber is circulated using the fluid pump.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the amount of the fluid in the chamber is automatically adjusted by a controller to maintain a desired level of fluid.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the level of the fluid in the chamber is maintained by use of an overflow valve.

15. A system for the whole-body ensonification of a target body for use in conjunction with a therapeutic agent for sonodynamic therapy, comprising:

a. a chamber for accommodating a person, the chamber at least partially filled with fluid, the fluid permitting the transmission of diffuse ultrasound;

b. a first transducer and a second transducer that produce diffuse ultrasound, the first transducer and the second transducer positioned so as to ensonify a part of the chamber containing fluid;

c. at least one power supply, for powering the first transducer and the second transducer; and

d. a controller, for controlling the delivery of power from the at least one power supply to the first transducer and the second transducer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller independently controls the power delivered to the first transducer and the second transducer.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first transducer comprises a first amplifying means for amplifying the power of first transducer and a modulating means for modulating the frequency of the first transducer, and the second transducer comprises a second amplifying means for amplifying the power of second transducer and a second modulating means for modulating the frequency of the second transducer.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are operated in continuous mode.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are operated in pulse mode.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a motional apparatus, and wherein the first transducer is located on the motional apparatus.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the second transducer is located on the motional apparatus.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the chamber has an axis along its length, and the motional apparatus moves laterally along the axis.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the motional apparatus moves transversely relative to the axis.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the motional apparatus moves rotationally about the axis.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the first transducer operates at a first frequency, and the second transducer operates at a second frequency.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first transducer is placed adjacent to the second transducer.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are shaped with a convex transducer element face to produce diffuse ultrasound.

28. The system of claim 20, further comprising a safety mechanism mounted on the motional apparatus, to deactivate the first transducer and the second transducer when triggered.

31. The system of claim 15, further comprising a fluid pump, and wherein the fluid in the chamber is circulated using the fluid pump.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the amount of the fluid in the chamber is automatically adjusted by a controller to maintain a desired level of fluid.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the level of the fluid in the chamber is maintained by use of an overflow valve.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the amount of the fluid in the chamber is automatically adjusted by a controller to maintain a desired level of fluid.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the level of the fluid in the chamber is maintained by use of an overflow valve.

36. The system of claim 15, wherein each transducer is configured to vary in frequency.

29. The system of claim 29, wherein the safety mechanism comprises at least one mechanical rod connected to a switch to deactivate the first transducer and the second transducer.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the safety mechanism comprises at least one sensor to deactivate the first transducer and the second transducer, the at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

light sensors, laser sensors, infrared sensors, motion sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.

37. A method for the whole-body ensonification of a target body for use in conjunction with a therapeutic agent for sonodynamic therapy using an apparatus comprising:

a. a chamber for accommodating a person, the chamber having a longitudinal axis, the chamber at least partially filled with fluid, the fluid permitting the transmission of diffuse ultrasound; and

b. a plurality of transducers that produce diffuse ultrasound, the plurality of transducers positioned so as to ensonify a part of the chamber containing fluid;

the method comprising the following steps;

i. administering a therapeutic agent for sonodynamic therapy to a patient;

ii. positioning the patient within the chamber, and submerging the patient at least partially in the fluid; and

iii. activating the plurality of transducers to produce diffuse ultrasound that penetrates the patient and triggers the therapeutic agent.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the apparatus further comprises a motional apparatus that moves along the longitudinal axis, the motional apparatus having at least one transducer of the plurality of transducers mounted upon it, and the method comprising the following steps:

iv. moving the motional apparatus to position the at least one transducer over an untreated portion of the patient;

v. repeating steps iii. and iv. as many times as necessary to completely ensonify the desired portions of the patient.