Patent Grant
9358401
Energy delivery from a distance involves transmission of energy waves to affect a target at a distance. It allows for more efficient delivery of energy to targets and a greater cost efficiency and technologic flexibility on the generating side. For example, cellular phones receive targets from towers close to the user and the towers communicate with one another over a long range; this way, the cell phones can be low powered and communicate over a relatively small range yet the network can quickly communicate across the world. Similarly, electricity distribution from large generation stations to the users is more efficient than the users themselves looking for solutions.
In terms of treating a patient, delivering energy over a distance affords great advantages as far as targeting accuracy, technologic flexibility, and importantly, limited invasiveness into the patient. In a simple form, laparoscopic surgery has replaced much of the previous open surgical procedures and lead to creation of new procedures and devices as well as a more efficient procedural flow for disease treatment. Laparoscopic tools deliver the surgeon's energy to the tissues of the patient from a distance and results in improved imaging of the region being treated as well as the ability for many surgeons to visualize the region at the same time.
Perhaps the most important aspect is the fact that patients have much less pain, fewer complications, and the overall costs of the procedures are lower. Visualization is improved as is the ability to perform tasks relative to the visualization.
Continued advances in computing, miniaturization and economization of energy delivery technologies, and improved imaging will lead to still greater opportunities to apply energy from a distance into the patient and treat disease.
In some embodiments, procedures and devices are provided, which advance the art of medical procedures involving transmitted energy to treat disease. The procedures and devices follow along the lines of: 1) transmitting energy to produce an effect in a patient from a distance; 2) allowing for improved imaging or targeting at the site of treatment; 3) creating efficiencies through utilization of larger and more powerful devices from a position of distance from or within the patient as opposed to attempting to be directly in contact with the target as a surgeon, interventional cardiologist or radiologist might do. In many cases, advanced visualization and localization tools are utilized as well.
In some embodiments, a method of treatment includes placing an energy source outside a patient, operating the energy source so that an energy delivery path of the energy source is aimed towards a nerve inside the patient, wherein the nerve is a part of an autonomic nervous system, and using the energy source to deliver treatment energy from outside the patient to the nerve located inside the patient to treat the nerve.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy comprises focused energy.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy comprises non-focused energy.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy comprises HIFU energy.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy comprises LIFU energy.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy is delivered to the nerve to achieve partial ablation of the nerve.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy is delivered to the nerve to achieve complete ablation of the nerve.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy is delivered to achieve paralysis of the nerve.
In some embodiments, the nerve leads to a kidney.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a renal nerve.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a sympathetic nerve connected to the kidney.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises an afferent nerve connected to the kidney.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a renal sympathetic nerve at a renal pedicle.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a nerve trunk adjacent to a vertebra.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a ganglion adjacent to a vertebra.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a dorsal root nerve.
In some embodiments, the nerve leads to an adrenal gland.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a motor nerve.
In some embodiments, the nerve is next to a kidney.
In some embodiments, the nerve is behind an eye.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a celiac plexus.
In some embodiments, the nerve is within or around a vertebral column.
In some embodiments, the nerve extends to a facet joint.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a celiac ganglion.
In some embodiments, the act of operating the energy source comprises positioning the energy source.
In some embodiments, the energy source comprises an ultrasound energy source.
In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy source is used to deliver the treatment energy to the nerve from multiple directions outside the patient.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy is delivered to modulate the nerve without damaging the nerve.
In some embodiments, the method further includes determining a position of a renal vessel using an imaging device located outside the patient.
In some embodiments, the position of the renal vessel is used to determine a position of the nerve.
In some embodiments, the imaging device comprises a CT device, an MRI device, a thermography device, an infrared imaging device, an optical coherence tomography device, a photoacoustic imaging device, a PET imaging device, a SPECT imaging device, or an ultrasound device.
In some embodiments, the method further includes determining a position of the nerve inside the patient.
In some embodiments, the act of determining the position of the nerve inside the patient comprises determining a position of a renal vessel to target the nerve that surrounds the renal vessel.
In some embodiments, the renal vessel comprises a renal artery.
In some embodiments, the act of determining the position of the nerve inside the patient comprises using a Doppler triangulation technique.
In some embodiments, the imaging device comprises a MRI device.
In some embodiments, the imaging device comprises a CT device.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy comprises HIFU energy, and the imaging device comprises a MRI device.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy comprises HIFU energy, and the imaging device comprises an ultrasound device.
In some embodiments, the nerve leads to a kidney, and the imaging device comprises a MRI device.
In some embodiments, the nerve leads to a kidney, and the imaging device comprises an ultrasound device.
In some embodiments, the nerve leads to a kidney, and the imaging device is used to obtain a doppler signal.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy is delivered to a kidney to decrease a sympathetic stimulus to the kidney, decrease an afferent signal from the kidney to an autonomic nervous system, or both.
In some embodiments, the method further includes delivering testing energy to the patient to determine if there is a reaction resulted therefrom, wherein the testing energy is delivered before the treatment energy is delivered from the energy source.
In some embodiments, the testing energy comprises heat or vibratory energy, and the method further comprises performing a test to detect sympathetic nerve activity.
In some embodiments, the testing energy comprises a stimulus applied to a skin, and the method further comprises detecting an output from the patient.
In some embodiments, the output comprises a heart rate.
In some embodiments, the test energy is delivered to stimulate a baroreceptor complex, and the method further includes applying pressure to a carotid artery, and determining whether a blood pressure decreases after application of the pressure to the carotid artery.
In some embodiments, the test energy is delivered using an ultrasound device that is placed outside the patient.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy from the energy source is delivered if the blood pressure decreases or if the blood pressure decreases at a rate that is above a prescribed threshold.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy is delivered to treat hypertension.
In some embodiments, the treatment energy is delivered to treat glaucoma.
In some embodiments, the energy source is operated so that the energy source aims at a direction that aligns with a vessel that is next to the nerve.
In some embodiments, the method further includes tracking a movement of a treatment region containing the nerve.
In some embodiments, the energy delivery path of the energy source is aimed towards the nerve by using a position of a blood vessel that is surrounded by the nerve.
In some embodiments, the method further includes delivering a device inside the patient, and using the device to determine a position of the nerve inside the patient, wherein the energy source is operated based at least in part on the determined position so that the energy delivery path is aimed towards the nerve.
In some embodiments, the device is placed inside a vessel that is surrounded by the nerve, and the position of the nerve is determined indirectly by determining a position of the vessel.
In some embodiments, a system for treatment includes an energy source for placement outside a patient, wherein the energy source is configured to aim an energy delivery path towards a nerve that is a part of an autonomic nervous system inside the patient, and wherein the energy source is configured to deliver treatment energy from outside the patient to the nerve located inside the patient to treat the nerve.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to provide focused energy.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to provide non-focused energy.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to provide HIFU energy.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to provide LIFU energy.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to provide the treatment energy to achieve partial ablation of the nerve.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to deliver the treatment energy to achieve complete ablation of the nerve.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to deliver the treatment energy to achieve paralysis of the nerve.
In some embodiments, the energy source comprises an ultrasound energy source.
In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy source is configured to deliver the treatment energy to the nerve from multiple directions outside the patient while the ultrasound energy source is stationary relative to the patient.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to deliver the treatment energy to modulate the nerve without damaging tissues that are within a path of the treatment energy to the nerve.
In some embodiments, the nerve comprises a renal nerve, and the system further includes a processor located outside the patient, wherein the processor is configured for receiving an input related to a position of a renal artery, determining an output related to a position of the renal nerve based on a model that associates artery position with nerve position, and providing the output to a positioning system for the energy source so that the positioning system can cause the energy source to deliver the treatment energy from the outside of the patient to the renal nerve to treat the renal nerve.
In some embodiments, the system further includes a processor for determining a position of a renal vessel located outside the patient.
In some embodiments, the system further includes an imaging device for providing an image signal, wherein the processor is configured to determine the position based on the image signal.
In some embodiments, the imaging device comprises a CT device, a MRI device, a thermography device, an infrared imaging device, an optical coherence tomography device, a photoacoustic imaging device, a PET imaging device, a SPECT imaging device, or an ultrasound device.
In some embodiments, the position of the renal vessel is used during the treatment energy delivery to target the nerve that surrounds the renal vessel.
In some embodiments, the position is determined using a Doppler triangulation technique.
In some embodiments, the renal vessel comprises a renal artery.
In some embodiments, treatment energy is delivered to a kidney to decrease a sympathetic stimulus to the kidney, decrease an afferent signal from the kidney to an autonomic nervous system, or both.
In some embodiments, the energy source is also configured to deliver testing energy to the patient to determine if there is a reaction resulted therefrom.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to deliver the treatment energy to treat hypertension.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to deliver the treatment energy to treat glaucoma.
In some embodiments, the energy source has an orientation so that the energy source aims at a direction that aligns with a vessel that is next to the nerve.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to track a movement of the nerve.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to track the movement of the nerve by tracking a movement of a blood vessel next to the nerve.
In some embodiments, the energy source is configured to aim at the nerve by aiming at a vessel that is surrounded by the nerve.
In some embodiments, the system further includes a device for placement inside the patient, and a processor for determining a position using the device, wherein the energy source is configured to aim the energy delivery path towards the nerve inside the patient based at least in part on the determined position.
In some embodiments, the device is sized for insertion into a vessel that is surrounded by the nerve.
In some embodiments, a system to deliver energy from a position outside a skin of a patient to a nerve surrounding a blood vessel inside the patient, includes a processor configured to receive image signal, and determine a three dimensional coordinate of a blood vessel based on the image signal, and an energy source configured to deliver energy from the position outside the skin of the patient to the nerve surrounding the blood vessel, wherein the processor is also configured to control the energy source based on the determined coordinate.
In some embodiments, the system further includes an imaging device for providing the image signal.
In some embodiments, the imaging device comprises a MRI device.
In some embodiments, the imaging device comprises an ultrasound device.
In some embodiments, the energy comprises focused energy.
In some embodiments, the energy comprises focused ultrasound.
In some embodiments, the energy source comprises an ultrasound array that is aligned with the vessel.
In some embodiments, the system further includes an imaging device for providing a B-mode ultrasound for imaging the blood vessel.
In some embodiments, a system to deliver energy from a position outside a skin of a patient to a nerve surrounding a blood vessel includes a fiducial for placement inside the blood vessel, a detection device to detect the fiducial inside the blood vessel, a processor configured to determine a three dimensional coordinate of the detected fiducial, and an energy source configured to transmit energy through the skin and to focus the energy at the region of the blood vessel, wherein the processor is configured to operate the energy source based on the determined three dimensional coordinate of the fiducial, and information regarding the blood vessel.
In some embodiments, the energy source comprises an ultrasound device, and wherein the blood vessel is a renal artery.
In some embodiments, the system further includes an ultrasound imaging system.
In some embodiments, the fiducial is placed inside the blood vessel and is attached to an intravascular catheter.
In some embodiments, the fiducial is a passive fidicial that is configured to respond to an external signal.
In some embodiments, the fiducial is an active fiducial, transmitting its position to the detection device.
In some embodiments, a method to treat hypertension in a patient includes obtaining an imaging signal from a blood vessel in the patient, planning a delivery of energy to a wall of the blood vessel, and delivering energy from outside a skin of the patient to an autonomic nerve surrounding the blood vessel.
In some embodiments, the method further includes selectively modulating an afferent nerve within a sympathetic nerve bundle.
In some embodiments, the method further includes utilizing microneurography after the delivery of the energy to determine an effect of the energy delivery on a sympathetic nervous system.
