Ultrasound and microbubbles in ocular diagnostics and therapies

• US 8,764,658 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Original Assignee: Doheny Eye Institute
• Inventors: Fawzi, Amani, Humayun, Mark S., Ameri, Hossen
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENG, BO JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US12/186,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• Field of Search: 601/2
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/10 Eye inspection
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/13 by ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/223 Microbubbles, hollow microspheres, free gas bubbles, gas microspheres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0076 Hardness, compressibility or resistance to crushing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0658 using acoustic or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

The present disclosure described methods, systems, and techniques for applying contrast-enhanced ultrasound to locate areas of blockage within retinal vessels and to break up clots that are causing damage. In addition to identifying the damaged area, the researchers anticipate that the initial image may serve as a baseline for monitoring the effect of treatment on the vessel, which may be achieved in multiple ways. The vibration effect of the ultrasound itself may suffice to dislodge clots. The microbubbles may also be coated or filled with medication, with ultrasonic shock waves activating the coating or causing mini explosions to release the medicine. Loading the microbubbles with a therapeutic agent, visualizing their presence at the diseased site using the ultrasound diagnostic mode, and then activating the microbubbles to release their contents at the targeted lesion could be a powerful and effective way to reverse occlusion without harming other areas of the eye or body.

Claims

1. A method of treating a blood vessel blockage in a patient in need thereof, comprising:

(i) supplying gas-filled microbubbles to an area of blockage within a retinal blood vessel, wherein the microbubbles are microns in diameter and wherein the microbubbles are not loaded with a therapeutic agent, and (ii) delivering ultrasound energy generated by an ultrasound probe to the area of blockage, wherein the application of ultrasound causes the microbubbles to activate or rupture, which is sufficient to dislodge or break up one or more clots causing the blockage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is an external probe.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is an intraocular probe.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe comprises an ultrasound component and one or more additional functional components.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the functional component is a laser.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the functional component is a pulsed-wave Doppler system.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the functional component is a cautery.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is coupled to a laser.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering optical treatment to the area of blockage.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising therapeutic cauterization.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring blood flow velocity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the microbubbles are supplied by intravascular injection into the systemic circulation of the patient.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the microbubbles are supplied by injection into the eye.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the microbubbles are injected into the posterior chamber of the eye, the anterior chamber of the eye or the intraocular tissue.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the intraocular tissue is subretinal, subchoroidal, intralenticular, intracorneal, or in the ciliary body.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the microbubbles are supplied by applying microbubbles to the eye surface.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the microbubbles are supplied by delivery into the retinal blood vessel by way of a catheter.