Ultrasound system for continuous imaging and delivery of an encapsulated agent

• US 6,527,718 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mooney, Matthew, Connor, Brian G
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Ali M.
• Application Number:
  US09/535,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/420, 600/437, 600/431, 600/439, 600/427, 600/459, 600/449, 600/458, 600/466, 600/467, 424/9.52, 424/9.51, 424/9.5, 424/450
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/481 involving the use of contrast agent, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream analysis of echo signal exploiting properties of a contrast enhancer in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52039

Abstract

An ultrasound system for continuous imaging and for controlling release of an encapsulated agent from a carrier comprises a housing secured to a patient'"'"'s body, a transducer mounted within the housing, means for controlling the transducer to insonify the drug carrier with an ultrasonic signal and to thereby cause the release of the agent, and means for processing an ultrasonic echo signal to produce an image. Also, a method for controlling release of an encapsulated agent from a carrier comprises the steps of measuring a physiological parameter of a patient based on an ultrasonic echo signal, comparing the physiological parameter to a threshold, and transmitting an ultrasonic signal to insonify the carrier and thereby cause the release of the agent from the carrier in accord with the measured physiological parameter.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system for imaging of a region inside a patient'"'"'s body and for controlling release therein of an encapsulated agent from a carrier, said system comprising:

a housing secured to said patient'"'"'s body;

a transducer mounted within said housing to enable continuous imaging of said region to measure a physiological parameter of the patient;

means to evaluate the physiological parameter;

means for controlling said transducer to insonify said region with an ultrasonic signal and to thereby cause release of said encapsulated agent from said carrier into said region in response to the evaluation of said physiological parameter; and

means for processing an ultrasonic echo signal to produce an image of said region.

2. The ultrasound system recited in claim 1, further comprising further means for processing said ultrasonic echo signal to measure a physiological parameter of said patient.

3. The ultrasound system recited in claim 2, further comprising dispensing means for introducing said carrier into said patient'"'"'s body, and wherein said further means controls operation of said dispensing means in accord with said measure of said physiological parameter.

4. The ultrasound system recited in claim 3, further comprising means for indicating to a user at least one of:

a quantity of said carrier dispensed, a quantity of said encapsulated agent released into said patient'"'"'s body, and said measured physiological parameter.

5. The ultrasound system recited in claim 2, wherein said means for controlling said transducer controls an operating parameter of said ultrasonic signal in dependence upon said measured physiological parameter.

6. The ultrasound system recited in claim 1, further comprising a means for moving said transducer within said housing.

7. The ultrasound system recited in claim 1, wherein said encapsulated agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a drug, and a contrast agent.

8. A method for controlling release of an encapsulated agent from a carrier into a patient'"'"'s body comprising the steps of:

measuring a physiological parameter of a patient based on an ultrasonic echo signal;

comparing said measured physiological parameter to a threshold; and

transmitting an ultrasonic signal to insonify a region of said patient'"'"'s body and thereby cause release of said encapsulated agent from said carrier into said region in accord with said measured physiological parameter.

9. The method recited in claim 8, further comprising repeating said steps of measuring, comparing, and transmitting.

10. The method recited in claim 8, further comprising:

dispensing said carrier into said patient'"'"'s body in accord with said measured physiological parameter.

11. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising indicating to a user at least one of:

a quantity of said carrier dispensed, a quantity of said encapsulated agent released into said patient'"'"'s body, and said measured physiological parameter.

12. The method recited in claim 8, further comprising setting an operating parameter of said ultrasonic signal in dependence upon said measured physiological parameter.

13. The method recited in claim 8, wherein said encapsulated agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a drug, and a contrast agent.

14. A memory media that stores a program for controlling a processor for controlling release of an encapsulated agent from a carrier into a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

means for controlling said processor to measure a physiological parameter of a patient based on an ultrasonic echo signal;

means for controlling said processor to compare said measured physiological parameter to a threshold; and

means for controlling said processor to transmit an ultrasonic signal to insonify a region of said patient'"'"'s body and thereby cause release of said encapsulated agent from said carrier into said region in accord with said measured physiological parameter.

15. The memory media recited in claim 14, further comprising means for controlling said processor to dispense said carrier into said patient'"'"'s body in accord with said measured physiological parameter.

16. The memory media recited in claim 15, further comprising means for controlling said processor to indicate to a user at least one of:

a quantity of said carrier dispensed, a quantity of said encapsulated agent released into said patient'"'"'s body, and said measured physiological parameter.

17. The memory media recited in claim 14, further comprising means for controlling said processor to set an operating parameter of said ultrasonic signal in dependence upon said measured physiological parameter.

18. The memory media recited in claim 14, wherein said encapsulated agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a drug, and a contrast agent.

19. An ultrasound system comprising:

a transducer secured to a patient'"'"'s body so as to enable continuous imaging of said region;

a dispenser capable of introducing a carrier, encapsulating an agent, into the patient;

a monitor outputting values indicative of a physiological parameter of the patient; and

a control circuit responsive to the monitor that causes the dispenser to introduce the carrier into the patient and to adjust the transducer to cause the release of the agent.

20. An ultrasound system, as set forth in claim 19, wherein the monitor comprises software, executed by the control circuit, that evaluates images produced by the transducer to measure the physiological parameter.