SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT USING ULTRASONIC ENERGY

• US 20110172528A1
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Otsuka Medical Devices Co., Ltd. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Otsuka Medical Devices Co., Ltd. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: GERTNER, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/966,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20110172528A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3762 using computed tomography systems [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0225 the pressure being controlled by electric signals, e.g. derived from Korotkoff sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4047 afferent nerves, i.e. nerves that relay impulses to the central nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4052 efferent nerves, i.e. nerves that relay impulses from the central nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/03 : Computed tomography [CT] echo-tomography A61B8/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 : Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 : Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/506 : for diagnosis of nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 : Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 : Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 : Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 : involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/485 : involving measuring strain or elastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 : Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 : Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 : for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 : comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0026 : Stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/003 : Destruction of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/025 : interstitial
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 : Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 : Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

In some examples, nerves surrounding arteries or leading to organs are targeted with energy sources to correct or modulate physiologic processes. In some examples, different types of energy sources are utilized singly or combined with one another. In some examples, bioactive agents or devices activated by the energy sources are delivered to the region of interest and the energy is enhanced by such agents or the agents are enhanced by the energy sources.

Claims

1-148. -148. (canceled)

149. A treatment system, comprising:

a therapeutic ultrasonic energy source comprising a transducer for placement on a patient'"'"'s skin;

a diagnostic imaging device configured to detect flow in a blood vessel; and

a processor coupled to the transducer, wherein the processor is configured to control the transducer based on information from the diagnostic imaging device to deliver ultrasonic energy to a nerve region containing the blood vessel;

wherein the processor is configured to operate the transducer to heat tissue in the nerve region on at least two sides of the blood vessel by applying the ultrasonic energy through the blood vessel from the transducer.

150. The system of claim 149, wherein the diagnostic imaging device comprises an ultrasound device.

151. The system of claim 149, wherein the diagnostic imaging device comprises a MRI device.

152. The system of claim 149, wherein the diagnostic imaging device is configured to detect a fiducial inside a patient.

153. The system of claim 152, wherein the fiducial comprises a catheter.

154. The system of claim 149, wherein the processor is configured to operate the transducer to create a heat zone having an annular configuration.

155. The system of claim 149, wherein the processor is configured to operate the transducer to create a heat zone having a spiral configuration.

156. The system of claim 149, wherein the tissue is at least ten millimeters away from the blood vessel.

157. The system of claim 149, wherein the nerve region comprises an adventitia surrounding the blood vessel.

158. The system of claim 149, wherein the nerve region is an autonomic nerve region, and the blood vessel leads to a kidney;

and

wherein the processor is configured to deliver the ultrasonic energy through a path from an external position posterior to a patient, the path intersecting the kidney while avoiding bone and bowel tissue.

159. The system of claim 149, further comprising a sensor for detecting temperature of the nerve region during the heating of the tissue.

160. A treatment method, comprising:

placing a therapeutic ultrasonic energy source comprising a transducer external to a patient;

detecting flow in a blood vessel; and

controlling the transducer based on the detected flow to deliver ultrasonic energy through the blood vessel, thereby heating tissue on at least two sides of the blood vessel in a nerve region that contains the blood vessel.

161. The method of claim 160, wherein the flow is detected using an ultrasound device.

162. The method of claim 160, wherein the flow is detected using a MRI device.

163. The method of claim 160, further comprising detecting a fiducial.

164. The method of claim 163, wherein the fiducial comprises a catheter.

165. The method of claim 160, wherein the transducer is controlled to create a heat zone having an annular configuration.

166. The method of claim 160, wherein the transducer is controlled to create a heat zone having a spiral configuration.

167. The method of claim 160, wherein the tissue is at least ten millimeters away from the blood vessel.

168. The method of claim 160, wherein the tissue comprises an adventitia surrounding the blood vessel.

169. The method of claim 160, wherein the nerve region is an autonomic nerve region, and the blood vessel leads to a kidney;

and

wherein the ultrasonic energy is delivered through a path from an external position posterior to the patient, the path intersecting the kidney while avoiding bone and bowel tissue.

170. The method of claim 160, further comprising detecting temperature of the nerve region during the heating of the tissue.