Device and method for in vivo detection of clots within circulatory vessels

• US 9,451,884 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2011
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (University of Arkansas System)
• Inventors: Zharov, Vladimir Pavlovich, Galanzha, Ekaterina
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): IMPINK, BRADLEY GERALD
• Application Number:
  US13/253,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0041 Removal of thrombosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0088 Vibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0095 by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14535 for measuring haematocrit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 : Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• 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 8/481 : 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: A61K 49/22 : Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/288 : disposed at the outer circumference of a recipient
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/30 : Combinations with other devices, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/06 : Ionising electrode being a needle
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/26 : for use in medical applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1425 : using an analyser being characterised by its control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1434 : Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/147 : the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1477 : Multiparameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/1702 : with opto-acoustic detection, e.g. for gases or analysing solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 : Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2418 : using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4427 : with stored values, e.g. threshold values

Abstract

A device and method of using the device to detect the presence and composition of clots and other target objects in a circulatory vessel of a living subject is described. In particular, devices and methods of detecting the presence and composition of clots and other target objects in a circulatory vessel of a living subject using in vivo photoacoustic flow cytometry techniques is described.

Claims

1. A device for the continuous monitoring of a circulatory vessel of a living organism, comprising:

a. an in vivo flow cytometer, wherein the in vivo flow cytometer comprises

i. a pulsed laser configured to pulse target objects comprising light absorbing red blood cells and non-absorbing clots within the circulatory vessel with a plurality of laser pulses at a pulse wavelength ranging between about 400 nm and about 2500 nm;

ii. an ultrasound transducer configured to receive photoacoustic signals emitted by the target objects in response to the laser pulses and generate an output; and

iii. an optical module configured to convert the wavelength, pulse rate, or both wavelength and pulse rate of the laser pulses emitted by the pulsed laser to desired values; and

b. a processor configured to;

receive the output from the ultrasound transducer, wherein the output comprises a photoacoustic pattern; and

analyze the output to determine the presence of any negative dips in the photoacoustic pattern which are below a threshold, wherein the threshold is established such that a negative dip below the threshold indicates the presence of a clot.