Laser probes for drug permeation

• US 6,389,313 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Flock, Stephen T., Marchitto, Kevin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US09/535,910
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19-21, 604/113, 607/3, 607/88-94, 607/100-101, 607/104, 607/105, 607/120, 607/138, 600/101, 600/121, 600/127, 600/139, 600/153, 600/156
• US Class Current: 604/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00327 Ear, nose or throat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00565 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2261 with scattering, diffusion or dispersion of light
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/20 Ear surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/091 having a lumen for drug delivery or suction
• 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: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

The present invention provides an optical device/method for enhancing local administration of pharmaceutical compounds and/or collection of biomaterials. Such device/method is used for various situations which require high concentrations of drugs that are delivered locally.

Claims

1. An optical device employing radiant energy to enhance local delivery of a compound to or from a subject, said optical device comprising:

an optical probe with a tip;

a source for radiant energy;

a catheter for delivering a compound to or from said tip;

a catheter for delivering radiant energy to said tip; and

a means to observe placement of said tip;

wherein said optical device is designed to enhance delivery of a compound by a method selected from the group consisting of applying optical pressure to generate propagating pressure waves in a medium to increase diffusion of a compound through said medium;

applying optical pressure to a compound to directly drive said compound through membranes and tissue by optical propulsion;

creating an optical trap to drive diffusion of a compound; and

, directly applying radiant energy to tissue to increase the permeability of said tissue to a compound.

2. The optical device of claim 1, further comprising a biocompatible sleeve to encase said tip.

3. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said tip scatters said radiant energy.

4. The optical device of claim 3, wherein said tip is made of a radiant energy non-absorbing optical material.

5. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said tip is in contact with or be surrounded by a radiant energy absorbing material.

6. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said radiant energy is selected from the group consisting of laser, radiofrequency, microwave and light.

7. The optical device of claim 1, further comprising a compound wherein said compound is a pharmaceutical compound selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, cytokines, bone vascularization enhancers, anesthetic drugs, antineoplastic drugs, photodynamic therapeutical drugs, anti-infection drugs, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

8. The optical device of claim 1, further comprising a trap reservoir for a compound wherein said compound is a biomaterial desirous of removal from said subject.

9. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said catheter for delivering said compound or radiant energy is a flexible multi-lumen catheter.

10. The optical device of claim 1, wherein said means to observe placement of the tip is selected from the group consisting of an endoscope and a microscope.

11. A method for enhancing delivery of a pharmaceutical compound to a subject locally, comprising the steps of:

irradiating said subject with radiant energy delivered through the optical device of claim 1; and

administering said pharmaceutical compound to said subject, wherein said pharmaceutical compound is delivered through the optical device of claim 1.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said compound is administered to treat a solid tumor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said pharmaceutical compound is an anti-cancer drug.

14. A method for treating a bone disease, comprising the steps of:

irradiating the diseased bone with radiant energy delivered through the optical device of claim 1; and

administering a pharmaceutical compound to said bone, wherein said pharmaceutical compound is delivered through the optical device of claim 1.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said method further comprising the step of:

collecting dead done tissues from said diseased bone.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said bone suffers from a pathologic state selected from the group consisting of osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, infectious arthritis, an infection caused by a wound, an infection caused by hematogenous spread, infiltration and adherence.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said pharmaceutical compound is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, cytokines, vascularization enhancers, anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-infectives.

18. A method for treating an ear disease, comprising the steps of:

irradiating the diseased ear with radiant energy delivered through the optical device of claim 1; and

administering a pharmaceutical compound to said ear, wherein said pharmaceutical compound is delivered through the optical device of claim 1.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the optical probe is placed in the external ear canal or passed up through the pharyngotympanic orifice into the middle ear.

20. A method for enhancing rectal administration of a pharmaceutical compound in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of:

irradiating the individual'"'"'s rectum with radiant energy delivered through the optical device of claim 1; and

administering said pharmaceutical compound to said rectum, wherein said pharmaceutical compound is delivered through the optical device of claim 1.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the optical probe is placed against colon walls.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said individual has a pathological colon, a pathologic lower intestine, or a pathologic prostate.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said pathologic colon is polyps or cancerous lesions.

24. A method for increasing diffusion rate of a substance in a medium, comprising the step of:

applying radiant energy to said medium, wherein said radiant energy generates propagating pressure wave upon said medium, and wherein said radiant energy is delivered through the optical device of claim 1.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said medium is a solid or semi-solid medium.

26. A method for improving permeation rate of a molecule through a barrier, comprising the step of:

applying radiant energy to said barrier, wherein said radiant energy is delivered through the optical device of claim 1, and wherein said radiant energy ablates or alters the structure of said barrier.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said barrier is selected from the group consisting of biological and non-biological barrier.

28. A method for creating pores in a barrier thereby improving permeation rate of a molecule through said barrier, comprising the step of:

applying radiant energy to said barrier, wherein said radiant energy is delivered through the optical device of claim 1.