In some embodiments, the blood vessel extends to or from a kidney, and the method further comprises locating the blood vessel with doppler ultrasound.
In some embodiments, a system to modulate an autonomic nerve in a patient utilizing transcutaneous energy delivery, the system includes a processor comprising an input for receiving information regarding energy and power to be delivered to a treatment region containing the nerve, and an output for outputting a signal, wherein the processor is configured to determine a position of a reference target from outside the patient to localize the nerve relative to the reference target, a therapeutic energy device comprising a transducer for delivering energy from outside the patient, a controller to control an aiming of the transducer based at least in part on the signal from the processor, and an imaging system coupled to the processor or the therapeutic energy device.
In some embodiments, the processor is configured to determine the position during an operation of the therapeutic energy device.
In some embodiments, the system further includes a patient interface configured to position the therapeutic device so that the transducer is aimed toward a blood vessel connected to a kidney from a position between ribs superiorly, a iliac crest inferiorly, and a vertebral column medially.
In some embodiments, the therapeutic energy device is configured to deliver focused ultrasound.
In some embodiments, the reference target is at least a portion of a blood vessel traveling to or from a kidney, and the nerve is a renal nerve.
In some embodiments, the transducer is configured to focus energy at a distance from 6 cm to 18 cm.
In some embodiments, the transducer is configured to deliver the energy in a form of focused ultrasound to a renal blood vessel at an angle ranging between about −10 degrees and about −48 degrees relative to a horizontal line connecting transverse processes of a spinal column.
In some embodiments, the energy from the therapeutic energy device ranges between 100 W/cm2 and 2500 W/cm2.
In some embodiments, the reference target is an indwelling vascular catheter.
In some embodiments, the imaging system is a magnetic resonance imaging system and the therapeutic energy device is an ultrasound device.
In some embodiments, the imaging system is an ultrasound imaging system.
In some embodiments, the processor is a part of the therapeutic energy device.
In some embodiments, the processor is a part of the imaging system.
In some embodiments, a method to deliver energy from a position outside the skin of a patient to a nerve surrounding a blood vessel, includes placing a device inferior to ribs, superior to an iliac crest, and lateral to a spine, and using the device to maintain an energy delivery system at a desired position relative to the patient so that the energy delivery system can deliver energy through the skin without traversing bone.
In some embodiments, the energy delivery system comprises a focused ultrasound delivery system.
In some embodiments, a device for use in a system to deliver focused ultrasound energy from a position outside a skin of a patient to a nerve surrounding a blood vessel, includes a positioning device configured to maintain an energy delivery system at a desired position relative to the patient so that the energy delivery system can deliver energy through the skin without traversing bone, wherein the positioning device is configured to be placed inferior to ribs, superior to an iliac crest, and lateral to a spine.
In some embodiments, the energy delivery system comprises a focused ultrasound delivery system.
In some embodiments, the positioning device is configured to maintain an angle of the focused ultrasound delivery system such that bony structures are not include in an ultrasound field.
In some embodiments, a system for treatment includes a treatment device configured to deliver energy from outside a patient to a nerve inside the patient, a catheter configured for placement inside a vessel surrounded by the nerve, the catheter configured to transmit a signal, and a processor configured to receive the signal and determine a reference position in the vessel, wherein the treatment device is configured deliver the energy to the nerve based on the determined reference position.
In some embodiments, the treatment device comprises an ultrasound device.
In some embodiments, a method of inhibiting the function of a nerve traveling with an artery includes providing an external imaging modality to determine the location of the artery of a patient, placing the artery in a first three dimensional coordinate reference based on the imaging, placing or associating a therapeutic energy generation source in the first three dimensional coordinate reference frame, modeling the delivery of energy to the adventitial region of the artery or a region adjacent to the artery where a nerve travels, delivering therapeutic energy from the therapeutic energy source, from at least two different angles, through the skin of a patient, to intersect at the artery or the region adjacent to the artery, and at least partially inhibiting the function of the nerve traveling with the artery.
In some embodiments, the imaging modality is one of: ultrasound, MRI, and CT.
In some embodiments, the therapeutic energy is ultrasound.
In some embodiments, the artery is a renal artery.
In some embodiments, placing the artery in a three dimensional reference frame comprises locating the artery using a doppler ultrasound signal.
In some embodiments, the method further includes utilizing a fiducial wherein the fiducial is placed internal to the patient.
In some embodiments, said fiducial is temporarily placed in a position internal to the patient.
In some embodiments, said fiducial is a catheter placed in the artery of the patient.
In some embodiments, said catheter is detectable using a radiofrequency signal and said imaging modality is ultrasound.
In some embodiments, the therapeutic energy from the energy source is delivered in a distribution along the length of the artery.
In some embodiments, the therapeutic energy is ionizing radiation.
In some embodiments, a system to inhibit the function of a nerve traveling with a renal artery includes a detector to determine the location of the renal artery and renal nerve from a position external to a patient, an ultrasound component to deliver therapeutic energy through the skin from at least two directions to the nerve surrounding the renal artery, a modeling algorithm comprising an input and an output, said input to the modeling algorithm comprising a three dimensional coordinate space containing a therapeutic energy source and the position of the renal artery in the three dimensional coordinate space, and said output from the modeling algorithm comprising the direction and energy level of the ultrasound component, a fiducial, locatable from a position outside a patient, adapted to be temporarily placed in the artery of the patient and communicate with the detector to determine the location of the renal artery in a three dimensional reference frame, the information regarding the location transmittable as the input to the model.
In some embodiments, the fiducial is a passive reflector of ultrasound.
In some embodiments, the fiducial generates radiofrequency energy.
In some embodiments, the fiducial is activated to transmit energy based on a signal from an ultrasound or magnetic field generator.
In some embodiments, the output from the model instructs the ultrasound component to deliver a lesion on the artery in which the major axis of the lesion is longitudinal along the length of the artery.
In some embodiments, the output from the model instructs the ultrasound component to deliver multiple lesions around an artery simultaneously.
In some embodiments, the output from the model instructs the ultrasound component to deliver a circumferential lesion around the artery.
In some embodiments, the lesion is placed around the renal artery just proximal to the bifurcation of the artery in the hilum of the kidney.
In some embodiments, a method to stimulate or inhibit the function of a nerve traveling to or from the kidney includes identifying an acoustic window at the posterior region of a patient in which the renal arteries can be visualized, transmitting a first energy through the skin of a patient from the posterior region of the patient, imaging an arterial region using the first transmitted energy, and applying a second transmitted energy to the arterial adventitia by coupling the imaging and the second transmitted energy.
In some embodiments, the method further includes tracking the image created by the first transmitted energy.
In some embodiments, a method to locate the position of a blood vessel in the body of a patient includes applying a first wave of ultrasound, from a first direction, to a region of a blood vessel from outside of the patient and detecting its return signal, comparing the applied first wave and its return signal, simultaneously, or sequentially, applying a second wave of ultrasound from a second direction to the blood vessel and detecting a its return signal, and integrating the return signals from the first wave and the return signals from the second wave to determine the position, in a three dimensional coordinate reference, of the blood vessel.
In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of instructing a therapeutic ultrasound transducer to apply energy to the position of the blood vessel.
Hypertension is a disease of extreme national and international importance. There are 80 million patients in the US alone who have hypertension and over 200 million in developed countries worldwide. In the United States, there are 60 million patients who have uncontrolled hypertension, meaning that they are either non-compliant or cannot take the medications because of the side effect profile. Up to 10 million people might have completely resistant hypertension in which they do not reach target levels no matter what the medication regimen. The morbidities associated with uncontrolled hypertension are profound, including stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, peripheral arterial disease, etc. A convenient and straightforward minimally invasive procedure to treat hypertension would be a very welcome advance in the treatment of this disease.
Congestive Heart Failure (“CHF”) is a condition which occurs when the heart becomes damaged and blood flow is reduced to the organs of the body. If blood flow decreases sufficiently, kidney function becomes altered, which results in fluid retention, abnormal hormone secretions and increased constriction of blood vessels. These results increase the workload of the heart and further decrease the capacity of the heart to pump blood through the kidneys and circulatory system.
It is believed that progressively decreasing perfusion of the kidneys is a principal non-cardiac cause perpetuating the downward spiral of CHF. For example, as the heart struggles to pump blood, the cardiac output is maintained or decreased and the kidneys conserve fluid and electrolytes to maintain the stroke volume of the heart. The resulting increase in pressure further overloads the cardiac muscle such that the cardiac muscle has to work harder to pump against a higher pressure. The already damaged cardiac muscle is then further stressed and damaged by the increased pressure. Moreover, the fluid overload and associated clinical symptoms resulting from these physiologic changes result in additional hospital admissions, poor quality of life, and additional costs to the health care system. In addition to exacerbating heart failure, kidney failure can lead to a downward spiral and further worsening kidney function. For example, in the forward flow heart failure described above, (systolic heart failure) the kidney becomes ischemic. In backward heart failure (diastolic heart failure), the kidneys become congested vis-à-vis renal vein hypertension. Therefore, the kidney can contribute to its own worsening failure.
The functions of the kidneys can be summarized under three broad categories: filtering blood and excreting waste products generated by the body's metabolism; regulating salt, water, electrolyte and acid-base balance; and secreting hormones to maintain vital organ blood flow. Without properly functioning kidneys, a patient will suffer water retention, reduced urine flow and an accumulation of waste toxins in the blood and body. These conditions result from reduced renal function or renal failure (kidney failure) and are believed to increase the workload of the heart. In a CHF patient, renal failure will cause the heart to further deteriorate as fluids are retained and blood toxins accumulate due to the poorly functioning kidneys. The resulting hypertension also has dramatic influence on the progression of cerebrovascular disease and stroke.
The autonomic nervous system is a network of nerves which affect almost every organ and physiologic system to a variable degree. Generally, the system is composed of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. For example, the sympathetic nerves to the kidney traverse the sympathetic chain along the spine and synapse within the ganglia of the chain or within the celiac ganglia, then proceeding to innervate the kidney via post-ganglionic fibers inside the “renal nerves.” Within the renal nerves, which travel along the renal hila (artery and to some extent the vein), are the post-ganglionic sympathetic nerves and the afferent nerves from the kidney. The afferent nerves from the kidney travel within the dorsal root (if they are pain fibers) and into the anterior root if they are sensory fibers, then into the spinal cord and ultimately to specialized regions of the brain. The afferent nerves, baroreceptors and chemoreceptors, deliver information from the kidneys back to the sympathetic nervous system via the brain; their ablation or inhibition is at least partially responsible for the improvement seen in blood pressure after renal nerve ablation, or dennervation, or partial disruption. It has also been suggested and partially proven experimentally that the baroreceptor response at the level of the carotid sinus is mediated by the renal artery afferent nerves such that loss of the renal artery afferent nerve response blunts the response of the carotid baroreceptors to changes in arterial blood pressure (American J. Physiology and Renal Physiology 279:F491-F501, 2000, incorporated by reference herein).
It has been established in animal models that the heart failure condition results in abnormally high sympathetic activation of the kidneys. An increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity leads to decreased removal of water and sodium from the body, as well as increased renin secretion which stimulates aldosterone secretion from the adrenal gland. Increased renin secretion can lead to an increase in angiotensin II levels which leads to vasoconstriction of blood vessels supplying the kidneys as well as systemic vasoconstriction, all of which lead to a decrease in renal blood flow and hypertension. Reduction in sympathetic renal nerve activity, e.g., via de-innervation, may reverse these processes and in fact has been shown to in the clinic. Similarly, in obese patients, the sympathetic drive is intrinsically very high and is felt to be one of the causes of hypertension in obese patients.
