Title: Opto-acoustic thrombolysis

Abstract

This invention is a catheter-based device for generating an ultrasound excitation in biological tissue. Pulsed laser light is guided through an optical fiber to provide the energy for producing the acoustic vibrations. The optical energy is deposited in a water-based absorbing fluid, e.g. saline, thrombolytic agent, blood or thrombus, and generates an acoustic impulse in the fluid through thermoelastic and/or thermodynamic mechanisms. By pulsing the laser at a repetition rate (which may vary from 10 Hz to 100 kHz) an ultrasonic radiation field can be established locally in the medium. This method of producing ultrasonic vibrations can be used in vivo for the treatment of stroke-related conditions in humans, particularly for dissolving thrombus or treating vasospasm. The catheter can also incorporate thrombolytic drug treatments as an adjunct therapy and it can be operated in conjunction with ultrasonic detection equipment for imaging and feedback control and with optical sensors for characterization of thrombus type and consistency.

Inventors:

Celliers, Peter ^[1]; Da Silva, Luiz ^[2]; Glinsky, Michael ^[3]; London, Richard ^[4]; Maitland, Duncan ^[3]; Matthews, Dennis ^[5]; Fitch, Pat ^[3]

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+ Show Inventor Affiliations

1. Berkeley, CA
2. Danville, CA
3. Livermore, CA
4. Orinda, CA
5. Moss Beach, CA

Issue Date:

Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

OSTI Identifier:

872842

Patent Number(s):

6022309

Assignee:

Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A61 - MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE A61B - DIAGNOSIS

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A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A61 - MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE A61B - DIAGNOSIS

A61B17/2202 - {the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter}
A61B18/26 - for producing a shock wave, e.g. laser lithotripsy
A61B2017/00022 - {Sensing or detecting at the treatment site}
A61B2017/22084 - {stone- or thrombus-dissolving}
A61B2090/378 - {using ultrasound}

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DOE Contract Number:  

W-7405-ENG-48

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

opto-acoustic; thrombolysis; catheter-based; device; generating; ultrasound; excitation; biological; tissue; pulsed; laser; light; guided; optical; fiber; provide; energy; producing; acoustic; vibrations; deposited; water-based; absorbing; fluid; saline; thrombolytic; agent; blood; thrombus; generates; impulse; thermoelastic; thermodynamic; mechanisms; pulsing; repetition; rate; vary; 10; hz; 100; khz; ultrasonic; radiation; field; established; locally; medium; method; vivo; treatment; stroke-related; conditions; humans; particularly; dissolving; treating; vasospasm; catheter; incorporate; drug; treatments; adjunct; therapy; operated; conjunction; detection; equipment; imaging; feedback; control; sensors; characterization; type; consistency; optical sensors; repetition rate; optical fiber; laser light; pulsed laser; feedback control; optical energy; radiation field; optical sensor; biological tissue; stroke-related conditions; ultrasonic vibrations; acoustic vibrations; ultrasonic detection; detection equipment; acoustic vibration; /600/