Methods for inducing atrial and ventricular rhythms using ultrasound and microbubbles
AssigneeBoard of Regents of the University of Nebraska
InventorsThomas R. Porter, Feng Xie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A new and improved method for inducing or pacing atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in animals Embodiments of the invention involve using microbubbles enhanced with an insoluble gas in combination with low frequency ultrasound for its pacing activity. The methods and compositions can be used to pace patients, convert patients out of atrial fibrillation, and as a diagnostic to assess a patient's risk for arrhythmias.
Claims38
A method of inducing or pacing atrial and/or ventricular rhythms in animals comprising the steps of:
- introducing a microbubble composition to said animal by intravenous injection so that the heart of said animal becomes perfused with said microbubble composition, said microbubble composition comprising a plurality of gas filled microbubbles with a diameter of from about 0.1 to about 10 microns and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and in combination;
- applying a low frequency, high mechanical index ultrasound to said animal so that an ultrasound field is directed to the heart, or a portion thereof to induce paced beats.
The method of treatment for use in inducing or pacing arrhythmias in animals comprising:
- (a) obtaining a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of:
- a solution of stable microbubbles approximately 0.1 to about 10 microns in
- diameter, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
- (b) introducing said microbubble composition to the heart of said animal;
- and
- (c) exposing said microbubble composition and said heart to a transthoracic ultrasound field for a time sufficient to stimulate arrhythmia.
A method for converting animals out of fibrillation comprising:
- introducing a microbubble composition to said animal by intravenous injection so that said composition will perfuse the heart, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a microbubble ultrasound contrast agent, and thereafter;
- applying transthoracic high mechanical index ultrasound to said heart of a portion thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.