Recent clinical work has shown that de-innervation of the renal sympathetic chain and other nerves which enter the kidney through the hilum can lead to profound systemic effects in patients (rats, dogs, pig, sheep, humans) with hypertension, heart failure, and other organ system diseases. Such treatment can lead to long term reduction in the need for blood pressure medications and improvements in blood pressure (O'Brien Lancet 2009 373; 9681 incorporated by reference). The devices used in this trial were highly localized radiofrequency (RF) ablation to ablate the renal artery adventitia with the presumption that the nerves surrounding the renal artery are being inhibited in the heating zone as well. The procedure is performed in essentially a blind fashion in that the exact location of the nerve plexus is not known prior to, during, or after the procedure. In addition, the wall of the renal artery is invariably damaged by the RF probe and patients whose vessels have a great deal of atherosclerosis cannot be treated safely. In addition, depending on the distance of the nerves from the vessel wall, the energy may not consistently lead to ablation or interruption. Finally, the use of internal catheters may not allow for treatment inside the kidney or inside the aorta if more selective. In many cases, it is required to create a spiral along the length and inside the blood vessel to avoid circumferential damage to the vessel.
Cross-sectional imaging can be utilized to visualize the internal anatomy of patients via radiation (CT) or magnetic fields (MRI). Ultrasound can also be utilized to obtain cross-sections of specific regions but only at high frequencies; therefore, ultrasound is typically limited to imaging superficial body regions. CT and MRI are often more amenable to cross sectional imaging because the radiation penetrates well into tissues. In addition, the scale of the body regions is maintained such that the anatomy within the coordinate references remains intact relative to one another; that is, distances between structures can be measured.
With ultrasound, scaling can be more difficult because of unequal penetration as the waves propagate deeper through the tissue. CT scans and MRIs and even ultrasound devices can be utilized to create three dimensional representations and reconstructed cross-sectional images of patients; anatomy can be placed in a coordinate reference frame using a three dimensional representation. Once in the reference frame, energy devices (transducers) can be placed in position and energy emitting devices directed such that specific regions of the body are targeted. Once knowledge of the transducer position is known relative to the position of the target in the patient body, energy can be delivered to the target.
Ultrasound is a cyclically generated sound pressure wave with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing . . . 20 kilohertz (kHz). In medicine, ultrasound is widely utilized because of its ability to penetrate tissues. Reflection of the sound waves reveals a signature of the underlying tissues and as such, ultrasound can be used extensively for diagnostics and potentially therapeutics as well in the medical field. As a therapy, ultrasound has the ability to both penetrate tissues and can be focused to create ablation zones. Because of its simultaneous ability to image, ultrasound can be utilized for precise targeting of lesions inside the body. Ultrasound intensity is measured by the power per cm2 (for example, W/cm2 at the therapeutic target region). Generally, high intensity refers to intensities over 0.1-5 kW/cm2. Low intensity ultrasound encompasses the range up to 0.01-0.10 kW/cm2 from about 1 or 10 Watts per cm2.
Ultrasound can be utilized for its forward propagating waves and resulting reflected waves or where energy deposition in the tissue and either heating or slight disruption of the tissues is desired. For example, rather than relying on reflections for imaging, lower frequency ultrasonic beams (e.g. <1 MHz) can be focused at a depth within tissue, creating a heating zone or a defined region of cavitation in which micro-bubbles are created, cell membranes are opened to admit bioactive molecules, or damage is otherwise created in the tissue. These features of ultrasound generally utilize frequencies in the 0.25 Megahertz (MHz) to 10 MHz range depending on the depth required for effect. Focusing is, or may be, required so that the surface of the tissue is not excessively injured or heated by single beams. In other words, many single beams can be propagated through the tissue at different angles to decrease the energy deposition along any single path yet allow the beams to converge at a focal spot deep within the tissue. In addition, reflected beams from multiple angles may be utilized in order to create a three dimensional representation of the region to be treated in a coordinate space.
It is important when planning an ultrasound therapy that sharp, discontinuous interfaces be avoided. For example, bowel, lung, bone which contain air and/or bone interfaces constitute sharp boundaries with soft tissues. These interfaces make the planning and therapy more difficult. If however, the interfaces can be avoided, then treatment can be greatly simplified versus what has to done for the brain (e.g. MR-guided HIFU) where complex modeling is required to overcome the very high attenuation of the cranium. Data provided below reveals a discovery through extensive experimentation as to how to achieve this treatment simplicity.
Time of flight measurements with ultrasound can be used to range find, or find distances between objects in tissues. Such measurements can be utilized to place objects such as vessels into three dimensional coordinate reference frames so that energy can be utilized to target the tissues. SONAR is the acronym for sound navigation and ranging and is a method of acoustic localization. Sound waves are transmitted through a medium and the time for the sound to reflect back to the transmitter is indicative of the position of the object of interest. Doppler signals are generated by a moving object. The change in the forward and reflected wave results in a velocity for the object.
The concept of speckle tracking is one in which the reflections of specific tissues is defined and tracked over time (IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, AND Frequency Control, Vol. 57, no. 4, April 2010, herein incorporated by reference). With defined points in space, a three dimensional coordinate reference can be created through which energy can be applied to specific and well-defined regions. To track a speckle, an ultrasound image is obtained from a tissue. Light and dark spots are defined in the image, these light and dark spots representing inhomegeneities in the tissues. The inhomegeneities are relatively constant, being essentially properties of the tissue. With relatively constant markers in the tissue, tracking can be accomplished using real time imaging of the markers. With more than one plane of ultrasound, the markers can be related in three dimensions relative to the ultrasound transducer and a therapeutic energy delivered to a defined position within the three dimensional field.
At the time one or more of these imaging modalities is utilized to determine the position of the target in three dimensions, then a therapy can be both planned and applied to a specific region within the three dimensional volume.
Lithotripsy was introduced in the early part of the 1980's. Lithotripsy utilizes shockwaves to treat stones in the kidney. The Dornier lithotripsy system was the first system produced for this purpose. The lithotripsy system sends ultrasonic waves through the patient's body to the kidney to selectively heat and vibrate the kidney stones; that is, selectively over the adjacent tissue. At the present time, lithotripsy systems do not utilize direct targeting and imaging of the kidney stone region. A tremendous advance in the technology would be to image the stone region and target the specific region in which the stone resides so as to minimize damage to surrounding structures such as the kidney. In the case of a kidney stone, the kidney is in fact the speckle, allowing for three dimensional targeting and tracking off its image with subsequent application of ultrasound waves to break up the stone. In the embodiments which follow below, many of the techniques and imaging results described can be applied to clinical lithotripsy.
Histotripsy is a term given to a technique in which tissue is essentially vaporized using cavitation rather than heating (transcutaneous non-thermal mechanical tissue fractionation). These mini explosions do not require high temperature and can occur in less than a second. The generated pressure wave is in the range of megapascals (MPa) and even up to or exceeding 100 MPa. To treat small regions of tissue very quickly, this technique can be very effective. The border of the viable and non-viable tissue is typically very sharp and the mechanism of action has been shown to be cellular disruption.
In one embodiment, ultrasound is focused on the region of the renal arteries and/or veins from outside the patient; the ultrasound is delivered from multiple angles to the target, thereby overcoming many of the deficiencies in previous methods and devices put forward to ablate renal sympathetic nerves which surround the renal arteries.
Specifically, one embodiment allows for precise visualization of the ablation zone so that the operator can be confident that the correct region is ablated and that the incorrect region is not ablated. Because some embodiments do not require a puncture in the skin, they are considerably less invasive, which is more palatable and safer from the patient standpoint. Moreover, unusual anatomies and atherosclerotic vessels can be treated using external energy triangulated on the renal arteries to affect the sympathetic and afferent nerves to and from the kidney respectively.
With reference to
The hila is the region where the major vessels (renal artery and renal vein) and nerves 150 (efferent sympathetic, afferent sensory, and parasympathetic nerves) travel to and from the kidneys. The renal nerves 150 contain post-ganglionic efferent nerves which supply sympathetic innervation to the kidneys. Afferent sensory nerves travel from the kidney to the central nervous system and are postganglionic afferent nerves with nerve bodies in the central nervous system. These nerves deliver sensory information to the central nervous system and are thought to regulate much of the sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system to all organs including the skin, heart, kidneys, brain, etc.
In one method, energy is delivered from outside a patient, through the skin, and to the renal afferent and/or renal efferent nerves. Microwave, light, vibratory (e.g. acoustic), ionizing radiation might be utilized in some or many of the embodiments.
Energy transducers 510 (
Focusing with low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) may also occur intentionally as a component of the HIFU (penumbra regions) or unintentionally. The mechanism of nerve inhibition is variable depending on the “low” or “high” of focused ultrasound. Low energy might include energies levels of 25 W/cm2-200 W/cm2. Higher intensity includes energy levels from 200 W/cm2 to 1 MW/cm2. Focusing occurs by delivering energy from at least two different angles through the skin to meet at a focal point where the highest energy intensity and density occurs. At this spot, a therapy is delivered and the therapy can be sub-threshold nerve interruption (partial ablation), ablation (complete interruption) of the nerves, controlled interruption of the nerve conduction apparatus, partial ablation, or targeted drug delivery. The region can be heated to a temperature of less than 60 degrees Celsius for non-ablative therapy or can be heated greater than 60 degrees Celsius for heat based destruction (ablation). To ablate the nerves, even temperatures in the 40 degree Celsius range can be used and if generated for a time period greater than several minutes, will result in ablation. For temperatures at about 50 degrees Celsius, the time might be under one minute. Heating aside, a vibratory effect for a much shorter period of time at temperatures below 60 degrees Celsius can result in partial or complete paralysis of destruction of the nerves. If the temperature is increased beyond 50-60 degrees Celsius, the time required for heating is decreased considerably to affect the nerve via the sole mechanism of heating. In some embodiments, an imaging modality is included as well in the system. The imaging modality can be ultrasound based, MRI based, or CT (X-Ray) based. The imaging modality can be utilized to target the region of ablation and determined the distances to the target.
The delivered energy can be ionizing or non-ionizing energy in some embodiments. Forms of non-ionizing energy can include electromagnetic energy such as a magnetic field, light, an electric field, radiofrequency energy, and light based energy. Forms of ionizing energy include x-ray, proton beam, gamma rays, electron beams, and alpha rays. In some embodiments, the energy modalities are combined. For example, heat ablation of the nerves is performed and then ionizing radiation is delivered to the region to prevent re-growth of the nerves.
Alternatively, ionizing radiation is applied first as an ablation modality and then heat applied afterward in the case of re-growth of the tissue as re-radiation may not be possible (complement or multimodality energy utilization). Ionizing radiation may prevent or inhibit the re-growth of the nervous tissue around the vessel if there is indeed re-growth of the nervous tissue. Therefore, another method of treating the nerves is to first heat the nerves and then apply ionizing radiation to prevent re-growth.
Other techniques such as photodynamic therapy including a photosensitizer and light source to activate the photosensitizer can be utilized as a manner to combine modalities. Most of these photosensitizing agents are also sensitive to ultrasound energy yielding the same photoreactive species as if it were activated by light. A photoreactive or photosensitive agent can be introduced into the target area prior to the apparatus being introduced into the blood vessel; for example, through an intravenous injection, a subcutaneous injection, etc. However, it will be understood that if desired, the apparatus can optionally include a lumen for delivering a photoreactive agent into the target area. The resulting embodiments are likely to be particularly beneficial where uptake of the photoreactive agent into the target tissues is relatively rapid, so that the apparatus does not need to remain in the blood vessel for an extended period of time while the photoreactive agent is distributed into and absorbed by the target tissue.
Light source arrays can include light sources that provide more than one wavelength or waveband of light. Linear light source arrays are particularly useful to treat elongate portions of tissue. Light source arrays can also include reflective elements to enhance the transmission of light in a preferred direction. For example, devices can beneficially include expandable members such as inflatable balloons to occlude blood flow (which can interfere with the transmission of light from the light source to the intended target tissue) and to enable the apparatus to be centered in a blood vessel. Another preferred embodiment contemplates a transcutaneous PDT method where the photosensitizing agent delivery system comprises a liposome delivery system consisting essentially of the photosensitizing agent.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is drawn to a method for transcutaneous ultrasonic therapy of a target lesion in a mammalian subject utilizing a sensitizer agent. In this embodiment, the biochemical compound is activated by ultrasound through the following method:
1) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an ultrasonic sensitizing agent or a ultrasonic sensitizing agent delivery system or a prodrug, where the ultrasonic sensitizing agent or ultrasonic sensitizing agent delivery system or prodrug selectively binds to the thick or thin neointimas, nerve cells, nerve sheaths, nerve nuclei, arterial plaques, vascular smooth muscle cells and/or the abnormal extracellular matrix of the site to be treated. Nerve components can also be targeted, for example, the nerve sheath, myelin, S-100 protein. This step is followed by irradiating at least a portion of the subject with ultrasonic energy at a frequency that activates the ultrasonic sensitizing agent or if a prodrug, by a prodrug product thereof, where the ultrasonic energy is provided by an ultrasonic energy emitting source. This embodiment further provides, optionally, that the ultrasonic therapy drug is cleared from non-target tissues of the subject prior to irradiation.
A preferred embodiment of this invention contemplates a method for transcutaneous ultrasonic therapy of a target tissue, where the target tissue is close to a blood vessel.
Other preferred embodiments of this invention contemplate that the ultrasonic energy emitting source is external to the patient's intact skin layer or is inserted underneath the patient's intact skin layer, but is external to the blood vessel to be treated. An additional preferred embodiment t of this invention provides that the ultrasonic sensitizing agent is conjugated to a ligand and more preferably, where the ligand is selected from the group consisting of: a target lesion specific antibody; a target lesion specific peptide and a target lesion specific polymer. Other preferred embodiments of the present invention contemplate that the ultrasonic sensitizing agent is selected from the group consisting of: indocyanine green (ICG); methylene blue; toluidine blue; aminolevulinic acid (ALA); chlorin compounds; phthalocyanines; porphyrins; purpurins; texaphyrins; and any other agent that absorbs light in a range of 500 nm-1100 nm. A preferred embodiment of this invention contemplates that the photosensitizing agent is indocyanine green (ICG).
Other embodiments of the present invention are drawn to the presently disclosed methods of transcutaneous PDT, where the light source is positioned in proximity to the target tissue of the subject and is selected from the group consisting of: an LED light source; an electroluminesent light source; an incandescent light source; a cold cathode fluorescent light source; organic polymer light source; and inorganic light source. A preferred embodiment includes the use of an LED light source.
Yet other embodiments of the presently disclosed methods are drawn to use of light of a wavelength that is from about 500 nm to about 1100 nm, preferably greater than about 650 nm and more preferably greater than about 700 nm. A preferable embodiment of the present method is drawn to the use of light that results in a single photon absorption mode by the photosensitizing agent.
Additional embodiments of the present invention include compositions of photosensitizer targeted delivery system comprising: a photosensitizing agent and a ligand that binds a receptor on the target tissue with specificity. Preferably, the photosensitizing agent of the targeted delivery system is conjugated to the ligand that binds a receptor on the target (nerve or adventitial wall of blood vessel) with specificity. More preferably, the ligand comprises an antibody that binds to a receptor. Most preferably, the receptor is an antigen on thick or thin neointimas, intimas, adventitia of arteries, arterial plaques, vascular smooth muscle cells and/or the extracellular matrix of the site to be treated.
A further preferred embodiment of this invention contemplates that the photosensitizing agent is selected from the group consisting of: indocyanine green (ICG); methylene blue; toluidine blue; aminolevulinic acid (ALA); chlorin compounds; phthalocyanines; porphyrins; purpurins; texaphyrins; and any other agent that absorbs light in a range of 500 nm-1100 nm.
Other photosensitizers of the present invention are known in the art, including, photofrin. RTM, synthetic diporphyrins and dichlorins, phthalocyanines with or without metal substituents, chloroaluminum phthalocyanine with or without varying substituents, chloroaluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine, O-substituted tetraphenyl porphyrins, 3,1-meso tetrakis (o-propionamido phenyl) porphyrin, verdins, purpurins, tin and zinc derivatives of octaethylpurpurin, etiopurpurin, hydroporphyrins, bacteriochlorins of the tetra(hydroxyphenyl) porphyrin series, chlorins, chlorin e6, mono-1-aspartyl derivative of chlorin e6, di-l-aspartyl derivative of chlorin e6, tin(IV) chlorin e6, meta-tetrahydroxphenylchlorin, benzoporphyrin derivatives, benzoporphyrin monoacid derivatives, tetracyanoethylene adducts of benzoporphyrin, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate adducts of benzoporphyrin, Diels-Adler adducts, monoacid ring “a” derivative of benzoporphyrin, sulfonated aluminum PC, sulfonated AlPc, disulfonated, tetrasulfonated derivative, sulfonated aluminum naphthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines with or without metal substituents and with or without varying substituents, zinc naphthalocyanine, anthracenediones, anthrapyrazoles, aminoanthraquinone, phenoxazine dyes, phenothiazine derivatives, chalcogenapyrylium dyes, cationic selena and tellurapyrylium derivatives, ring-substituted cationic PC, pheophorbide derivative, pheophorbide alpha and ether or ester derivatives, pyropheophorbides and ether or ester derivatives, naturally occurring porphyrins, hematoporphyrin, hematoporphyrin derivatives, hematoporphyrin esters or ethers, protoporphyrin, ALA-induced protoporphyrin IX, endogenous metabolic precursors, 5-aminolevulinic acid benzonaphthoporphyrazines, cationic imminium salts, tetracyclines, lutetium texaphyrin, tin-etio-purpurin, porphycenes, benzophenothiazinium, pentaphyrins, texaphyrins and hexaphyrins, 5-amino levulinic acid, hypericin, pseudohypericin, hypocrellin, terthiophenes, azaporphyrins, azachlorins, rose bengal, phloxine B, erythrosine, iodinated or brominated derivatives of fluorescein, merocyanines, nile blue derivatives, pheophytin and chlorophyll derivatives, bacteriochlorin and bacteriochlorophyll derivatives, porphocyanines, benzochlorins and oxobenzochlorins, sapphyrins, oxasapphyrins, cercosporins and related fungal metabolites and combinations thereof.
Several photosensitizers known in the art are FDA approved and commercially available. In a preferred embodiment, the photosensitizer is a benzoporphyrin derivative (“BPD”), such as BPD-MA, also commercially known as BPD Verteporfin or “BPD” (available from QLT). U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,790 describes BPD compositions. BPD is a second-generation compound, which lacks the prolonged cutaneous phototoxicity of Photofrin® (Levy (1994) Semin Oncol 21: 4-10). BPD has been thoroughly characterized (Richter et al., (1987) JNCI 79:1327-1331), (Aveline et al. (1994) Photochem Photobiol 59:328-35), and it has been found to be a highly potent photosensitizer for PDT.
In a preferred embodiment, the photosensitizer is tin ethyl etiopurpurin, commercially known as purlytin (available from Miravant).
In some embodiments, external neuromodulation is performed in which low energy ultrasound is applied to the nerve region to modulate the nerves. For example, it has been shown in the past that low intensity (e.g. non-thermal) ultrasound can affect nerves at powers which range from 30-500 mW/Cm2 whereas HIFU (thermal modulation), by definition generates heat at a focus, requires power levels exceeding 1000 W/Cm2. The actual power flux to the region to be ablated is dependent on the environment including surrounding blood flow and other structures. With low intensity ultrasound, the energy does not have to be so strictly focused to the target because it's a non-ablative energy; that is, the vibration or mechanical pressure may be the effector energy and the target may have a different threshold for effect depending on the tissue. However, even low energy ultrasound may require focusing if excessive heat to the skin is a worry or if there are other susceptible structures in the path and only a pinpoint region of therapy is desired. Nonetheless, transducers 500 in
In
For example, once the renal artery is placed in the coordinate reference frame with the origin of the energy delivery device, an algorithm is utilized to localize the delivery of focused ultrasound to heat or apply mechanical energy to the adventitia and surrounding regions of the artery which contain sympathetic nerves to the kidney and afferent nerves from the kidney, thereby decreasing the sympathetic stimulus to the kidney and decreasing its afferent signaling back to the autonomic nervous system; affecting these targets will modulate the propensity toward hypertension which would otherwise occur. The ultrasonic energy delivery can be modeled mathematically by predicting the acoustic wave dissipation using the distances and measurements taken with the imaging modalities of the tissues and path lengths.
In one embodiment of an algorithm, the Doppler signal from the artery is identified from at least two different directions and the direction of the artery is reconstructed in three dimensional space. With two points in space, a line is created and with knowledge of the thickness of the vessel, a tube, or cylinder, can be created to represent the blood vessel as a virtual model. The tube is represented in three dimensional space over time and its coordinates are known relative to the therapeutic transducers outside of the skin of the patient. Therapeutic energy can be applied from more than one direction as well and can focus on the cylinder (blood anterior vessel wall, central axis, or posterior wall).
Focused energy (e.g. ultrasound) can be applied to the center of the vessel (within the flow), on the posterior wall of the vessel, in between (e.g. when there is a back to back artery and vein next to one another) the artery vessel and a venous vessel, etc.
Imaging 600 of the sympathetic nerves or the sympathetic region (the target) is also utilized so as to assess the direction and orientation of the transducers relative to the target 620; the target is an internal fiducial, which in one embodiment is the kidney 610 and associated renal artery 620 because they can be localized via thier blood flow, a model then produced around it, and then they both can be used as a target for the energy. Continuous feedback of the position of the transducers 500, 510 relative to the target 620 is provided by the imaging system in which the coordinate space of the imaging system. The imaging may be a cross-sectional imaging technology such as CT or MRI or it may be an ultrasound imaging technology which yields faster real time imaging. In some embodiments, the imaging may be a combination of technologies such as the fusion of MRI/CT and ultrasound. The imaging system can detect the position of the target in real time at frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to thousands and tens of thousands of images per second.
In the example of fusion, cross-sectional imaging (e.g. MRI/CT) is utilized to place the body of the patient in a three dimensional coordinate frame and then ultrasound is linked to the three dimensional reference frame and utilized to track the patient's body in real time under the ultrasound linked to the cross-sectional imaging. The lack of resolution provided by the ultrasound is made up for by the cross-sectional imaging since only a few consistent anatomic landmarks are required for an ultrasound image to be linked to the MRI image. As the body moves under the ultrasound, the progressively new ultrasound images are linked to the MRI images and therefore MRI “movement” can be seen at a frequency not otherwise available to an MRI series.
