Device, systems and methods for localized heating of a vessel and/or in combination with MR/NMR imaging of the vessel and surrounding tissue
First Claim
1. A method for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site of a vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a thermal energy delivery and imaging device proximal to the target site;
introducing the therapeutic medium to the target site over a predetermined time period;
activating the thermal energy delivery and imaging device so as to heat the internal target site thereby locally increasing a temperature of tissue at the target site; and
imaging the body using an MR/NMR imaging technique during said steps of introducing and activating the therapeutic medium;
wherein said activating occurs before and during said step of introducing, and wherein the therapeutic medium includes a gene therapy agent.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Featured are devices, systems and methods for localized heating of a vessel as well as devices, systems and methods for MR/NMR imaging of a vessel while locally heating a portion of the vessel. More particularly featured are such devices, systems and methods for use when administering or delivering therapeutic agents including genes and/or drugs to the tissues of the vessel. Such a method includes positioning a thermal energy delivery device proximal a target site with the vessel of a body and activating the thermal energy delivery device so as to heat the target site thereby locally increasing a temperature of tissue at the target site. In further embodiments, the method includes introducing a therapeutic medium to the target site over a predetermined time period, and wherein said activating occurs at least one of before, during or after said step of introducing.
67 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site of a vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a thermal energy delivery and imaging device proximal to the target site; introducing the therapeutic medium to the target site over a predetermined time period; activating the thermal energy delivery and imaging device so as to heat the internal target site thereby locally increasing a temperature of tissue at the target site; and imaging the body using an MR/NMR imaging technique during said steps of introducing and activating the therapeutic medium; wherein said activating occurs before and during said step of introducing, and wherein the therapeutic medium includes a gene therapy agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site of a vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
-
introducing a catheter that houses a thermal energy delivery and imaging device into one of a lumen or body cavity of a body; manipulating the catheter so as to traverse the body lumen or body cavity and so the thermal energy delivery and imaging device is positioned proximal the target site; activating the thermal energy delivery and imaging device so as to heat the internal target site thereby locally increasing a temperature of tissue at the target site, wherein said activating occurs; before and during introducing the therapeutic medium, introducing the therapeutic medium to the target site over a predetermined time period; and imaging the body using an MR/NMR imaging technique during said steps of manipulating, activating the thermal energy delivery and imaging device and introducing the therapeutic medium. - View Dependent Claims (7)
-
-
8. A method for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site of a vessel, said method comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a thermal energy delivery and imaging device proximal the target site; activating the thermal energy delivery and imaging device so as to heat the internal target site thereby locally increasing a temperature of tissue at the target site; wherein said activating occurs before and during introducing the therapeutic medium, introducing the therapeutic medium to the target site over a predetermined time period; and imaging the body using an MR/NMR imaging technique during said steps of positioning, activating and introducing the therapeutic medium; wherein the thermal energy delivery and imaging device is used to detect MR/NMR signals from the target site. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site of a vessel in which fluid flows, said method comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a thermal energy delivery and imaging device proximal the target site; activating the thermal energy delivery and imaging device so as to heat the internal target site thereby locally increasing a temperature of tissue at the target site; wherein said activating occurs before and during introducing the therapeutic medium, maintaining a flow of fluid through the vessel during said steps of activating and introducing the therapeutic medium; and imaging the body using an MR/NMR imaging technique during said steps of positioning, activating the thermal energy delivery and imaging device and introducing the therapeutic medium; wherein the thermal energy delivery and imaging device is used to detect MR/NMR signals from the target site. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification