Method and apparatus for activating molecules to stimulate neurological tissue

• US 6,668,190 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayne State University
• Original Assignee: Wayne State University
• Inventors: Iezzi, Raymond, Abrams, Gary W., Auner, Greg, McAllister, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON III, HENRY M
• Application Number:
  US09/881,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 607/88, 607/53, 607/54, 604/19-20, 422/99-100, 422/82.11
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• 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

Abstract

A drug delivery system includes a plurality of sites, a fluid channel for delivering a drug to one of the plurality sites, and a light channel for delivering light to an area near one of the plurality of sites. The fluid channel is a micro fluidic channel and the light channel is a wave guide. The light channel may also be a fiber optic cable. The light channel directs light at the fluid channel wherein light from the light channel does not substantially exit to the major surface. The drug delivery system selectively delivers drugs to various types of neurologic cells. In operation a solution of a photoactivatable neuro-active drug is delivered to a preselected area in vivo and photoactivated in the solution at the preselected area to stimulate neurological tissue. The neuro-active drug could be an antagonist or agonist of neuronal activity.

Claims

1. A drug delivery system comprising:

a device having a plurality of sites;

a fluid channel for delivering a drug to one of the plurality of sites associated with the device;

a light channel associated with the device, the light channel for delivering light to the fluid channel while preventing delivery of light directly to one of the plurality of sites.

2. The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel is a micro fluidic channel.

3. The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the light channel is a wave guide.

4. The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the light channel is a fiber optic cable.

5. The drug delivery system of claim 1 wherein the light channel includes a fiber optic cable and a wave guide.

6. A drug delivery system comprising:

a chip having a plurality of sites;

a fluid channel associated with the chip for delivering a drug to one of the plurality of sites; and

a light channel associated with the chip for delivering light to an area near one of the plurality of sites, wherein at least a portion of the drug delivery system is housed on a chip.

7. The drug delivery system of claim 6 wherein the light channel intersects the fluid channel.

8. The drug delivery system of claim 6 wherein the chip further comprises:

a first major surface;

a second major surface; and

a minor surface, wherein the sites are on one of the first major surface or the second major surface, the fluid channel adapted to deliver fluid to a site on one of the first major surface or the second major surface and wherein the light channel directs light at the fluid channel wherein light from the light channel does not substantially exit to the first major surface or the second major surface.

9. A drug delivery system comprising:

a chip further comprising;

a first major surface;

a second major surface;

a plurality of sites associated with one of the first major surface or the second major surface;

a fluid channel for delivering a drug to one of the plurality of sites;

a light source;

a light channel for delivering light from the light source to an area near one of the plurality of sites; and

a pump in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of sites.

10. The drug delivery system of claim 9 further comprising a digital light processor;

the digital light processor receiving an input and outputting light in response to the input.

11. The drug delivery system of claim 10 wherein the input to the digital light processor is an RF signal.

12. The drug delivery system of claim 10 wherein the digital light processor is adapted for subcutaneous use.

13. The drug delivery system of claim 9 further comprising electrodes positioned near a site.

14. A chip comprising:

a first major surface;

a second major surface;

a minor surface;

a duct in fluid communication with the first major surface; and

a wave guide, adapted to transmit light, which intersects the duct, wherein light transmitted by the wave guide does not substantially exit to the first major surface.

15. The chip of claim 14 further comprising an electrode positioned near the duct at the first major surface.

16. The chip of claim 14 wherein the wave guide terminates at an angle with respect to the duct.

17. A drug delivery system comprising:

a plurality of sites on a surface of a device;

a plurality of fluid channels associated with the device for delivering a drug to the plurality sites, wherein at least one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of sites;

a plurality of light guides associated with the device operatively coupled with each of the plurality of fluid channels, the plurality of light guides delivering light directly to the fluid channel without delivering light directly to the plurality of sites.

18. The drug delivery system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of fluid channels are micro fluidic channels.