In one embodiment, ultrasound is the energy used to inhibit nerve conduction in the sympathetic nerves. In one embodiment, focused ultrasound (HIFU) from outside the body through the skin is the energy used to inhibit sympathetic stimulation of the kidney by delivering waves from a position external to the body of a patient and focusing the waves on the sympathetic nerves on the inside of the patient and which surround the renal artery of the patient.
As is depicted in
In another embodiment,
Combinations of ionizing energy and other forms of energy can be utilized in this embodiment as well so as to prevent re-growth of the nervous tissue. For example, a combination of heat and/or vibration and/or cavitation and/or ionizing radiation might be utilized to prevent re-growth of nervous tissue after the partial or full ablation of the nervous tissue surrounding the renal artery.
In one embodiment, energy is applied to the region of the celiac ganglion from a region outside the patient. In this embodiment, fluid is placed into the gastrointestinal system, such as for example, in the stomach or small intestine. Ultrasound can then be transmitted through the gastrointestinal organs to the ganglia of interest behind the stomach.
Temporary neurostimulators can also be placed through the tube, such as, for example, in an ICU setting where temporary blockage of the autonomic ganglia may be required. Temporary neurostimulators can be used to over pace the celiac ganglion nerve fibers and inhibit their function as a nerve synapse. Inhibition of the celiac ganglion may achieve a similar function as ablation or modulation of the sympathetic nerves around the renal arteries. That is, the decrease in the sympathetic activity to the kidneys (now obtained with a more proximal inhibition) leads to the lowering of blood pressure in the patient by decreasing the degree of sympathetic outflow from the sympathetic nerve terminals. In the celiac ganglia, the blood pressure lowering effect is more profound given that the celiac ganglia are pre-ganglionic and have more nerve fibers to a greater number of regions than each renal nerve. The effect is also likely more permanent than the effect on the post-ganglionic nerve fibers.
Energy generators 900 deliver energy to the renal nerves accompanying the renal artery, depositing energy from multiple directions to target inhibition of the renal nerve complex. The energy generators can deliver ultrasound energy, ionizing radiation, light (photon) therapy, or microwave energy to the region. The energy can be non-focused in the case where a pharmaceutical agent is targeted to the region to be ablated or modulated. Preferably, however, the energy is focused, being applied from multiple angles from outside the body of the patient to reach the region of interest (e.g. sympathetic nerves surrounding blood vessels). The energy transducers 900 are placed in an X-Y-Z coordinate reference frame 950, as are the organs such as the kidneys. The x-y-z coordinate frame is a real space coordinate frame. For example, real space means that the coordinate reference is identifiable in the physical world; like a GPS (global positioning system), with the physical coordinates, a physical object can be located. Once in the x-y-z coordinate reference frame, cross-sectional imaging using MRI, CT scan, and/or ultrasound is utilized to couple the internal anatomy to the energy transducers. These same transducers may be utilized for the determination of the reference point as well as the therapy. The transducers 900 in this embodiment are focused on the region of the renal nerves at the level of the renal blood vessels, the arteries and veins 200. The focus of the beams can be inside the artery, inside the vein, on the adventitia of the artery or adventitia of the vein.
When applying ultrasonic energy across the skin to the renal artery region, energy densities of potentially over 1 MW/cm2 might be required at region of interest in the adventitia of the blood vessel. Typically, however, power densities of 100 W/cm2 to 3 kW/cm2 would be expected to create the heating required to inhibit these nerves (see Foley et. al. Image-Guided HIFU Neurolysis of Peripheral Nerves To Treat Spasticity And Pain; Ultrasound in Med & Biol. Vol 30 (9) p 1199-1207 herein incorporated by reference). The energy may be pulsed across the skin in an unfocused manner; however, for application of heat, the transducers must be focused otherwise the skin and underlying tissues will receive too much heat. Under imaging with MRI, temperature can be measured with the MRI image. When low energy ultrasound is applied to the region, energy (power) densities in the range of 50 mW/cm2 to 500 mW/cm2 may be applied. Low energy ultrasound may be enough to stun or partially inhibit the renal nerves particularly when pulsed and depending on the desired clinical result. High intensity ultrasound applied to the region with only a few degrees of temperature rise may have the same effect and this energy range may be in the 0.1 kW/cm2 to the 500 kW/cm2 range. A train of pulses also might be utilized to augment the effect on nervous tissue. For example, a train of 100 short pulses, each less than a second and applying energy densities of 1 W/cm2 to 500 W/cm2. In some of the embodiments, cooling may be applied to the skin if the temperature rise is deemed too large to be acceptable. Alternatively, the ultrasound transducers can be pulsed or can be alternated with another set of transducers to effectively spread the heat across the surface of the skin. In some embodiments, the energy is delivered in a pulsed fashion to further decrease the risk to the intervening tissues between the target and the transducer. The pulses can be as close as millisecond, as described, or as long as hours, days or years.
In one method of altering the physiologic process of renal sympathetic excitation, the region around the renal arteries is imaged using CT scan, MRI, thermography, infrared imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), photoacoustic imaging, pet imaging, SPECT imaging, or ultrasound, and the images are placed into a three dimensional coordinate reference frame 950. The coordinate reference frame 950 refers to the knowledge of the relationship between anatomic structures, both two dimensional and three dimensional, the structures placed into a physical coordinate reference. Imaging devices determine the coordinate frame. Once the coordinate frame is established, the imaging and therapy transducers 900 can be coupled such that the information from the imaging system is utilized by the therapeutic transducers to position the energy. Blood vessels may provide a useful reference frame for deposition of energy as they have a unique imaging signature. An ultrasound pulse echo can provide a Doppler shift signature to identify the blood vessel from the surrounding tissue. In an MRI, CT scan, and even an ultrasound exam, intravenous contrast agents can be utilized to identify flow patterns useful to determine a coordinate reference for energy deposition. Energy transducers 900 which can deliver ultrasound, light, radiation, ionizing radiation, or microwave energy are placed in the same three-dimensional reference frame as the renal arteries, at which time a processor (e.g. using an algorithm) can determine how to direct the transducers to deliver energy to the region 220 of the nerves 910. The algorithm consists of a targeting feature (planning feature) which allows for prediction of the position and energy deposition of the energy leaving the transducers 900.
Once the three dimensional coordinate reference frames 950 are linked or coupled, the planning and prediction algorithm can be used to precisely position the energy beams at a target in the body.
The original imaging modality can be utilized to locate the renal sympathetic region can be used to track the motion of the region during treatment. For example, the imaging technology used at time zero is taken as the baseline scan and subsequent scans at time t1 are compared to the baseline scan, t0. The frequency of updates can range from a single scan every few seconds to many scans per second. With ultrasound as the imaging technology, the location might be updated at a frame rate greater than 50 Hz and up to several hundred Hz or thousand Hz. With MRI as the imaging modality, the imaging refresh rate might be closer to 30 Hz. In other embodiments, internally placed fiducials transmit positional information at a high frequency and this information is utilized to fuse the target with an initial external imaging apparatus. Internal fiducials might include one or more imageable elements including doppler signals, regions of blood vessels, ribs, kidneys, and blood vessels and organs other than the target (e.g. vena cava, adrenal gland, ureter). These fiducials can be used to track the region being treated and/or to triangulate to the region to be treated.
In some embodiments (
Internal reflections (e.g. speckles) can be tracked as well. These speckles are inherent characteristics of tissue as imaged with ultrasound. They can be tracked and incorporated into treatment planning algorithm and then linked to the therapeutic transducers.
In some embodiments, a test dose of energy can be applied to the renal sympathetic region and then a test performed to determine if an effect was created. For example, a small amount of heat or vibratory energy can be delivered to the region of the sympathetic nerves and then a test of sympathetic activity such as microneurography (detection of sympathetic nerve activity around muscles and nerves which correlate with the beating heart) can be performed. Past research and current clinical data have shown that the sympathetic nerves to the peripheral muscles are affected by interruption of the renal afferent nerves. The degree of temperature rise with the small degree of heat can be determined through the use of MRI thermometry or an ultrasound technique and the temperature rise can be determined or limited to an amount which is reversible.
In another embodiment, a stimulus is applied to a region such as the skin and an output downstream from the skin is detected. For example, a vibratory energy might be applied to the skin and a sympathetic outflow such as the heart rate might be detected. In another embodiment, heat or cold might be applied to the skin and heart rate, blood pressure; vasoconstriction might be detected as an output.
Alternatively, ultrasonic imaging can be utilized to determine the approximate temperature rise of the tissue region. The speed of ultrasonic waves is dependent on temperature and therefore the relative speed of the ultrasound transmission from a region being heated will depend on the temperature, therefore providing measureable variables to monitor. In some embodiments, microbubbles are utilized to determine the rise in temperature. Microbubbles expand and then degrade when exposed to increasing temperature so that they can then predict the temperature of the region being heated. A technique called ultrasound elastography can also be utilized. In this embodiment, the elastic properties of tissue are dependent on temperature and therefore the elastography may be utilized to track features of temperature change. The microbubbles can also be utilized to augment the therapeutic effect of the region being targeted. For example, the microbubbles can be utilized to release a pharmaceutical when the ultrasound reaches them. Alternatively, the microbubble structure can be utilized to enhance imaging of the treatment region to improve targeting or tracking of the treatment region.
In some embodiments, only the temperature determination is utilized. That is, the temperature sensing embodiments and algorithms are utilized with any procedure in which heating is being performed. For example, in a case where heating of the renal nerve region is performed using radiofrequency ablation through the renal artery, imaging of the region from a position external to the patient can be performed while the renal artery region is being heated via radiofrequency methods. Imaging can be accomplished utilizing MRI, ultrasound, infrared, or OCT methods.
In another embodiment, a test may be performed on the baroreceptor complex at the region of the carotid artery bifurcation. After the test dose of energy is applied to the renal artery complex, pressure can be applied to the carotid artery complex; typically, with an intact baroreceptor complex, the systemic blood pressure would decrease after application of pressure to the carotid artery.
However, with renal afferent nerves which have been inhibited, the baroreceptors will not be sensitive to changes in blood pressure and therefore the efficacy of the application of the energy to the renal nerves can be determined. Other tests include attaining indices of autonomic function such as microneurography, autonomic function variability, etc.
In another embodiment, stimulation of the baroreceptor complex is accomplished non-invasively via ultrasound pulses applied externally to the region of the carotid body. The ultrasound pulses are sufficient to stimulate the sinus to affect a blood pressure change, a change which will be affected when an afferent nerve such as the renal afferents have been altered.
More specifically, this methodology is depicted in
Other regions of the autonomic nervous system can also be affected directly by the technology described herein by applying energy from one region and transmitted through tissue to another region. For example,
In addition, or in place of, in other embodiments, energy may be applied to peripheral nerves typically known as motor nerves but which contain autonomic fibers. Such nerves include the saphenous nerve, femoral nerves, lumbar nerves, median nerves, ulnar nerves, and radial nerves. In some embodiments, energy is applied to the nerves and specific autonomic fibers are affected rather than the other neural fibers (e.g. motor or somatic sensory fibers or efferent or afferent autonomic nerves). In some embodiments, other types of autonomic fibers are affected with energy applied internally or externally. For example, nerves surrounding the superior mesenteric artery, the inferior mesenteric artery, the femoral artery, the pelvic arteries, etc. can be affected by the energy in a specific manner so as to create changes in the autonomic responses of the blood vessels themselves or organs related to the blood vessels, the nerves running through and along the vessels to the organs.
