Method and apparatus for use with MR imaging
First Claim
1. A system for observing delivery of material into tissue of a living patient comprising:
- a) a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a magnetic resonance source, a magnetic resonance signal reader capable of reading magnetic resonance amplitude, and a device capable of providing a visible image of a magnetic resonance signal from said magnetic resonance signal reader,b) a material delivery device which can be placed within tissue of a living patient and which places magnetic resonance readable material within said tissue of a living patient within an area or volume within of tissue of said living patient and which said magnetic resonance signal reader reads magnetic resonance amplitude within said tissue of a living patient by magnetic resonance imaging, andc) a source of material to be delivered by said material delivery device attached to said material delivery device so that at least some of said material may be delivered by said device into said tissue,, said material comprising material which is capable of affecting the amplitude of an MR signal,said material delivery device comprising a catheter system for delivering fluid to a selected site within a tissue comprising;
1) a pump for delivering the fluid;
2) a catheter coupled to the pump; and
3) the catheter having a distal and a proximal end, the catheter comprising a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion, the first tubular portion being made from a relatively impermeable material and having a lumen, the second tubular portion having an open end disposed within the distal end of the lumen and a closed end disposed distally of the distal end of the lumen, the second tubular portion being made of a porous material having a semi-permeable membrane with pre-selected molecular weight exclusion that permits fluid to flow through the lumen and out of the catheter through the second tubular portion into the tissue, said semi-permeable membrane being adapted to provide for complete irrigation of any anatomically extensive tissue region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is an apparatus and method for targeted drug delivery into a living patient using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The apparatus and method are useful in delivery to all types of living tissue and uses MR Imaging to track the location of drug delivery and estimating the rate of drug delivery. An MR-visible drug delivery device positioned at an target site (e.g., intracranial delivery) delivers a diagnostic or therapeutic drug solution into the tissue (e.g., the brain). The spatial distribution kinetics of the injected or infused drug agent are monitored quantitatively and non-invasively using water proton directional diffusion MR imaging to establish the efficacy of drug delivery at a targeted location.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for observing delivery of material into tissue of a living patient comprising:
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a) a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a magnetic resonance source, a magnetic resonance signal reader capable of reading magnetic resonance amplitude, and a device capable of providing a visible image of a magnetic resonance signal from said magnetic resonance signal reader, b) a material delivery device which can be placed within tissue of a living patient and which places magnetic resonance readable material within said tissue of a living patient within an area or volume within of tissue of said living patient and which said magnetic resonance signal reader reads magnetic resonance amplitude within said tissue of a living patient by magnetic resonance imaging, and c) a source of material to be delivered by said material delivery device attached to said material delivery device so that at least some of said material may be delivered by said device into said tissue,, said material comprising material which is capable of affecting the amplitude of an MR signal, said material delivery device comprising a catheter system for delivering fluid to a selected site within a tissue comprising; 1) a pump for delivering the fluid; 2) a catheter coupled to the pump; and 3) the catheter having a distal and a proximal end, the catheter comprising a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion, the first tubular portion being made from a relatively impermeable material and having a lumen, the second tubular portion having an open end disposed within the distal end of the lumen and a closed end disposed distally of the distal end of the lumen, the second tubular portion being made of a porous material having a semi-permeable membrane with pre-selected molecular weight exclusion that permits fluid to flow through the lumen and out of the catheter through the second tubular portion into the tissue, said semi-permeable membrane being adapted to provide for complete irrigation of any anatomically extensive tissue region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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- 15. A medical device for use with magnetic resonance imaging comprising at least two medical elements which are attached to each other, each of said at least two medical elements providing different medical treatment functions, at least one of said at least two medical elements comprising a hollow tube of a first material, said hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one of said at least two medical elements having within its distal end at least one second material having a response to magnetic resonance imaging which is greater than a response provided by said first material wherein said hollow tube comprises a core of said medical device around which at least three other distinct components are physically attached to said core.
- 21. A medical device for use with magnetic resonance imaging comprising at least two medical elements which are attached to each other, each of said at least two medical elements providing different medical treatment functions, at least one of said at least two medical elements comprising a hollow tube of a first material, said hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one of said at least two medical elements having within its distal end at least one second material having a response to magnetic resonance imaging which is greater than a response provided by said first material wherein said hollow tube comprises a core of said medical device around which at least three other distinct components are physically attached to said core, and a preamplifier is present on said device with said second element being between said preamplifier and said distal end of said device.
Specification