Vasculature and lymphatic system imaging and ablation

• US 8,165,663 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wattenburg, Willard H., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Zare, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US11/973,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 600/476, 600/407
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3137 for examination of the interior of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 involving training the classification device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

In an embodiment, an untethered device includes one or more first energy sources configured to provide energy to elicit one or more image responses associated with one or more blood vessels or lymph vessels. The device includes one or more sensors configured to capture the one or more image responses. Control circuitry is provided and coupled to the sensors for at least partially identifying one or more targets at least partially based on the captured one or more image responses. One or more inserts are provided, which are configured to be disposed in the one or more blood vessels or lymph vessels, and slow or trap the blood vessels or lymph vessels therein. One or more second energy sources are provided for ablating the one or more targets when they are slowed or trapped by the one or more inserts.

Claims

1. An untethered device comprising:

one or more first energy source configured to function in, or proximal to, one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject and to provide energy configured to elicit one or more image responses associated with the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel;

one or more sensors configured to function in, or proximal to, the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel and to capture the one or more image responses, and wherein the one or more sensors are configured to orient to the one or more first energy sources;

control circuitry coupled to the one or more sensors and responsive to at least partially identify one or more targets during an expected transit time of the one or more targets through a detection area in the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel at least partially based on the captured one or more image responses;

one or more inserts configured to be disposed in the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel and including a lumen extending therethrough having a lateral dimension that decreases at a choke point, the choke point configured to at least slow the one or more targets based at least partially on a size thereof as the one or more targets attempt to flow through the lumen; and

one or more second energy source configured to provide ablation energy to the one or more targets when the one or more targets are at least slowed by the choke point of the lumen responsive to the control circuitry at least partially identifying the one or more targets.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more first energy source is an electromagnetic energy source.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more first energy source is an acoustic energy source.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to align with the one or more first energy sources.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on pattern recognition.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on shape recognition.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on an actual cellular image.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on relative cell size.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on size.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to at least partially identify the one or more targets at least partially based on surface features.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on one or more temporal-spatial locations of the one or more identified targets.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on velocity of the one or more identified targets.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on vibratory dynamic response of the one or more identified targets.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on angular response of the one or more identified targets.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on inertial response of the one or more identified targets.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area at least partially based on predicting one or more future locations of the one or more identified targets.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is responsive to identify the target area by analysis of one or more characteristics of the one or more image responses.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry selects one or more characteristics of the energy emitted by the second energy source responsive to one or more characteristics of the one or more image responses.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is an electromagnetic energy source.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is an acoustic source.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is a particle beam energy source.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more second energy source is positioned down-flow from one or more of the one or more first energy source or the one or more sensors.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is configured to function within the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more second energy source is configured to function proximal to the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more inserts is operably responsive to the control circuitry and configured to modulate at least part of an inner circumference of the one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel.

26. An untethered device comprising:

one or more first energy source configured to function in, or proximal to, a lumen of one or more blood vessel or lymph vessel of a subject and to provide energy configured to elicit one or more image responses associated with the lumen;

one or more sensors configured to capture the one or more image responses;

control circuitry coupled to the one or more sensors and responsive to at least partially identify one or more targets during an expected transit time of the one or more targets through a detection area in the lumen at least partially based on the captured one or more image responses;

one or more insert including at least one valve operably responsive to the control circuitry and configured to at least partially close the one or more insert to trap the one or more targets in the one or more insert; and

one or more second energy source responsive to the control circuitry at least partially identifying the one or more targets and configured to emit energy selected to at least partially ablate the one or more targets when trapped in the one or more insert.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the one or more insert is configured to controllably modulate at least part of the circumference of the lumen.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the one or more insert is configured to reversibly modulate at least part of the circumference of the lumen.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein the one or more insert is configured to programmably modulate at least part of the circumference of the lumen.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein the one or more insert is configured to narrow at least part of the circumference of the lumen such that one or more cells traverse a localized region.

31. The device of claim 26 wherein the at least one valve is operable to open in response to the control circuitry at least partially identifying the one or more targets.

32. The device of claim 26 wherein the at least one valve is operable to open in response to the one or more second energy sources at least partially ablating the one or more targets.