Method and apparatus for treating bodily tissues with medicinal substance

• US 6,969,382 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MicroTech Medical Technologies Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zuli Holdings, Ltd.
• Inventors: Richter, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE
• Application Number:
  US10/348,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/892.1, 604 20- 22, 604501-503, 604 65- 67, 604/93.01, 607/62, 607 2- 3, 607115-116, 607120-121, 600 9- 14, 600437-439, 606/32
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/202 using longitudinal or thickness displacement combined with bending, shear or torsion displacement

Abstract

A therapeutic device and therapeutic method for delivering electrical energy to a polymer containing a medicament that allows release of the medicament to a body tissue or organ. The device and method utilizes ultrasonic vibrations to cause the device, implanted in the body tissue or organ to be treated, to discharge an electrical current to the polymer containing the medicament. The medicament is controllably released to the target area by changing the charge of the polymer with the electrical current.

Claims

1. A device for treating bodily tissue or organ, comprising:

means for generating electrical current at a specific voltage and amperage in response to ultrasonic vibrations;

means for selectively generating and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the electrical generating means in response to a pre-selected stimuli generated by the tissue;

a sensor adapted to receive the pre-selected stimuli generated by the body tissue, the sensor further adapted to communicate with and selectively energize the ultrasonic vibrations means; and

a polymer microstructure containing a medicament such that controlled release of the medicament from the polymer microstructure to the tissue is caused by the electrical current.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic vibration means is disposed on the electrical generating means.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed on the electrical generating means.