19. The drug delivery system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of light guides are wave guides.

20. The drug delivery system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of light guides are fiber optic cables.

21. The drug delivery system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of light guides include a fiber optic cable portion and a wave guide portion.

22. A drug delivery system comprising:

a substrate including a plurality of sites;

a plurality of fluid channels associated with the substrate for delivering a drug to the plurality sites, wherein at least one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of sites;

a plurality of light guides associated with the substrate operatively coupled with each of the plurality of fluid channels, wherein the plurality of sites are located on a chip.

23. A drug delivery system comprising:

a plurality of sites on a substrate;

a plurality of fluid channels associated with the substrate for delivering a drug to the plurality sites, wherein at least one of the fluid channels is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of sites; and

a plurality of light guides associated with the substrate operatively coupled with each of the plurality of fluid channels, wherein the plurality of sites are located on a chip having

a first major surface; and

a second major surface wherein the fluid channels output fluid at the first major surface, wherein the light guides intersect the plurality of fluid channels, wherein light from the light guide does not substantially exit to the first major surface.

24. The drug delivery system of claim 23 further comprising a link adapted to be positioned within a body, said light channels being attached to an optical link.

25. The drug delivery system of claim 23 further comprising a trans-cutaneous optical link adapted to be positioned on a surface of a body.

26. The drug delivery system of claim 23 further comprising an RF link adapted to be positioned within a body.

27. The drug delivery system of claim 23 further comprising:

a camera;

a computer operatively coupled to the camera, the computer converting a video input from the camera to an output; and

a link for receiving the computer output and converting the output to a series of light pulses for passing through selected ones of the plurality of light guides at selected times.

28. A drug delivery device comprising:

means for delivery of a solution of a photoactivatable neuro-active drug to a preselected area in vivo; and

a device for photo activating said photoactivatable neuro-active drug in said solution proximate said preselected area, the device for photo activating said photoactivatable neuro-active drug not directing light to the preselected area.

29. A drug delivery device comprising:

means for delivery of a plurality of units of solution of a photoactivatable neuro-active drug to a plurality of preselected areas in vivo; and

means for photo activating at least a portion of the plurality of units of said drug near at least a portion of said preselected areas in vivo, but not directing light to the preselected areas in vivo.

30. The drug delivery device of claim 29 wherein the neuro-active drug could be an antagonist or agonist of neuronal activity.

31. The drug delivery device of claim 29 wherein the neuro-active drug could be an antagonist or agonist of neuronal activity.

32. A method for delivering drugs comprising:

providing a solution including caged molecules;

delivering caged molecules to a position near a site;

selectively uncaging a selected portion of the caged molecules at a position near the site; and

delivering the uncaged molecules to the site.

33. A drug delivery device comprising:

a substrate further comprising

a plurality of sites;

a plurality of fluid channels for delivering a drug to one of the plurality sites;

a light channel for delivering light to an area near one of the plurality of sites;

a first reservoir in fluid communication with a first subset of the plurality of fluid channels; and

a second reservoir in fluid communication with a first subset of the plurality of fluid channels.

34. The drug delivery device of claim 33 made of biocompatible material and adapted to be positioned proximate neurological tissue.

35. The drug delivery device of claim 33 wherein the first fluid reservoir includes a first photoactivable neuro-active drug and wherein the second fluid reservoir includes a second photoactivable neuro-active drug.

36. The drug delivery device of claim 33 wherein the first subset of the plurality of fluid channels form a pattern at the plurality of sites.

37. The drug delivery device of claim 33 wherein the first subset of the plurality of fluid channels form a pattern at the plurality of sites and wherein the second subset of the plurality of fluid channels form a pattern at the plurality of sites;

for delivery of a plurality of units of solution of a photoactivatable neuro-active drug to a plurality of preselected areas in vivo; and

means for photolytically activating at least a portion of the units of said drug at least a portion of said preselected areas.