Autofluorescent imaging and target ablation

• US 20080103355A1
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Weaver, Thomas, Boyden, Edward, Leuthardt, Eric, Hyde, Roderick, Rivet, Dennis, Myhrvold, Nathan, Wood, Lowell, Ishikawa, Muriel
• Granted Patent: US 8,936,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/103
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/201 with beam delivery through a hollow tube, e.g. forming an articulated arm through a flexible conduit A61B18/22; Hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00066 intensity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00208 actively driven, e.g. by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00505 Urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00785 Reflected power
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20361 with redirecting based on sensed condition, e.g. tissue analysis or tissue movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/207 mixing two wavelengths
• 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 5/0086 : using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 : for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 : for mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0097 : by applying acoustic waves and detecting light, i.e. acoustooptic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 : using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 : Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 : Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 : Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0602 : for treatment of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 : Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0607 : Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0609 : Stomach and/or esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/061 : Bladder and/or urethra
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 : Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 : Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 : Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0654 : Lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 : infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 : ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 : Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 : Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1089 : Electrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/01 : Devices for producing movement of radiation source during therapy A61N5/1077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 : for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 : using laser light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 : X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1001 : using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy

Abstract

Apparatus, devices, methods, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to autofluorescent imaging and ablation are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for treating or ameliorating H. pylori infection comprising:

an untethered ingestible mass having one or more optical energy source configured to emit variable directional electromagnetic energy in a manner selected to induce photodynamic cell death in H. pylori.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is shaped for random movement.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is shaped for predictable movement.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is shaped for continual movement.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is cylindrical.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is a rotationally symmetrical body with an axial dimension greater than an equatorial dimension.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is spherical.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is designed to predictably rotate.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is designed to continually rotate.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is designed to randomly rotate.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is designed to randomly tumble.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the untethered ingestible mass is designed to randomly wobble.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a motor coupled to a movable mass.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the movable mass is configured to cause variable moments of inertia.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the movable mass is configured to undergo unbalanced rotation.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the movable mass is configured to undergo linear oscillatory motion.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the movable mass is configured to undergo eccentric motion.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

a power source.

24. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

control circuitry coupled to the power source.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the motor.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the one or more optical energy source.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein the power source is connected to the motor.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein the power source is connected to the one or more optical energy source.

34. The device of claim 24, wherein the control circuitry is configured to be monitored by one or more external sources.

35. The device of claim 24, wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide one or more outputs to one or more external sources.

37. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the control circuitry and configured to detect one or more environmental parameters.

46. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to emit the electromagnetic energy from one or more locations.

47. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to emit the electromagnetic energy in one or more directions.

48. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to continuously emit the electromagnetic energy.

49. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to intermittently emit the electromagnetic energy.

50. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to randomly emit the electromagnetic energy.

51. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to emit the electromagnetic energy in a time-dependent manner.

52. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to emit the electromagnetic energy in a spatially variable manner.

53. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured emit the electromagnetic energy in a pH-dependent manner.

54. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured emit the electromagnetic energy in an orientation-dependent manner.

55. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more optical energy source is configured to emit the electromagnetic energy in a programmable manner.

56. The device of claim 55, the one or more optical energy source is programmed to emit the electromagnetic energy in a time-dependent manner.

57. The device of claim 55, the one or more optical energy source is programmed to emit the electromagnetic energy in a pH-dependent manner.

58. The device of claim 1, wherein the emission of the electromagnetic energy is remote-controlled.

59. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

control circuitry coupled to the optical energy source and configured to control the emission of the electromagnetic energy.

68. The device of claim 59, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the control circuitry and configured to detect one or more environmental parameters.

19-23. -23. (canceled)

29-33. -33. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

38-45. -45. (canceled)

60-67. -67. (canceled)

69-70. -70. (canceled)

71. A device for ablating H. pylori comprising:

an untethered ingestible mass shaped for non-uniform movement having an optical energy source configured to emit electromagnetic energy in a manner selected to induce photodynamic cell death in H. pylori.

72. (canceled)

73. A method for treating or ameliorating H. pylori infection comprising:

providing to a digestive tract of a subject an untethered ingestible mass; and

emitting variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass in a manner selected to induce photodynamic cell death in H. pylori.

79. The method of claim 73, wherein the untethered ingestible mass comprises:

a motor coupled to a movable mass.

80. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

inducing variable moments of inertia by moving the movable mass.

81. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

inducing the movable mass to undergo unbalanced rotation.

82. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

inducing the movable mass to undergo linear oscillatory movement.

83. The method of claim 79, further comprising:

inducing the movable mass to undergo eccentric movement.

84. The method of claim 79, wherein the untethered ingestible mass includes a power source.

99. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

monitoring the untethered ingestible device from one or more external sources.

100. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

providing one or more outputs from the untethered ingestible device to one or more external sources.

101. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

detecting one or more environmental parameters.

120. The method of claim 73, wherein emitting variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass in a manner selected to induce photodynamic cell death in H. pylori comprises:

emitting the variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass in a spatially variable manner.

121. The method of claim 73, wherein emitting variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass in a manner selected to induce photodynamic cell death in H. pylori comprises:

emitting the variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass at one or more intervals at least partially based on pH.

122. The method of claim 73, wherein emitting variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass in a manner selected to induce photodynamic cell death in H. pylori comprises:

emitting the variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass at one or more intervals at least partially based on orientation.

125. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

controlling the emission of the variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass using control circuitry.

126. The method of claim 125, further comprising:

detecting one or more environmental parameters using a sensor coupled to the control circuitry.

127. The method of claim 126, further comprising:

emitting the variable directional electromagnetic energy from the untethered ingestible mass at least partially based on the one or more environmental parameters.

74-78. -78. (canceled)

85-98. -98. (canceled)

102-119. -119. (canceled)

123-124. -124. (canceled)

128-129. -129. (canceled)