Ultrasound-assisted drug-delivery method and system based on time reversal acoustics
First Claim
1. A method for ultrasound-assisted drug delivery, said method including the steps of:
- (a) providing a dual-purpose needle with a tip equipped with a beacon, said beacon including a piezoelectric element connected to a cable via two electrical conductors,(b) providing a time-reversal acoustic system including an electronic unit and an ultrasound transmitter, said cable connecting said needle to said electronic unit,(c) inserting said needle to position the tip thereof at the target tissue,(d) injecting a drug into said tissue through said needle,(e) generating an initial ultrasound signal by said transmitter,(f) receiving said initial ultrasound signal by said beacon and generating an electrical feedback signal,(g) sending said signal along said needle via said two electrical conductors to said cable and further to said electronic unit, and(h) focusing high intensity ultrasound at a location of said beacon by a time-reversing procedure using said electrical feedback signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound beacon is incorporated into a needle of a drug delivery system utilizing high intensity ultrasound energy during certain cancer treatments. The beacon is configured to generate a electrical feedback signal in response to an initial ultrasound signal sent by an ultrasound transmitter. The electrical feedback signal is then sent along two electrical conductors of the needle and further over a cable back to the electronic unit. The feedback signal is then used to generate high intensity focused ultrasound using time-reversal acoustics principles. Therapeutic application of the system of the invention includes applying high intensity focused ultrasound at the site of drug delivery to enhance local tissue uptake of injected medication.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for ultrasound-assisted drug delivery, said method including the steps of:
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(a) providing a dual-purpose needle with a tip equipped with a beacon, said beacon including a piezoelectric element connected to a cable via two electrical conductors, (b) providing a time-reversal acoustic system including an electronic unit and an ultrasound transmitter, said cable connecting said needle to said electronic unit, (c) inserting said needle to position the tip thereof at the target tissue, (d) injecting a drug into said tissue through said needle, (e) generating an initial ultrasound signal by said transmitter, (f) receiving said initial ultrasound signal by said beacon and generating an electrical feedback signal, (g) sending said signal along said needle via said two electrical conductors to said cable and further to said electronic unit, and (h) focusing high intensity ultrasound at a location of said beacon by a time-reversing procedure using said electrical feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An ultrasound-assisted drug delivery system comprising:
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a dual-purpose needle having a hollow metal body and a tip equipped with a beacon formed by a piezoelectric element connected to a cable by an insulated microwire running along said needle as a first conductor and by said metal body as a second conductor, and a time-reversal acoustic system including an electronic unit and an ultrasound transmitter, said cable connecting said needle to said electronic unit, wherein said electronic unit is configured to first cause said transmitter to send an initial ultrasound signal, said piezoelectric element receiving said initial signal and generating an electrical feedback signal to be sent along said needle back to said electronic unit via said cable, said electronic unit further configured to focus high intensity ultrasound at a location of the beacon of said needle by a time-reversing procedure using said electrical feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15)
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11. An ultrasound-assisted drug delivery system comprising:
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a dual-purpose needle having a hollow non-conductive body and a tip equipped with a beacon including a piezoelectric element connected to a cable by two electrical conductors imbedded into said non-conductive body of said needle, and a time-reversal acoustic system including an electronic unit and an ultrasound transmitter, said cable connecting said needle to said electronic unit, wherein said electronic unit is configured to first cause said transmitter to send an initial ultrasound signal, said piezoelectric element configured to generate an electrical feedback signal in response to said initial signal and to send said electrical feedback signal along said needle back to said electronic unit via said cable, said electronic unit further configured to focus high intensity ultrasound at a location of the beacon of said needle with a time-reversing procedure using said electrical feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An ultrasound-assisted drug delivery system comprising:
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a dual-purpose needle having a removable stylet equipped with a beacon at a tip thereof, said beacon including a piezoelectric element connected to a cable by two electrical conductors contained within said stylet, said cable connecting said stylet to said electronic unit, and a time-reversal acoustic system including an electronic unit and an ultrasound transmitter, wherein said electronic unit is configured to first cause said transmitter to send an initial ultrasound signal, said piezoelectric element configured to generate an electrical feedback signal in response thereto and send it along said needle back to said electronic unit via said cable, said electronic unit further configured to focus high intensity acoustic energy at a location of the beacon of said stylet with a time-reversing procedure using said electrical feedback signal.
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Specification