In another embodiment, in
In a similar type of embodiment 1100, a catheter based therapeutic energy source 1110 can be inserted into the region of the renal arteries or renal veins (
In another embodiment, light is applied through the vessel from within the blood vessel. Infrared, red, blue, and near infrared can all be utilized to affect the function of nerves surrounding blood vessels. For example, a light source is introduced into the renal artery or renal vein 1105, 1106 and the light transmitted to the region surrounding the blood vessels. In a preferred embodiment, a photosensitizing agent is utilized to hasten the inhibition or destruction of the nerve bundles with this technique. Photosensitizing agents can be applied systemically to infiltrate the region around the blood vessels. Light is then applied from inside the vessel to the region of the nerves outside the vessel. For example, the light source is placed inside the renal vein and then light is transmitted through the vein wall to the adventitial region around the wall activating the photosensitizer and injuring or inhibiting the nerves in the adventitia through an apoptosis pathway. The light source may provide light that is visible, or light that is non-visible.
The therapies in
Ultrasound, or other energy transducers 7000, can be applied to focus energy from an external region (e.g. a distance from the eye in an external location) anterior to the eye or to a region posteriorly behind the eye 2500 on the sympathetic 2010 or parasympathetic ganglia, all of which will affect lowering of intra-ocular pressure. The energy transducers 7000 apply ablative or near ablative energy to the adventitia of the blood vessels. In some embodiments, the energy is not ablative but vibratory at frequencies (e.g. 1-5 Mhz) and penetration depths (e.g. 0.5 mm to 0.5 cm) sufficient to inhibit the function of the nerves which are responsible for intra-ocular pressure. Lower energy (e.g. sub-ablative) can be applied to the eye to assist in drug delivery or to stimulate tissue healing type of tissue responses.
In another embodiment, selective lesions, constrictions or implants 3200 are placed in the calyces of the kidney to control or impede blood flow to specific regions of the kidney. Such lesions or implants can be placed on the arterial 3010 or venous sides 3220 of the kidney. In some embodiments, the lesions/implants are created so as to selectively block certain portions of the sympathetic nerves within the kidney. The lesions also may be positioned so as to ablate regions of the kidney which produce hormones, such as renin, which can be detrimental to a patient in excess. The implants or constrictions can be placed in the aorta 3210 or the renal vein 3230. The implants can be active implants, generating stimulating energy chronically or multiple ablative or inhibitory doses discretely over time.
In the renal vein 3230, the implants 3220, 3200 might cause an increase in the pressure within the kidney (by allowing blood flow to back up into the kidney and increase the pressure) which will prevent the downward spiral of systolic heart failure described above because the kidney will act as if it is experiencing a high pressure head. That is, once the pressure in the kidney is restored or artificially elevated by increased venous pressure, the relative renal hypotension signaling to retain electrolytes and water will not be present any longer and the kidney will “feel” full and the renal sympathetic stimulation will be turned off. In one embodiment, a stent which creates a stenosis is implanted using a catheter delivery system. In another embodiment, a stricture 3220 is created using heat delivered either externally or internally. Externally delivered heat is delivered via direct heating via a percutaneous procedure (through the skin to the region of the kidney) or transmitted through the skin (e.g. with HIFU focused through the skin). In one embodiment, an implant is placed between girota's fascia and the cortex of the kidney. The implant can stimulate or inhibit nerves surrounding the renal blood vessels, or even release pharmaceuticals in a drug delivery system.
The MRI/CT scan performs the imaging 4010 and transmits data (e.g. three dimensional representations of the regions of interest) to the ultrasound controller which then directs the ultrasound to target the region of interest with low intensity ultrasound (50-1000 mW/cm2), heat (>1000 mW/cm2), cavitation, or a combination of these modalities and/or including introduction of enhancing bioactive agent delivery locally or systemically (sonodynamic therapy). Optionally, a doppler ultrasound or other 3D/4D ultrasound is performed and the data pushed to the MRI system to assist with localization of the pathology; alternatively, the ultrasound data are utilized to directly control the direction of the energy being used to target the physiologic processes and CT/MRI is not obtained. Using this imaging and ablation system from a position external to a patient, many regions of the kidney can be treated such as the internal calyces 4350, the cortex 4300, the medulla 4320, the hilum 4330, and the region 4340 close to the aorta.
Further parameters which can be measured include temperature via thermal spectroscopy using MRI or ultrasound thermometry/elastography; thermal imaging is a well-known feature of MRI scanners; the data for thermal spectroscopy exists within the MRI scan and can be extrapolated from the recorded data in real time by comparing regions of interest before and after or during treatment. Temperature data overlaid on the MRI scan enables the operator of the machine to visualize the increase in temperature and therefore the location of the heating to insure that the correct region has indeed been ablated and that excessive energy is not applied to the region. Having temperature data also enables control of the ablation field as far as applying the correct temperature for ablation to the nerves. For example, the temperature over time can be determined and fed back to the operator or in an automated system, to the energy delivery device itself. Furthermore, other spectroscopic parameters can be determined using the MRI scan such as oxygenation, blood flow, or other physiologic and functional parameters. In one embodiment, an alternating magnetic field is used to stimulate and then over-stimulate or inhibit an autonomic nerve (e.g. to or from the kidney).
Elastography is a technique in which the shear waves of the ultrasound beam and reflectance are detected. The tissue characteristics change as the tissue is heated and the tissue properties change. An approximate temperature can be assigned to the tissue based on elastography and the progress of the heating can be monitored.
MRI scanners 4000 generally consist of a magnet and an RF coil. The magnet might be an electromagnet or a permanent magnet. The coil is typically a copper coil which generates a radiofrequency field. Recently, permanent magnets have been utilized to create MRI scanners which are able to be used in almost any setting, for example a private office setting. Office based MRI scanners enable imaging to be performed quickly in the convenience of a physician's office as well as requiring less magnetic force (less than 0.5 Tesla) and as a consequence, less shielding. The lower tesla magnets also provides for special advantages as far as diversity of imaging and resolution of certain features. Importantly, the permanent magnet MRI scanners are open scanners and do not encapsulate the patient during the scan.
In one embodiment, a permanent magnet MRI is utilized to obtain an MRI image of the region of interest 4010. High intensity focused 4100 ultrasound is used to target the region of interest 4600 identified using the MRI. In one embodiment, the MRI is utilized to detect blood flow within one or more blood vessels such as the renal arteries, renal veins, superior mesenteric artery, veins, carotid arteries and veins, aortic arch coronary arteries, veins, to name a subset.
Image 4010 is or can be monitored by a health care professional to ensure that the region of interest is being treated and the treatment can be stopped if the assumed region is not being treated. Alternatively, an imaging algorithm can be initiated in which the region of interest is automatically (e.g. through image processing) identified and then subsequent images are compared to the initial demarcated region of interest.
Perhaps, most importantly, with MRI, the region around the renal arteries can be easily imaged as can any other region such as the eye, brain, prostate, breast, liver, colon, spleen, aorta, hip, knee, spine, venous tree, and pancreas. The imaging from the MRI can be utilized to precisely focus the ultrasound beam to the region of interest around the renal arteries or elsewhere in the body. With MRI, the actual nerves to be modified or modulated can be directly visualized and targeted with the energy delivered through the body from the ultrasound transducers. One disadvantage of MRI can be the frame acquisition (difficulty in tracking the target) rate as well as the cost of introducing an MRI machine into the treatment paradigm. In these regards, ultrasound imaging offers a much more practical solution.
In one embodiment, the kidneys are detected by a cross-sectional imaging modality such as MRI, ultrasound, or CT scan. The renal arteries and veins are detected within the MRI image utilizing contrast or not utilizing contrast. Next, the imaging data is placed into a three dimensional coordinate system which is linked to one or more ultrasound (e.g. HIFU) transducers 4540 which focus ultrasound onto the region of the renal arteries in the coordinate frame 4530. The linking, or coupling, of the imaging to the therapeutic transducers is accomplished by determining the 3 dimensional position of the target by creating an anatomic model. The transducers are placed in a relative three dimensional coordinate frame as well. For example, the transducers can be placed in the imaging field 4520 during the MRI or CT scan such that the cross-sectional pictures include the transducers. Optionally, the transducers contain motion sensors, such as electromagnetic, optical, inertial, MEMS, and accelerometers, one or more of which allow for the transducer position to be monitored if for example the body moves relative to the transducer or the operator moves relative to the body. With the motion sensors, the position of the transducers can be determined with movement which might occur during the therapy. The updated information can then be fed back to the ultrasound therapy device so as to readjust the position of the therapy.
In one embodiment, a system is described in which the blood flow in the renal artery is detected by detecting the walls of the artery or renal vein or the blood flow in the renal artery or the renal vein. The coordinate reference of the blood vessels is then transmitted to the therapeutic transducer, for example, ultrasound. The therapeutic transducer is directed to the renal blood vessels using the information obtained by imaging. A model of the vessels indicates the blood flow of the vessels and the walls of the vessels where the nerves reside. Energy is then applied to the model of the vessels to treat the nerves around the vessels.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, ultrasound is utilized and the ultrasound image 4510 can be directly correlated to the origin of the imaging transducer. The therapeutic transducer 4540 in some embodiments is the same as the imaging transducer and therefore the therapeutic transducer is by definition coupled in a coordinate reference 4540 once the imaging transducer coordinates are known. If the therapeutic transducer and the imaging transducer are different devices, then they can be coupled by knowledge of the relative position of the two devices. The region of interest (ROI) is highlighted in a software algorithm; for example, the renal arteries, the calyces, the medullary region, the cortex, the renal hila, the celiac ganglia, the aorta, or any of the veins of the venous system as well. In another embodiment, the adrenal gland, the vessels traveling to the adrenal gland, or the autonomic nerves traveling to the adrenal gland are targeted with focused ultrasound and then either the medulla or the cortex of the adrenal gland or the nerves and arteries leading to the gland are partially or fully ablated with ultrasonic energy.
The targeting region or focus of the ultrasound is the point of maximal intensity. In some embodiments, targeting focus is placed in the center of the artery such that the walls on either side receive equivalent amounts of energy or power and can be heated more evenly than if one wall of the blood vessel is targeted. In some embodiments in which a blood vessel is targeted, the blood vessel being an artery and the artery having a closely surrounding vein (e.g. the renal artery/vein pedicle), the center of the focus might be placed at the boundary of the vein and the artery.
Once the transducers are energized 4550 after the region is targeted, the tissue is heated 4560 and a technique such as MRI thermography 4570 or ultrasound thermography is utilized to determine the tissue temperature. During the assessment of temperature, the anatomic data from the MRI scan or the Doppler ultrasound is then referenced to ensure the proper degree of positioning and the degree of energy transduction is again further assessed by the modeling algorithm 4545 to set the parameters for the energy transducers 4550. If there is movement of the target, the transducers may have to be turned off and the patient repositioned. Alternatively, the transducers can be redirected to a different position within the coordinate reference frame.
Ablation can also be augmented using agents such as magnetic nanoparticles or liposomal nanoparticles which are responsive to a radiofrequency field generated by a magnet. These particles can be selectively heated by the magnetic field. The particles can also be enhanced such that they will target specific organs and tissues using targeting moieties such as antibodies, peptides, etc. In addition to the delivery of heat, the particles can be activated to deliver drugs, bioactive agents, or imaging agents at the region at which action is desired (e.g. the renal artery). The particles can be introduced via an intravenous route, a subcutaneous route, a direct injection route through the blood vessel, or a percutaneous route. As an example, magnetic nanoparticles or microparticles respond to a magnetic field by generating heat in a local region around them. Similarly, liposomal particles might have a metallic particle within such that the magnetic particle heats up the region around the liposome but the liposome allows accurate targeting and biocompatibility.
