# US 2017/0281130 A1 · Method and apparatus for accelerated disintegration of blood clot > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0281130 A1 - Document ID: US20170281130A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/509,624 - Filed: 2015-08-28 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-26 - Assignees: University of Virginia Patent Foundation - Applicants: University of Virginia Patent Foundation - Inventors: Adam Joseph Dixon; John Alexander Hossack - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281130A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/2202: {the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/445: {Details of catheter construction} - A61K 41/0028: {Disruption, e.g. by heat or ultrasounds, sonophysical or sonochemical activation, e.g. thermosensitive or heat-sensitive liposomes, disruption of calculi with a medicinal preparation and ultrasounds} - A61K 49/223: {Microbubbles, hollow microspheres, free gas bubbles, gas microspheres} - A61M 13/00: Insufflators for therapeutic or disinfectant purposes {, i.e. devices for blowing a gas, powder or vapour into the body (hand-held units in which gas flow is produced by muscular energy at the moment of use B05B11/062)} - A61M 37/0092: {using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis} - A61N 7/00: Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092}) - A61B 8/481: {involving the use of contrast agents, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream} - A61B 2017/22088: {ultrasound absorbing, drug activated by ultrasound} - A61B 2017/22089: {Gas-bubbles} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates - A61N 2007/0039: {using microbubbles} - A61N 2007/0043: {intra-cavitary} - A61N 2007/0052: {using the same transducer for therapy and imaging} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Systems and methods for treating a blood clot include a catheter to be inserted into a patient. The catheter is used to deliver low stability microbubbles toward the blood clot in the patient. A thrombolytic agent is delivered toward the blood clot, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the microbubbles to vibrate the microbubbles. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-121. (canceled) ### Claim 122 A method of treating a blood clot, said method comprising: inserting a catheter into a patient; delivering low stability microbubbles toward the blood clot in the patient; measuring the diameters of the low stability microbubbles in real time; and changing the diameters of microbubbles produced by varying at least one of gas pressure and liquid flow rate input to a microfluidics device the produces the microbubbles. ### Claim 123 (depends on 122) The method of claim 122, wherein the microfluidics device comprises electrodes configured to operate as a micro Coulter device to measure changes in impedance as the microbubbles flow past the electrodes. ### Claim 124 (depends on 122) The method of claim 122, wherein the microfluidics device comprises at least one optical waveguides configured to operate as a micro particle sizer to measure changes in at least one of optical transmission and optical reflection as said microbubbles flow past said at least one optical waveguide. ### Claim 125 (depends on 122) The method of claim 122, further comprising changing at least one of: liquid composition or gas composition to alter a half-life of the low stability microbubbles produced. ### Claim 126 A system for treating a blood clot, said system comprising: a catheter configured to be inserted into a patient; and a microfluidics device contained in a distal end portion of said catheter, said microfluidics device configured to produce low stability microbubbles, said microfluidics device comprising electrodes configured to operate as a micro Coulter device to measure changes in impedance as the low stability microbubbles flow past the electrodes. ### Claim 127 (depends on 126) The system of claim 126, wherein said microfluidics device is configured to produce said low stability microbubbles having a diameter in the range of 10 μm to 35 μm. ### Claim 128 (depends on 126) The system of claim 126, wherein said microfluidics device comprises an outlet port from which said microbubbles are outputted, said catheter comprising a distal end; and wherein said outlet port is positioned at a distance in the range of from 0 mm to 3 mm from said distal end. ### Claim 129 (depends on 128) The system of claim 128, wherein said distance is in the range of from 0.5 mm to 1 mm. ### Claim 130 (depends on 129) The system of claim 129, wherein said distance is about 1 mm. ### Claim 131 (depends on 127) The system of claim 127, wherein said microfluidics device comprises an outlet port from which said microbubbles are outputted; wherein said outlet port is configured to be positioned relative to a clot to be treated at a distance in the range of from 0 mm to 5 cm. ### Claim 132 (depends on 131) The system of claim 131, wherein said range is from 0 mm to 10 mm. ### Claim 133 A method of treating a blood clot, said method comprising: inserting a catheter into a patient; producing low stability microbubbles at a location at a distance from the blood clot in the range of from 0 mm to 5 cm; delivering the low stability microbubbles toward the blood clot in the patient; delivering a thrombolytic agent toward the blood clot; and applying ultrasonic energy to the microbubbles to vibrate the microbubbles. ### Claim 134 (depends on 133) The method of claim 133, wherein said range is from 0 mm to 10 mm. ### Claim 135 (depends on 133) The method of claim 133, wherein said location is the location of a port opening of the catheter. ### Claim 136 (depends on 135) The method of claim 135, wherein said port is a port of a microfluidics device located within the catheter. ### Claim 137 (depends on 132) The method of claim 132, further comprising real-time monitoring at least one of production rate and size of the low stability microbubbles produced. ### Claim 138 (depends on 132) The method of claim 132, further comprising real-time adjusting at least one of production rate and size of the low stability microbubbles produced. ### Claim 139 A system for treating a treatment site in a patient, said system comprising: a catheter configured to be inserted into the patient; wherein said catheter is configured to produce low stability microbubbles at a location at a distance from the treatment site in the range of from 0 mm to 5 cm; and wherein said catheter is configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the microbubbles to vibrate the microbubbles. ### Claim 140 (depends on 139) The system of claim 139, wherein the catheter comprises a microfluidics device configured to produce said low stability microbubbles. ### Claim 142 (depends on 140) The system of claim 140, wherein said microfluidics device comprises a microfluidics flow-focusing device. ### Claim 143 (depends on 140) The system of claim 140, wherein said microfluidics device comprises a microfluidics T-junction device. ### Claim 144 (depends on 140) The system of claim 140, wherein said microfluidics device comprises a microfluidics co-flow device.