System for selective release of liposome encapsulated material via laser radiation
First Claim
1. A method of selectively and repetitively releasing a material at a specific site in the blood stream inside the body of an animal, comprising the steps ofencapsulating the material in heat-sensitive lipid vesicles,injecting the lipid vesicles into the blood stream of the animal so that the blood stream carries the lipid vesicles throughout the body including the specific site,generating a laser beam having a wavelength in the visible or infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, andapplying the laser beam to the lipid vesicles located at the specific site so as to heat and rupture the lipid vesicles so that the material therein is released within milliseconds therefrom at the specific site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for selectively releasing materials, such as drugs or dyes, at a specific site in the body of an animal. The system uses laser radiation to rupture laser light-absorbing and heat-sensitive lipid vesicles containing the drugs or dyes, thereby releasing these materials at the specific site irradiated by the laser. By using this system, the location and concentration of the materials are controlled as well as the duration of the materials'"'"' release and the release can be triggered repetitively. The laser beam used is visible or its location can be made visible to the naked eye so that the location and size of the beam'"'"'s contact with the irradiated tissue can be observed and adjusted.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of selectively and repetitively releasing a material at a specific site in the blood stream inside the body of an animal, comprising the steps of
encapsulating the material in heat-sensitive lipid vesicles, injecting the lipid vesicles into the blood stream of the animal so that the blood stream carries the lipid vesicles throughout the body including the specific site, generating a laser beam having a wavelength in the visible or infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and applying the laser beam to the lipid vesicles located at the specific site so as to heat and rupture the lipid vesicles so that the material therein is released within milliseconds therefrom at the specific site.
Specification