The addition of Doppler ultrasound 4510 may be provided as well. The renal arteries are (if renal arteries or regions surrounding the arteries are the target) placed in a 3D coordinate reference frame 4530 using a software algorithm with or without the help of fiducial markers. Data is supplied to ultrasound transducers 4540 from a heat modeling algorithm 4545 and the transducers are energized with the appropriate phase and power to heat the region of the renal artery to between 40° C. and 90° C. within a time span of several minutes. The position within the 3D coordinate reference is also integrated into the treatment algorithm so that the ultrasound transducers can be moved into the appropriate position. The ultrasound transducers may have frequencies below 1 megahertz (MHz), from 1-20 MHz, or above 30 Mhz, or around 750 kHz, 500 kHz, or 250 kHz. The transducers may be in the form of a phased array, either linear or curved, or the transducers may be mechanically moved so as to focus ultrasound to the target of interest. In addition, MRI thermography 4570 can be utilized so as to obtain the actual temperature of the tissue being heated. These data can be further fed into the system to slow down or speed up the process of ablation 4560 via the transducers 4550.
Aside from focused ultrasound, ultrasonic waves can be utilized directly to either heat an area or to activate pharmaceuticals in the region of interest. There are several methodologies to enhance drug delivery using focused ultrasound. For example, particles can release pharmaceutical when they are heated by the magnetic field. Liposomes can release a payload when they are activated with focused ultrasound. Ultrasound waves have a natural focusing ability if a transducer is placed in the vicinity of the target and the target contains an activateable moiety such as a bioactive drug or material (e.g. a nanoparticle sensitive to acoustic waves). Examples of sonodynamically activated moieties include some porphyrin derivatives.
So as to test the region of interest and the potential physiologic effect of ablation in that region, the region can be partially heated or vibrated with the focused ultrasound to stun or partially ablate the nerves. Next, a physiologic test such as the testing of blood pressure or measuring norepinephrine levels in the blood, kidney, blood vessels leading to or from the kidney, can be performed to ensure that the correct region was indeed targeted for ablation. Depending on the parameter, additional treatments may be performed.
Clinically, this technique might be called fractionation of therapy which underscores one of the major advantages of the technique to apply external energy versus applying internal energy to the renal arteries. An internal technique requires invasion through the skin and entry into the renal artery lumens which is costly and potentially damaging. Patients will likely not accept multiple treatments, as they are highly invasive and painful. An external technique allows for a less invasive treatment to be applied on multiple occasions, made feasible by the low cost and minimal invasion of the technology described herein.
In another embodiment, a fiducial is utilized to demarcate the region of interest. A fiducial can be intrinsic (e.g. part of the anatomy) or the fiducial can be extrinsic (e.g. placed in position). For example, the fiducial can be an implanted fiducial, an intrinsic fiducial, or device placed in the blood vessels, or a device placed percutaneously through a catheterization or other procedure. The fiducial can also be a bone, such as a rib, or another internal organ, for example, the liver. In one embodiment, the fiducial is a beacon or balloon or balloon with a beacon which is detectable via ultrasound. In one embodiment, the blood flow in the renal arteries, detected via Doppler or B-mode imaging, is the fiducial and its relative direction is determined via Doppler analysis. Next, the renal arteries, and specifically, the region around the renal arteries are placed into a three dimensional coordinate frame utilizing the internal fiducials. A variant of global positioning system technology can be utilized to track the fiducials within the artery or around the arteries. In this embodiment, a position sensor is placed in the artery or vein through a puncture in the groin. The position of the sensor is monitored as the sensor is placed into the blood vessel and its position in physical space relative to the outside of the patient, relative to the operator and relative to the therapeutic transducer is therefore known. The three dimensional coordinate frame is transmitted to the therapeutic ultrasound transducers and then the transducers and anatomy are coupled to the same coordinate frame. At this point, the HIFU is delivered from the transducers, calculating the position of the transducers based on the position of the target in the reference frame.
In one embodiment, a virtual fiducial is created via an imaging system. For example, in the case of a blood vessel such as the renal artery, an image of the blood vessel using B-mode ultrasound can be obtained which correlates to the blood vessel being viewed in direct cross section (1705;
In this method of treatment, an artery such as a renal artery is viewed in cross-section or close to a cross-section under ultrasound guidance. In this position, the blood vessel is substantially parallel to the axis of the spherical transducer so as to facilitate lesion production. The setup of the ultrasound transducers 1600 has previously been calibrated to create multiple focal lesions 1620, 1630, 1640 along the artery if the artery is in cross-section 1680.
In one embodiment, the fiducial is an intravascular fiducial such as a balloon or a hermetically sealed transmitting device. The balloon is detectable via radiotransmitter within the balloon which is detectable by the external therapeutic transducers. The balloon can have three transducers, each capable of relaying its position so that the balloon can be placed in a three dimensional coordinate reference. Once the balloon is placed into the same coordinate frame as the external transducers using the transmitting beacon, the energy transducing devices can deliver energy (e.g. focused ultrasound) to the blood vessel (e.g. the renal arteries) or the region surrounding the blood vessels (e.g. the renal nerves). The balloon and transmitters also enable the ability to definitively track the vasculature in the case of movement (e.g. the renal arteries). In another embodiment, the balloon measures temperature or is a conduit for coolant applied during the heating of the artery or nerves.
Delivery of therapeutic ultrasound energy to the tissue inside the body is accomplished via the ultrasound transducers which are directed to deliver the energy to the target in the coordinate frame.
Once the target is placed in the coordinate frame and the energy delivery is begun, it is important to maintain targeting of the position, particularly when the target is a small region such as the sympathetic nerves. To this end, the position of the region of ablation is compared to its baseline position, both in a three dimensional coordinate reference frame. The ongoing positional monitoring and information is fed into an algorithm which determines the new targeting direction of the energy waves toward the target. In one embodiment, if the position is too far from the original position (e.g. the patient moves), then the energy delivery is stopped and the patient repositioned. If the position is not too far from the original position, then the energy transducers can be repositioned either mechanically (e.g. through physical movement) or electrically via phased array (e.g. by changing the relative phase of the waves emanating from the transducers). In another embodiment, multiple transducers are placed on the patient in different positions and each is turned on or off to result in the necessary energy delivery. With a multitude of transducers placed on the patient, a greater territory can be covered with the therapeutic ultrasound. The therapeutic positions can also serve as imaging positions for intrinsic and/or extrinsic fiducials.
In addition to heat delivery, ultrasound can be utilized to deliver cavitating energy which may enable drug delivery at certain frequencies. Cavitating energy can also lead to ablation of tissue at the area of the focus. A systemic dose of a drug can be delivered to the region of interest and the region targeted with the cavitating or other forms of ultrasonic energy. Other types of therapeutic delivery modalities include ultrasound sensitive bubbles or radiation sensitive nanoparticles, all of which enhance the effect of the energy at the target of interest.
An ultrasound imaging trial was then performed to detect the available windows to deliver therapeutic ultrasound to the region of the renal arteries 4630 from the posterior region of the patient. It was discovered that the window depicted by arrow 4600 and depicted by arrow 4605 in the cross-sectional ultrasound image from ultrasound (
Upon further experimentation, it was discovered that by positioning the patient in the prone position (backside up, abdomen down), the structures under study 4750 . . . that is, the renal arteries 4770 and 4780, the kidney hilum were even closer to the skin and the respiratory motion of the artery and kidney was markedly decreased.
Therefore, with these clinical data, in one embodiment, a method of treatment 4800 (
In one embodiment, the percutaneous procedure in
In one embodiment, selective regions of the kidney are ablated through the percutaneous access route; for example, regions which secrete hormones which are detrimental to a patient or to the kidneys or other organs. Using energy applied externally to the patient through the skin and from different angles affords the ability to target any region in or on the kidney or along the renal nerves or at the region of the adrenal gland, aorta, or sympathetic chain. This greater breadth in the number of regions to be targeted is enabled by the combination of external imaging and external delivery of the energy from a multitude of angles through the skin of the patient and to the target. The renal nerves can be targeted at their takeoff from the aorta onto the renal artery, at their synapses at the celiac ganglia, or at their bifurcation point along the renal artery.
In a further embodiment, probe 5010 can be utilized to detect temperature or motion of the region while the ultrasound transducers are applying the energy to the region. A motion sensor, position beacon, or accelerometer can be used to provide feedback for the HIFU transducers. In addition, an optional temperature or imaging modality may be placed on the probe 5010. The probe 5010 can also be used to locate the position within the laparoscopic field for the ablations to be performed. The dose delivered by this probe is approximately
In
In one embodiment, devices 5050, 5055 (
Imaging can be performed externally or internally in this embodiment in which a catheter is placed inside the renal arteries. For example, external imaging with MRI or Ultrasound may be utilized to visualize changes during the ultrasound modulation of the nerve bundles. Indeed, these imaging modalities may be utilized for the application of any type of energy within the wall of the artery. For example, radiofrequency delivery of energy through the wall of the renal artery may be monitored through similar techniques. Thus the monitoring of the procedural success of the technique is independent of the technique in most cases.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, the devices 5050, 5055 can be utilized to direct externally applied energy (e.g. ultrasound) to the correct place around the artery as the HIFU transducers deliver the energy to the region. For example, the intravascular probe 5050 can be utilized as a homing beacon for the imaging/therapeutic technology utilized for the externally delivered HIFU.
In another embodiment, the physiologic process of arterial expansion (aneurysms) is targeted. In
In another embodiment, a material is placed in the aneurysm sac and the focused or non-focused ultrasound utilized to harden or otherwise induce the material in the sac to stick to the aorta or clot in the aneurysm and thus close the aneurysm permanently. In one embodiment therefore, an ultrasound catheter is placed in an aorta at the region of an aneurysm wall or close to a material in an aneurysmal wall. The material can be a man-made material placed by an operator or it can be material such as thrombus which is in the aneurysm naturally. Ultrasound is applied to the wall, or the material, resulting in hardening of the wall or of the material, strengthening the aneurysm wall and preventing expansion. The energy can also be applied from a position external to the patient or through a percutaneously positioned energy delivering catheter.
6000 depicts a clot prevention device 6012 (vena cava filter) within a blood vessel such as the aorta or vena cava 6010. The ultrasound catheter 6005 is applied to the clot prevention device (filter) 6012 so as to remove the clot from the device or to free the device 6012 from the wall of the blood vessel in order to remove it from the blood vessel 6000.
The planning step 6130 includes determination of the positioning of the ultrasound transducers as far as position of the focus in the patient. X,Y,Z, and up to three angular coordinates are used to determine the position of the ultrasonic focus in the patient based on the cross sectional imaging 6110. The HIFU transducers might have their own position sensors built in so that the position relative to the target can be assessed. Alternatively, the HIFU transducers can be rigidly fixed to the table on which the patient rests so that the coordinates relative to the table and the patient are easily obtainable. The flow of heat is also modeled in the planning step 6130 so that the temperature at a specific position with the ultrasound can be planned and predicted. For example, the pressure wave from the transducer is modeled as it penetrates through the tissue to the target. For the most part, the tissue can be treated as water with a minimal loss due to interfaces. Modeling data predicts that this is the case. The relative power and phase of the ultrasonic wave at the target can be determined by the positional coupling between the probe and target. A convective heat transfer term is added to model heat transfer due to blood flow, particularly in the region of an artery. A conductive heat transfer term is also modeled in the equation for heat flow and temperature.
