Claims
- 1. A method for initiating or deactivating chemical reactions inside a host comprising applying to the host acoustic waves at a peak tensile pressure of −5 MPa to −15 MPa to induce cavitation and produce cavitation bubbles that emit ultra short light pulses upon collapse within the infrared, visible and ultraviolet range, wherein the chemical reactions are sensitive to ultra short light pulses within the infrared, visible or ultraviolet range.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical reaction comprises the three-dimensional folding or assembly of a drug or biologic agent.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical reaction comprises the combining of a drug or biologic agent with one or more ions or free radicals generated during the collapse of the cavitation bubbles.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the chemical reaction is the activation of a prodrug.
- 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the prodrug is delivered along with a compound or substance that enhances the cavitation process.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the compound or substance that enhances the cavitation process comprises gas filled microspheres, ultrasonic contrast agents, any inorganic gas filled molecule that does not reflect, any material with a low acoustic impedance and any material with a high acoustic impedance.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the gas-filled microsphere is a liposome.
- 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the material with a low acoustic impedance comprises a plastic bead.
- 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the material with a low acoustic impedance comprises a lipid or oil droplet.
- 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the material with a high acoustic impedance comprises an inert material.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the inert material comprises small gold pellets.
- 12. The method of claim 10 further comprising magnetic resonance imaging.
- 13. A method for the delivery of a drug or biologic agent in a host comprising applying to the host acoustic waves at a peak tensile pressure of −5 MPa to −15 MPa to induce cavitation and produce cavitation bubbles that emit ultra short light pulses upon collapse within the infrared, visible and ultraviolet range, wherein the chemical reactions are sensitive to ultra short light pulses within the infrared, visible or ultraviolet range and wherein the cavitation transient permeabilization of a cell membrane.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the drug is a prodrug.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the drug or biologic agent is delivered in combination or alteration with a compound or substance that enhances the cavitation process.
- 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the drug or biologic agent is a substance that enhances the cavitation process.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the compound or substance that enhances the cavitation process comprises gas filled microspheres, ultrasonic contrast agents, any inorganic gas filled molecule that does not reflect, any material with a low acoustic impedance and a any material with a high acoustic impedance.
- 18. The method claim 17, wherein the gas-filled microsphere is a liposome.
- 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the material with a low acoustic impedance comprises a plastic bead.
- 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the material with a low acoustic impedance comprises a lipid or oil droplet.
- 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the material with a high acoustic impedance comprises an inert material.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the inert material comprises small gold pellets.
- 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising magnetic resonance imaging.
- 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic waves are produced by an optical fiber inserted into a blood vessel.
- 25. The method of claim 13, wherein the acoustic waves are produced by an optical fiber inserted into a blood vessel.
- 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic waves are released extracorporeal.
- 27. The method of claim 13, wherein the acoustic waves are released extracorporeal.
- 28. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic waves are released intracorporeal.
- 29. The method of claim 13, wherein the acoustic waves are released intracorporeal.
- 30. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic waves are guided inside the host by a sound guiding means.
- 31. The method of claim 1, wherein the spectral content of the cavitation is changed by the gas content of the cavitation bubbles.
- 32. The method of any of claim 1, wherein the spectral content of the cavitation collapse light is changed by supplying an appropriate gas inside the compound or substance that enhances the cavitation process.
- 33. The method of claim 1, wherein the spectral content of the cavitation collapse light is changed by adding an appropriate gas to the normal breathing gas of the host.
- 34. The method of claim 13, wherein the drug or biologic agent is selected from the group comprising prodrugs, targeting ligands, diagnostic agents, pharmaceutical agents, drugs, synthetic organic molecules, proteins, peptides, vitamins, steroids, steroid analogs and genetic material.
- 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the targeting ligand is selected from the group comprising proteins, antibodies, antibody fragments, hormones, hormone analogues, glycoproteins, lectins, peptides, polypeptides, amino acids, sugars, monosaccharides, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, vitamins, steroids, steroid analogs, cofactors, and genetic material.
- 36. The method of claim 34, wherein the genetic material comprises DNA, RNA, mRNA, cDNA, nucleosides, nucleotides, nucleotide acid constructs and polynucleotides.
