Method and PDT probe for minimizing CT and MRI image artifacts
First Claim
1. An implantable probe for use in administering a medical therapy to an internal treatment site within a patient'"'"'s body, and for minimizing imaging artifacts in images produced to evaluate a condition of the internal treatment site, comprising:
- (a) a non-metallic insulating base;
(b) a plurality of non-metallic conductive traces supported by the base, adapted to couple to a power supply to convey an electrical current supplied by the power supply; and
(c) a non-metallic electronic component supported by the base and coupled to the conductive traces, said non-metallic electronic component being energized by the electrical current conveyed by the plurality of non-metallic conductive traces to produce the medical therapy, said implantable probe being thus configured to remain disposed at the treatment site when the treatment site is imaged, without causing an imaging artifact that would obscure the treatment site in said images.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable probe having a non-metallic insulating base, non-metallic conductive traces supported by the base, and a plurality of non-metallic light sources supported by the base and coupled to the conductive traces. The conductive traces and the light sources are fabricated from a conductive polymer, which does not cause any artifacts if the implantable probe is left at the treatment site while it is imaged. Further, the implantable probe includes an envelope that is transparent and hermetically encloses the base, the pair of conductive traces, and the light sources. At least a portion of the envelope is optically transparent, enabling light emitted by the light sources to illuminate an adjacent treatment site. The conductive traces and the base are substantially flexible, enabling the probe to be flexed without breaking when the implantable probe is advanced within the body to the treatment site. A non-metallic receiver coil implanted in a patient'"'"'s body is energized by inductively coupling it to an external transmitter coil. The current from the receiver coil is conveyed to the implanted probe through non-metallic leads.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An implantable probe for use in administering a medical therapy to an internal treatment site within a patient'"'"'s body, and for minimizing imaging artifacts in images produced to evaluate a condition of the internal treatment site, comprising:
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(a) a non-metallic insulating base; (b) a plurality of non-metallic conductive traces supported by the base, adapted to couple to a power supply to convey an electrical current supplied by the power supply; and (c) a non-metallic electronic component supported by the base and coupled to the conductive traces, said non-metallic electronic component being energized by the electrical current conveyed by the plurality of non-metallic conductive traces to produce the medical therapy, said implantable probe being thus configured to remain disposed at the treatment site when the treatment site is imaged, without causing an imaging artifact that would obscure the treatment site in said images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing a medical therapy to a treatment site inside a patient'"'"'s body, while avoiding artifacts in images made of the treatment site by apparatus used to administer the medical therapy, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an implantable probe that comprises non-metallic components, including a plurality of non-metallic conductors for conveying an electrical current, and a non-metallic electrical component coupled to the non-metallic conductors and energized by the electrical current to provide the medical therapy; (b) placing the implantable probe at the treatment site; (c) energizing the non-metallic electrical component to administer the medical therapy to the internal treatment site; and (d) imaging the treatment site while the implantable probe is disposed adjacent thereto, use of said non-metallic components in the implantable probe substantially eliminating artifacts in images produced thereby. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An implantable probe for use in administering light therapy to an internal treatment site within a patient'"'"'s body, said apparatus minimizing imaging artifacts in images produced to evaluate a condition of the treatment site in response to the light therapy, comprising:
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(a) a non-metallic insulating base; (b) a pair of non-metallic conductive traces supported by the base, adapted to couple to a power supply and convey an electrical current provided by said power supply; and (c) a non-metallic light source supported by the base and coupled to the conductive traces, said non-metallic light source being energized by the electrical current conveyed by the non-metallic conductive traces to produce light employed for the light therapy, said implantable probe being thus configured to remain disposed at the treatment site while the treatment site is imaged without causing an imaging artifact that would obscure the treatment site in images produced thereby.
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26. A method for providing light therapy to a treatment site inside a patient'"'"'s body, without causing artifacts in images made of the treatment site while apparatus used to administer the light therapy remains at the treatment site, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an implantable probe that comprises non-metallic components, including a plurality of non-metallic conductors for conveying an electrical current, and a non-metallic light source that is energized by the electrical current conveyed by the non-metallic conductors; (b) positioning the implantable probe at the treatment site; (c) applying a photoreactive agent to the treatment site, said photoreactive agent being preferentially absorbed by tissue at the treatment site and having an absorption waveband substantially within a waveband of light produced by the light source; (d) energizing the light source with the electrical current to illuminate the treatment site for a period of time; and (e) imaging the treatment site while the implantable probe remains disposed adjacent thereto, use of said non-metallic components in the implantable probe minimizing creation of artifacts in images produced thereby.
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Specification