Selective and non-invasive visualization or treatment of vasculature
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorRan Zeimer
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods and materials for visualizing or treating vasculature. The methods and materials in this invention relate to selective and non-invasive visualization, or treatment such as chemical occlusion, of vasculature in the mammalian eye. The methods utilize fluorescent dyes and tissue-reactive substances encapsulated within heat-sensitive liposomes which are subsequently heated to release the contents thereof at a pre-determined anatomical locus. The methods of this invention further utilize tissue-reactive agents which, when activated, are effective to cause localized tissue damage and occlusion of blood vessels and/or blood sinuses. The materials of this invention relate to diagnostic reagents and kits for visualizing or treating a mammalian blood vessel or sinus.
Claims29
A diagnostic reagent for visualizing a blood vessel or blood sinus in a mammal and useful to form a medical reagent for occluding a blood vessel or blood sinus, the diagnostic reagent comprising:
- (a) a fluorescent dye encapsulated within a heat-sensitive liposome, the fluorescent dye being releasable from the heat-sensitive liposome at a temperature above mammalian body temperature;
- and
- (b) a pharmaceutically-acceptable vehicle,
- wherein said diagnostic reagent is suitable for systemic administration to said mammal and is combinable with an agent selected from the group consisting of a tissue-reactive agent and a tissue-specific factor, thereby to form a medical reagent for chemically occluding a blood vessel or blood sinus.
A kit for visualizing and chemically occluding a blood vessel or blood sinus in a mammal, comprising:
- (a) a fluorescent dye encapsulated within a heat-sensitive vesicle, the fluorescent dye being releasable from the heat-sensitive vesicle at a temperature above the body temperature of said mammal;
- and
- (b) a tissue-reactive agent effective to cause chemical damage to tissue upon activation.
A kit for visualizing and chemically occluding a blood vessel or blood sinus in a mammal, comprising:
- (a) a fluorescent dye;
- (b) a tissue-reactive agent effective to cause chemical damage to tissue upon activation;
- and,
- (c) a reagent comprising an encapsulant,
- wherein the fluorescent dye is introducible to the encapsulant to form a heat-sensitive vesicle comprising the encapsulant and the fluorescent dye, wherein the fluorescent dye is releasable from the heat-sensitive vesicle at about 41° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.