Another variable which is considered in the planning step is the size of the lesion and the error in its position. In the ablation of small regions such as nerves surrounding blood vessels, the temperature of the regions may need to be increased to a temperature of 60-90 degrees Celsius to permanently ablate nerves in the region. Temperatures of 40-60 degrees may temporarily inhibit or block the nerves in these regions and these temperatures can be used to determine that a patient will respond to a specific treatment without permanently ablating the nerve region. Subsequently, additional therapy can be applied at a later time so as to complete the job or perhaps, re-inhibit the nerve regions.
An error analysis is also performed during the treatment contemplated in
During the delivery of the treatment 6260, the patient may move, in which case the fiducials 6120 track the movement and the position of the treatment zone is re-analyzed 6150 and the treatment is restarted or the transducers are moved either mechanically or electrically to a new focus position.
In another embodiment, a cross-sectional technique of imaging is used in combination with a modality such as ultrasound to create a fusion type of image. The cross-sectional imaging is utilized to create a three dimensional data set of the anatomy. The ultrasound, providing two dimensional images, is linked to the three dimensional imaging provided by the cross-sectional machine through fiducial matches between the ultrasound and the MRI. As a body portion moves within the ultrasound field, the corresponding data is determined (coupled to) the cross-sectional (e.g. MRI image) and a viewing station can show the movement in the three dimensional dataset. The ultrasound provides real time images and the coupling to the MRI or other cross-sectional image depicts the ultrasound determined position in the three dimensional space.
In an exemplary embodiment of modulating physiologic processes, a patient 7400 with a subdural or epidural hematoma is chosen for treatment and a CT scan or MRI 7300 is obtained of the treatment region. Treatment planning ensues and the chronic region of the epidural 7200 or sub-dural 7010 hematoma is targeted for treatment with the focused ultrasound 7100 transducer technology. Next the target of interest is placed in a coordinate reference frame as are the ultrasound transducers. Therapy 7100 ensues once the two are coupled together. The focused ultrasound heats the region of the hematoma to dissolve the clot and/or stop the leakage from the capillaries which lead to the accumulation of fluid around the brain 7420. The technology can be used in place of or in addition to a burr hole, which is a hole placed through the scalp to evacuate the fluid.
In one method therefore, ultrasound energy can be applied to the blood vessel leading to a kidney in a pattern such that a circular pattern of heat and ultrasound is applied to the vessel. The energy is transmitted through the skin in one embodiment or through the artery in another embodiment. As described below, ultrasound is transmitted from a distance and is inherently easier to apply in a circular pattern because it doesn't only rely on conduction.
Previously, it was unknown and undiscovered whether or not the annular shaped lesions as shown in
Therefore, in one embodiment, the ultrasound is applied from a position external to the artery in such a manner so as to create an annular or semi-annular rim of heat all the way around the artery to inhibit, ablate, or partially ablate the autonomic nerves surrounding the artery. The walls or the blood flow of the artery can be utilized to target the ultrasound to the nerves which, if not directly visualized, are visualized by use of a model to approximate the position of the nerves based on the position of the blood vessel.
Therefore, based on the animal and theoretical experimentation, there is proven feasibility of utilizing ultrasound to quickly and efficiently inhibit the nerves around the renal arteries from a position external to the blood vessels as well as from a position external to the skin of the patient.
Utilizing the experimental simulations and animal experimentation described above, a clinical device can and has been devised and tested in human patients.
Ultrasound transducers 1610 are aligned along the edge of a cylinder 1650, aimed so that they intersect at one or more focal spots 1620, 1630, 1640 around the vessel (e.g. renal artery). The transducers 1610 are positioned along the cylinder or sphere or spherical approximation (e.g. aspherical) 1650 such that several of the transducers are closer to one focus or the other such that a range of distances 1620, 1630, 1640 to the artery is created. The patient and artery are positioned such that their centers 1700 co-localize with the center of the ultrasound array 1600. Once the centers are co-localized, the HIFU energy can be activated to create lesions along the length of the artery wall 1640, 1620, 1630 at different depths and positions around the artery. The natural focusing of the transducers positioned along a cylinder as in
In another embodiment, a movement system for the transducers is utilized so that the transducers move along the rim of the sphere or cylinder to which they are attached. The transducers can be moved automatically or semi-automatically, based on imaging or based on external position markers. The transducers are independently controlled electrically but coupled mechanically through the rigid structure.
Importantly, during treatment, a treatment workstation 1300 (
In some embodiments, motion tracking prevents the lesion or patient from moving too far out of the treatment zone during the ablation. If the patient does move outside the treatment zone during the therapy, then the therapy can be stopped. Motion tracking can be performed using the ultrasound transducers, tracking frames and position or with transducers from multiple angles, creating a three dimensional image with the transducers. Alternatively, a video imaging system can be used to track patient movements, as can a series of accelerometers positioned on the patient which indicate movement.
Ser. Nos. 11/583,569, 12/762,938, 11/583,656, 12/247,969, 10/633,726, 09/721,526, 10/780,405, 09/747,310, 12/202,195, 11/619,996, 09/696,076
In one system 8800, a micro catheter 8810 is delivered to the renal arteries and into the branches of the renal arteries in the kidney 8820. A signal is generated from the catheter into the kidney and out of the patient to an energy delivery system. Based on the generated signal, the position of the catheter in a three dimensional coordinate reference is determined and the energy source is activated to deliver energy 8830 to the region indicated by the microcatheter 8810.
In an additional embodiment, station keeping is utilized. Station keeping enables the operator to maintain the position of the external energy delivery device with respect to the movement of the operator or movement of the patient. As an example, targeting can be achieved with the energy delivery system and
The microcatheter may be also be utilized to place a flow restrictor inside the kidney (e.g. inside a renal vein) to “trick” the kidney into thinking its internal pressure is higher than it might be. In this embodiment, the kidney generates signals to the central nervous system to lower sympathetic output to target organs in an attempt to decrease its perfusion pressure.
Alternatively, specific regions of the kidney might be responsible for hormone excretion or other factors which lead to hypertension or other detrimental effects to the cardiovascular system. The microcatheter can generate ultrasound, radiofrequency, microwave, or X-ray energy. The microcatheter can be utilized to ablate regions in the renal vein or intra-parenchymal venous portion as well. In some embodiments, ablation is not required but vibratory energy emanating from the probe is utilized to affect, on a permanent or temporary basis, the mechanoreceptors or chemoreceptors in the location of the hilum of the kidney.
In another embodiment, an MRI is not performed but ultrasound is utilized to obtain all or part of the cross-sectional view in
In some embodiments (
In
In other embodiments, ultrasound is applied to the uterus or fallopian tubes to aid in pregnancy by improving the receptivity of the sperm and/or egg for one another. This augmentation of conception can be applied to the sperm and egg outside of the womb as well, for example, in a test tube in the case of extra-uterine fertilization.
As shown in
Based on the data above and specifically the CT scan anatomic information in
Furthermore, the face 9672 of the transducer 9670 is shaped such that is fits within the bony region described and depicted in
Given the clinical data as well as the devised technologies described above (e.g.
In one embodiment, the patient is stabilized and/or positioned such that the renal artery and kidneys are optimally located 9710. Diagnostic ultrasound 9730 is applied to the region and optionally, ultrasound is applied from a second direction 9715. The positioning and imaging maneuvers allow the establishment of the location of the renal artery, the hilum, and the vein 9720. A test dose of therapeutic energy 9740 can be applied to the renal hilum region. In some embodiments, temperature 9735 can be measured. This test dose can be considered a full dose if the treatment is in fact effective by one or more measures. These measures might be blood pressure 9770, decrease in sympathetic outflow (as measured by microneurography 9765), increase in parasympathetic outflow, change in the caliber of the blood vessel 9755 or a decrease in the number of spontaneous spikes in a microneurographic analysis in a peripheral nerve (e.g. peroneal nerve) 9765, or an MRI or CT scan which reveals a change in the nervous anatomy 9760. In some embodiments, indices within the kidney are utilized for feedback. For example, the resistive index, a measure of the vasoconstriction in the kidney measured by doppler ultrasound is a useful index related to the renal nerve activity; for example, when there is greater autonomic activity, the resistive index increases, and vice versa.
Completion of the treatment 9745 might occur when the blood pressure reaches a target value 9770. In fact, this might never occur or it may occur only after several years and treatment. The blood pressure might continually be too high and multiple treatments may be applied over a period of years . . . the concept of dose fractionation. Fractionation is a major advantage of applying energy from a region external to a region around the renal arteries in the patient as it is more convenient and less expensive when compared to invasive treatments such stimulator implantation and interventional procedures such as catheterization of the renal artery.
Another important component is the establishment of the location and position of the renal artery, renal vein, and hilum of the kidney 9720. As discussed above, the utilization of Doppler ultrasound signaling allows for the position of the nerves to be well approximated such that the ultrasound can be applied to the general region of the nerves. The region of the nerves can be seen in
In a separate study, it was shown that these nerves could be inhibited using ultrasound applied externally with the parameters and devices described herein. Pathologic analysis revealed that the nerves around the artery were completely inhibited and degenerated, confirming the ability of the treatment plan to inhibit these nerves and ultimately to treat diseases such as hypertension. Furthermore, utilizing these parameters, did not cause any damage within the path of the ultrasound through the kidney and to the renal hilum.
Importantly, it has also been discovered via clinical trials that when ultrasound is used as the energy applied externally, that centering the diagnostic ultrasound probe such that a cross section of the kidney is visualized and the vessels are visualized, is an important component of delivering the therapy to the correct position along the blood vessels. One of the first steps in the algorithm 9700 is to stabilize the patient in a patient stabilizer custom built to deliver energy to the region of the renal arteries. After stabilization of the patient, diagnostic ultrasound is applied to the region 9730 to establish the extent of the ribs, vertebrae, and pelvis location. Palpation of the bony landmarks also allows for the demarcation of the treatment zone of interest. The external ultrasound system is then placed within these regions so as to avoid bone. Then, by ensuring that a portion of the external energy is delivered across the kidney (for example, using ultrasound for visualization), the possibility of hitting bowel is all but eliminated. The ultrasound image in
A test dose of energy 9740 can be given to the region of the kidney hilum or renal artery and temperature imaging 9735, constriction of blood vessels 9755, CT scans 9760, microneurography 9765 patch or electrode, and even blood pressure 9770. Thereafter, the treatment can be completed 9745. Completion might occur minutes, hours, days, or years later depending on the parameter being measured.
Through experimentation, it has been determined that the region of the renal hilum and kidneys can be stabilized utilizing gravity with local application of force to the region of the abdomen below the ribs and above the renal pelvis. For example,
The table elevation is on the front side of the patient, pushing upward toward the renal hilum and kidneys. The head of the table may be dropped or elevated so as to allow specific positioning positions. The elevated portion may contain an inflateable structure which controllably applies pressure to one side or another of the torso, head, or pelvis of the patient.
In one embodiment,
These simulations confirm the feasibility of a therapeutic treatment of the renal sympathetic nerves from the outside without damage to intervening tissues or structures such as bone, bowel, and lung. Hypertension is one clinical application of this therapy. A transducer with an imaging unit within is utilized to apply focused ultrasound to a renal nerve surrounding a renal artery. Both the afferent nerves and efferent nerves are affected by this therapy.
Other transducer configurations are possible. Although a single therapeutic transducer is shown in
Although the central space is shown in the center of the transducer in
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