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US 11,229,810 B2Granted
Methods and systems for producing neuronal lesions using magnetic resonance and acoustic energy
AssigneesUniversity of Virginia Patent Foundation, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsKevin S. Lee, Edward H. Bertram, Max Wintermark
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are described for producing non-invasive and targeted neuronal lesions using magnetic resonance and acoustic energy. Imaging data corresponding to a region of interest is obtained, the region of interest within an imaging subject. Information indicative of a target region within the region of interest is received from the obtained imaging data. Focused acoustic energy directed to the target region within the region of interest is generated to disrupt a barrier between a therapeutic agent and parenchymal tissue in response to insonification by the focused acoustic energy, the therapeutic agent comprising a neurotoxin and microbubbles.
Claims21
A method, comprising:
- obtaining imaging data corresponding to a region of interest, the region of interest within an imaging subject;
- receiving information indicative of a target region within the region of interest from the obtained imaging data, the target region comprising pathways contributing to neurological disease;
- and
- while a therapeutic agent is being delivered to the imaging subject, generating focused acoustic energy directed to the target region within the region of interest to disrupt a barrier between a therapeutic agent and parenchymal tissue in response to insonification by the focused acoustic energy, the therapeutic agent comprising a neurotoxin and microbubbles, wherein the neurotoxin comprises quinolinic acid and the microbubbles comprise lipid-shelled perfluorocarbon gas bubbles;
- causing the therapeutic agent comprising the neurotoxin and microbubbles to enter the target region within the region of interest comprising a brain of the imaging subject while the target region is being insonified by the focused acoustic energy;
- and
- causing disconnection of the pathways contributing to the neurological disease by the therapeutic agent that entered the target region in response to interaction between the focused acoustic energy directed to the target region and presence of the therapeutic agent within the target region.
4 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a magnetic resonance imaging system configured to obtain imaging data corresponding to a region of interest, the region of interest within an imaging subject;
- a memory circuit configured to store the obtained imaging data;
- a processor circuit coupled to a memory circuit and configured to receive information indicative of a target region within the region of interest from the stored imaging data, the target region comprising pathways contributing to neurological disease;
- an acoustic energy generator coupled to an acoustic transducer configured to, while a therapeutic agent is being delivered to the imaging subject, generate focused acoustic energy directed to the target region within the region of interest to disrupt a barrier between a therapeutic agent and parenchymal tissue in response to insonification by the focused acoustic energy, the therapeutic agent comprising a neurotoxin and microbubbles, wherein the neurotoxin comprises quinolinic acid and the microbubbles comprise lipid-shelled perfluorocarbon gas bubbles, the acoustic energy generator causing the therapeutic agent comprising the neurotoxin and microbubbles to enter the target region within the region of interest comprising a brain of the imaging subject while the target region is being insonified by the focused acoustic energy, and wherein the acoustic energy generator causes disconnection of the pathways contributing to the neurological disease by the therapeutic agent that entered the target region in response to interaction between the focused acoustic energy directed to the target region and presence of the therapeutic agent within the target region.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for obtaining imaging data corresponding to a region of interest, the region of interest within an imaging subject;
- means for receiving information indicative of a target region within the region of interest from the obtained imaging data, the target region comprising pathways contributing to neurological disease;
- and
- means for while a therapeutic agent is being delivered to the imaging subject, generating focused acoustic energy directed to the target region within the region of interest to disrupt a barrier between a therapeutic agent and parenchymal tissue in response to insonification by the focused acoustic energy, the therapeutic agent comprising a neurotoxin and microbubbles, wherein the neurotoxin comprises quinolinic acid and the microbubbles comprise lipid-shelled perfluorocarbon gas bubbles;
- means for causing the therapeutic agent comprising the neurotoxin and microbubbles to enter the target region within the region of interest comprising a brain of the imaging subject while the target region is being insonified by the focused acoustic energy;
- and
- means for causing disconnection of the pathways contributing to the neurological disease by the therapeutic agent that entered the target region in response to interaction between the focused acoustic energy directed to the target region and presence of the therapeutic agent within the target region.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.