- 37. The method of claim 35, wherein the genetic material comprises DNA, RNA, mRNA, cDNA, nucleosides, nucleotides, nucleotide acid constructs and polynucleotides.
- 38. The method of claim 34, wherein the drug or agent is parenteral iron, hemin, hematoporphyrins and their derivatives; muramyldipeptide, muramyltripeptide, prostaglandins, microbial cell wall components, lymphokines, sub-units of bacteria, N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine; ketoconazole, nystatin, griseofulvin, flucytosine (5-fc), miconazole, amphotericin B, ricin, and .beta.-lactam antibiotics, growth hormone, melanocyte stimulating hormone, estradiol, beclomethasone dipropionate, betamethasone, betamethasone acetate, betamethasone sodium phosphate, vetamethasone disodium phosphate, vetamethasone sodium phosphate, cortisone acetate, dexamethasone, dexamethasone acetate, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, flunsolide, hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate, hydrocortisone cypionate, hydrocortisone sodium phosphate, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, methylprednisolone, methylprednisolone acetate, methylprednisolone sodium succinate, paramethasone acetate, prednisolone, prednisolone acetate, prednisolone sodium phosphate, prednisolone tebutate, prednisone, triamcinolone, triamcinolone acetonide, triamcinolone diacetate, triamcinolone hexacetonide, fludrocortisone. acetate, progesterone, testosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, cyanocobalamin neinoic acid, retinoids, retinol palmitate, .alpha.-tocopherol, naphthoquinone, cholecalciferol, folic acid, tetrahydrofolate; angiostatin, manganese super oxide dismutase, tissue plasminogen activator, glutathione, insulin, dopamine, peptides with affinity for the GPIIbIIIa receptor, opioid peptides, human chorionic gonadotropin, corticotropin releasing factor, cholecystokinins, bradykinins, bradykinin promoters, bradykinin inhibitors, elastins, vasopressin, pepsin, glucagon, substance P, neurokinin B, senktide, neurokinin antagonists, integrin, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, adrenocorticotropic hormone, oxytocin, calcitonin, IgG, IgA, IgM, thrombin, streptokinase, urokinase, protein kinase C, interferons, colony stimulating factors, granulocyte colony stimulating factors, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factors, tumor necrosis factors, nerve growth factors, platelet derived growth factors, lymphotoxin, epidermal growth factors, fibroblast growth factors, vascular endothelial cell growth factors, erythropoeitin, transforming growth factors, oncostatin M, interleukin 1, interleukin 2, interleukin 3, interleukin 4, interleukin 5, interleukin 6, interleukin 7, interleukin 8, interleukin 9, interleukin 10, interleukin 11, and interleukin 12, metalloprotein kinase ligands, collagenases, collagen, alkaline phosphatase, cyclooxygenase, anti-allergy agents, anti-coagulants, propranolol; glutathione; para-aminosalicylic acid, isoniazid, capreomycin sulfate cycloserine, ethambutol hydrochloride ethionanide, pyrazinamide, rifampin, and streptomycin sulfate; acyclovir, amantadine azidothymidine, ribavirin, vidarabine, vidarabine monohydrate, adenine arabinoside (ara-A), diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil, erythrityl tetranitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, nitroglycerin, pentaerythritol tetranitrate; dapsone, chloramphenicol, neomycin, cefaclor, cefadroxil, cephalexin, cephradine erythromycin, clindamycin, lincomycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, bacampicillin, carbenicillin, dicloxacillin, cyclacillin, picloxacillin, hetacillin, methicillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, penicillin G, penicillin V, ticarcillin, rifampin and tetracycline; difimisal, ibuprofen, indomethacin, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, naproxen, oxyphenbutazone, phenylbutazone, piroxicam, sulindac, tolmetin, aspirin and salicylates; chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, metronidazole, quinine, meglumine antimonite, penicillamine; paregoric, codeine, heroin, methadone, morphine, opium, deslanoside, digitoxin, digoxin, digitalin, digitalis, atracurium besylate, gallamine triethiodide, hexafluorenium bromide, metocurine iodide, pancuronium bromide, succinylcholine chloride, tubocurarine chloride, vecuronium bromide, amobarbital, amobarbital sodium, aprobarbital, butabarbital sodium, chloral hydrate, ethchlorvynol, ethinamate, flurazepam hydrochloride, glutethimide, methotrimeprazine hydrochloride, methyprylon, midazolam hydrochloride, paraldehyde, pentobarbital, pentobarbital sodium, phenobarbital sodium, secobarbital sodium, talbutal, temazepam, triazolam, bupivacaine hydrochloride, chloroprocaine hydrochloride, etidocaine hydrochloride, lidocaine hydrochloride, mepivacaine hydrochloride, procaine hydrochloride, tetracaine hydrochloride, droperidol, etomidate, fentanyl citrate, ketamine hydrochloride, methohexital sodium, thiopental sodium, strontium, iodide rhenium, technetium, cobalt, yttrium or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative or prodrug thereof.
