Vasculature and lymphatic system imaging and ablation

• US 20090093807A1
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• 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 8,165,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3137 for examination of the interior of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation
• 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 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 involving training the classification device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

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

Claims

1. An untethered device comprising:

one or more first energy source configured to function in, or proximal to, one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject and to provide energy configured to elicit one or more image responses associated with the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel;

one or more sensors configured to function in, or proximal to, the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel 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 the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel 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 during the expected transit time of the one or more targets through the target area.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more first energy source is an electromagnetic energy source.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more first energy source is an acoustic energy source.

47. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to align with the one or more first energy sources.

48. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to orient to the one or more first energy sources.

67. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on pattern recognition.

68. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on shape recognition.

69. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on an actual cellular image.

70. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on relative cell size.

71. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on size.

72. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on surface features.

75. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on one or more temporal-spatial locations of the one or more identified targets.

76. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on velocity of the one or more identified targets.

77. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on vibratory dynamic response of the one or more identified targets.

78. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on angular response of the one or more identified targets.

79. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on inertial response of the one or more identified targets.

80. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on predicting one or more future locations of the one or more identified targets.

81. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area by analysis of one or more characteristics of the one or more image responses.

82. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry selects one or more characteristics of the energy emitted by the second energy source responsive to one or more characteristics of the one or more image responses.

83. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is an electromagnetic energy source.

87. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is an acoustic source.

88. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is a particle beam energy source.

91. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more second energy source is positioned downflow from one or more of the one or more first energy source or the one or more sensors.

92. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is configured to function within the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel.

93. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is configured to function proximal to the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel.

94. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an insert responsive to the control circuitry and configured to modulate at least part of an inner circumference of the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel.

2-6. -6. (canceled)

8-17. -17. (canceled)

19-46. -46. (canceled)

49-66. -66. (canceled)

73-74. -74. (canceled)

84-86. -86. (canceled)

89-90. -90. (canceled)

95. A method comprising:

locally capturing image information associated with one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel in a subject using one or more untethered device;

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

selecting a target area 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 targets.

96. The method of claim 95, further comprising:

locally providing energy to the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel to elicit the image information.

97. The method of claim 95, further comprising:

externally providing energy to the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel to elicit the image information.

119. The method of claim 95, wherein the image information includes spatial-temporal location information.

120. The method of claim 95, wherein the image information includes velocity information.

122. The method of claim 95, wherein analyzing the image information comprises:

comparing the image information to one or more of reference image information or target image information.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein comparing the image information to one or more of reference image information or target image information comprises:

comparing one or more of cell shape or cell outline with one or more of reference cell shape or cell outline information or target cell shape or cell outline information.

124. The method of claim 122, wherein comparing the image information to one or more of reference image information or target image information comprises:

comparing one or more of intracellular shape or intracellular outline with one or more of reference intracellular shape or intracellular outline information or target intracellular shape or intracellular outline information.

125. The method of claim 95, wherein analyzing the image information includes performing one or more of pattern recognition or shape recognition analysis.

126. The method of claim 95, wherein analyzing the image information comprises:

determining spatial-temporal information associated with the image information.

127. The method of claim 126, wherein determining spatial-temporal information associated with the image information comprises:

predicting future spatial-temporal locations associated with the image information.

128. The method of claim 126, wherein determining spatial-temporal information associated with the image information comprises:

determining velocity information associated with the image information.

129. The method of claim 95, wherein the target area includes one or more of the one or more identified targets.

146. The method of claim 95, wherein locally providing energy in real time to at least partially ablate a target area comprises:

locally providing energy to a predicted future location of the one or more targets.

147. The method of claim 95, further comprising:

locally inhibiting fluid flow associated with the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel.

98-118. -118. (canceled)

121. (canceled)

130-145. -145. (canceled)

148. A method of treating, ameliorating, or preventing a disease or disorder in a subject comprising:

locally capturing image information associated with one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel in the subject using an untethered device;

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

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

locally providing ablation energy to the target area in real time, the ablation energy having characteristics appropriate to at least partially ablate the one or more identified targets;

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

149. The method of claim 148, wherein the disease or disorder is an infection.

150. The method of claim 148, wherein the disease or disorder is a neoplasm.

151. (canceled)

152. An untethered device comprising:

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

one or more sensors configured 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 the lumen at least partially based on the captured one or more image responses;

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

one or more second energy source responsive to the control circuitry and configured to emit energy selected to at least partially ablate a target area during the expected transit time of the one or more targets through the target area.

155. The device of claim 152, wherein the one or more insert is configured to controllably modulate at least part of the circumference of the lumen.

156. The device of claim 152, wherein the one or more insert is configured to reversibly modulate at least part of the circumference of the lumen.

157. The device of claim 152, wherein the one or more insert is configured to programmably modulate at least part of the circumference of the lumen.

153-154. -154. (canceled)

158-159. -159. (canceled)

161-190. -190. (canceled)

191. A method comprising:

locally modifying fluid flow associated with a lumen of one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel in a subject;

locally capturing image information associated with the lumen;

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

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

locally providing ablation energy to the target area in real time, the ablation energy having characteristics appropriate to at least partially ablate the one or more identified targets.

192-216. -216. (canceled)