Vasculature and lymphatic system imaging and ablation associated with a local bypass

• US 20090093713A1
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Jung, Edward K. Y., Hyde, Roderick A., Zare, Richard N., Wattenburg, Willard H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/427
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/72 Micromanipulators

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems related to imaging and ablation are disclosed.

Claims

1. An untethered device comprising:

a local bypass configured to function in, or proximal to, one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject;

one or more first energy source configured to function in, or proximal to, a lumen of the local bypass and to provide energy configured to elicit one or more image responses associated with the local bypass lumen;

one or more sensors configured to function in, or proximal to, the local bypass lumen and to capture the one or more image responses;

control circuitry coupled to the one or more sensors, and responsive to at least partially identify one or more targets during an expected transit time of the one or more targets through a detection area in, or proximal to, the local bypass lumen at least partially based on the captured one or more image responses; and

one or more second energy source responsive to the control circuitry, and configured to provide ablation energy to a target area in the local bypass lumen during the expected transit time of the one or more targets through the target area.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the local bypass is configured to function in a vessel lumen, and configured with one or more vessel lumen anchors.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the local bypass is configured with at least one closable opening on each end of the local bypass.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the one or more closable openings are responsive to the control circuitry and are configured to modulate fluid flow to and from the local bypass lumen.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the local bypass is configured with one or more bypass insert responsive to the control circuitry and configured to modulate at least part of a lumen of the local bypass.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more vessel lumen anchors are configured to attach to the vessel lumen responsive to the control circuitry.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the local bypass is configured to function proximal to the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel, and configured with at least one vessel insertion unit on each end of the local bypass.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein one or more of the vessel insertion units are responsive to the control circuitry and are configured to modulate fluid flow to and from the local bypass lumen.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein one or more of the vessel insertion units are configured to modulate fluid flow to and from the local bypass lumen at least partially based on one or more image responses captured by the one or more sensors.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein one or more of the vessel insertion units are responsive to the control circuitry and are configured to modulate fluid flow within the local bypass lumen.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the vessel insertion units include one or more valves for modulating fluid flow to and from the local bypass lumen.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the local bypass is configured to function proximal to the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel, and configured with at least one vessel attachment unit.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one vessel attachment unit is configured to attach responsive to control circuitry.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one vessel attachment unit is configured to at least partially surround an external circumference of the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the at least one vessel attachment unit is configured as a mesh sleeve.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one vessel attachment unit includes one or more vessel anchors or vessel clamps.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one location in the local bypass lumen has a circumference such that one or more cells traverse a localized region.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the local bypass is configured with one or more bypass insert responsive to the control circuitry and configured to modulate at least part of a circumference of the local bypass.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the one or more bypass insert is configured to modulate at least part of a circumference of the local bypass at least partially based on one or more image responses captured by the one or more sensors.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the one or more bypass insert is configured to programmably modulate at least part of the circumference of the local bypass.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein the one or more bypass insert is configured to modulate fluid flow.

30. The device of claim 24, wherein the one or more bypass insert is configured to modulate cellular flow.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the one or more bypass insert is configured to modulate cellular flow such that movement of one or more potential targets is decreased.

37. The device of claim 24, wherein the one or more bypass insert is configured to function external to the local bypass lumen.

38. The device of claim 24, wherein the one or more bypass insert is configured to function within the local bypass lumen.

42. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more first energy source is configured to provide energy configured to elicit the one or more image responses of fluid flow associated with the local bypass.

47. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more first energy source is configured to provide energy configured to elicit the one or more image responses of cellular flow associated with the local bypass.

48. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to capture one or more fluorescent responses.

49. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to capture the one or more image responses of fluid flow associated with the local bypass.

55. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify one or more predicted future locations of the one or more targets at least partially based on the one or more image responses.

56. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the effect of the ablation energy on the one or more targets at least partially based on the one or more image responses.

57. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is configured to emit energy selected to at least partially ablate the one or more targets within the local bypass.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

14-16. -16. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

27-28. -28. (canceled)

32-36. -36. (canceled)

39-41. -41. (canceled)

43-46. -46. (canceled)

50-54. -54. (canceled)

58. A method comprising:

at least partially diverting fluid flow from and returning fluid to a lumen of one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject to a local bypass;

locally capturing image information associated with the fluid flow;

analyzing the image information to at least partially identify one or more targets in real time;

selecting a target area in the local bypass at least partially based on the one or more identified targets; and

locally providing energy to the target area in real time, the energy having a magnitude selected to at least partially ablate the one or more identified targets.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

locally providing energy selected to elicit the image information associated with the fluid flow.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein locally providing energy selected to elicit the image information associated with the fluid flow comprises:

locally providing electromagnetic energy selected to induce a fluorescent response from the one or more targets.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein locally providing energy selected to elicit the image information associated with the fluid flow comprises:

locally providing electromagnetic energy selected to induce a scattering response from the one or more targets.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein locally providing energy selected to elicit the image information associated with the fluid flow comprises:

locally providing electromagnetic energy selected to induce a absorptive response from the one or more targets.

64. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

externally providing energy selected to elicit the image information associated with the fluid flow.

65. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

locally modulating fluid flow in the local bypass.

69. The method of claim 58, wherein at least partially diverting fluid flow from and returning fluid to a lumen of one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject to a local bypass comprises:

controllably diverting fluid flow from and returning fluid to the vessel lumen to the local bypass.

70. The method of claim 58, wherein at least partially diverting fluid flow from and returning fluid to a lumen of one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject to a local bypass comprises:

programmably diverting fluid flow from and returning fluid to the vessel lumen to the local bypass.

75. The method of claim 58, wherein analyzing the image information in real time comprises:

analyzing the image information during a period of residence of the one or more targets in the local bypass.

76. The method of claim 58, wherein locally providing energy to the target area in real time comprises:

locally providing energy to the target area during a period of residence of the one or more targets.

77. The method of claim 58, wherein selecting a target area in the local bypass at least partially based on the one or more identified targets comprises:

selecting the target area in the local bypass at least partially based on a predicted future path of the one or more identified targets.

78. The method of claim 58, wherein selecting a target area in the local bypass at least partially based on the one or more identified targets comprises:

selecting the target area in the local bypass at least partially based on a predicted time of arrival of the one or more identified targets at an identified location.

60. (canceled)

66-68. -68. (canceled)

71-74. -74. (canceled)

79. A method of treating a disease or disorder in a subject comprising:

at least partially diverting fluid flow from and returning fluid to a lumen of one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject to a local bypass;

locally capturing image information associated with the fluid flow;

analyzing the image information to at least partially identify one or more targets, the one or more targets each having a period of residence in the local bypass;

selecting a target area in the local bypass at least partially based on the one or more identified targets; and

locally providing energy to the target area during the residence period, the energy having a magnitude selected to at least partially destroy the one or more identified targets;

wherein the one or more identified targets are associated with the disease or disorder.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the disease or disorder is an infection.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein the disease or disorder is a neoplasm.

82. A method of modulating biological activity of one or more targets in a subject, comprising:

at least partially diverting fluid flow from and returning fluid to a lumen of one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject to a local bypass;

locally capturing image information associated with the fluid flow;

analyzing the image information to at least partially identify one or more targets; and

locally providing energy in an amount sufficient to modulate the biological activity of the one or more identified targets.

83. An untethered device comprising:

a local bypass configured to function in, or proximal to, one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject;

one or more first energy source configured to function in, or proximal to, a lumen of the local bypass and to provide energy configured to elicit one or more image responses associated with the local bypass lumen;

one or more sensors configured to function in, or proximal to, the local bypass lumen and to capture the one or more image responses;

control circuitry coupled to the one or more sensors, and responsive to at least partially identify one or more targets in, or proximal to, the local bypass lumen at least partially based on the captured one or more image responses;

one or more bypass insert responsive to the control circuitry and configured to modulate at least part of the local bypass lumen; and

one or more second energy source responsive to the control circuitry, and configured to provide ablation energy to the local bypass lumen at least partially based on the identification of the one or more targets.