- 39. The method of claim 34, wherein the drug or biological agent is encapsulated in a gas-filled microsphere.
- 40. The method of claim 34, wherein the drug or biological agent is encapsulated in a clathrate compound.
- 41. The method of claim 34, wherein the drug or biological agent is encapsulated in a polymer shell.
- 42. The method of claim 34, wherein the drug or biological agent is encapsulated in a liposome.
- 43. The method of claim 34, wherein the drug or biological agent is a nutriceutical.
- 44. The method of claim 13, wherein:
i) the host's blood is directed outside the host to a fluid chamber at the focus of the acoustic source; ii) the inactivated drug or biological agent is mixed with the host's blood in the fluid chamber iii) the mixture is then guided through the focus of the acoustic source, where it receives the acoustic pulses in order to activate the drug or biological agent; and iv) the blood is then redirected to the host.
- 45. The method according to claim 44, wherein a compound or substance that enhances the cavitation process is added to the fluid chamber.
- 46. An apparatus for initiating or deactivating chemical reactions at a target inside a host comprising an acoustic wave generator capable of generating waves of a sufficient amplitude at a peak tensile pressure of −5 MPa to −15 MPa to induce cavitation, wherein the chemical reactions are sensitive to ultra short light pulses within the infrared, visible or ultraviolet range, and wherein cavitation bubbles are produced that emit ultra short light pulses upon collapse within the infrared, visible and ultraviolet range.
- 47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the target is the host's blood.
- 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein host's blood is directed outside the host and mixed with drug or biological agent in a fluid chamber at the focus of the acoustic source.
- 49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein a compound or substance that enhances the cavitation process is are added to the fluid chamber.
- 50. An implantable drug delivery device comprising
i) a miniaturized electronic circuit chip ii) a sensor, iii) a drug or agent storage means and iv) an acoustic wave generator capable of generating waves at a peak tensile pressure of −5 MPa to −15 MPA to induce cavitation inside a channel, wherein the channel guides a fluid containing the drug or agent
- 51. The device of claim 50 further comprising a second acoustic wave generator capable of generating a cavitational zone.
- 52. The device of claim 51, wherein the second acoustic wave generator contains a fluid channel to guide the drug or agent through the cavitational zone.
- 53. An implantable bio-sensing device comprising
i) a miniaturized electronic circuit chip ii) a sensor iii) an acoustic wave generator capable of generating waves at a peak tensile pressure of −5 MPa to −15 MPa to induce cavitation inside a channel, wherein the channel guides a fluid containing a substance or cells to be analyzed.
- 54. The device of claim 53 further comprising a second acoustic wave generator capable of forming a cavitational zone close to the sensor.
- 55. The device of claim 54, wherein the second acoustic wave generator contains a channel to guide a fluid or cells through the cavitational zone close to the sensor in order to detect properties of the fluid or cells which are agitated by the cavitational effects close to the sensor area.
- 56. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic waves are generated at a peak tensile pressure of −12 MPa.
- 57. The method of claim 13, wherein the acoustic waves are generated at a peak tensile pressure of −12 MPa.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to provisional application U.S. Serial No. 60/339,285, filed on Dec. 11, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60339285 |
Dec 2001 |
US |