Drug carrier and ultrasound apparatus
OwnerKenichi Kawabatainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drug carrier and an ultrasound apparatus used in combination therewith for releasing a drug. The drug carrier undergoes a reversible phase change from liquid to gas upon ultrasound irradiation, so that the presence of the drug can be detected with a diagnostic apparatus without causing the spilling of the encased drug. The drug carrier includes a drug that is contained in a mixture of a poorly water-soluble substance having a boiling point of 37° C. or lower and a poorly water-soluble substance having a boiling point of higher than 37° C., which mixture is further encapsulated by a membrane of amphipathic substance.
Claims12
A drug carrier comprising:
- a mixture of a first poorly water-soluble compound having a boiling point below the body temperature of a subject of administration of a drug, and a second poorly water-soluble compound having a boiling point exceeding the body temperature of the subject;
- and
- a drug contained in the mixture,
- wherein the mixture is encased in a membrane made of an amphipathic substance.
The drug carrier according to claiin 1, wherein the mixture is liquid when administered and rendered gaseous upon ultrasound pulse irradiation with a peak intensity of 1 to 20 W/cm2, the mixture returning to the original liquid upon termination of ultrasound irradiation.
An ultrasound apparatus comprising:
- an ultrasound transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasound to and from a subject;
- a control unit for controlling the ultrasound transducer;
- and
- an image generating unit for generating an image based on a signal received by the ultrasound transducer,
- wherein the control unit causes the ultrasound transducer to be operated in a first mode in which the transducer emits a ultrasound pulse having a peak intensity of 1 to 20 W/cm2, a second mode in which a ultrasound image of the subject is obtained, and a third mode in which the transducer emits an ultrasound pulse having a peak intensity of 10 to 10 kW/cm2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.