Microbubble Drug Delivery via Ultrasound Sonoporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering therapeutic agents to vascular lumens face challenges such as restenosis, inefficient drug uptake, and systemic exposure due to trauma to the conduit wall, leading to suboptimal drug delivery and unwanted exposure to non-target organs.
Innovation Solution
The use of microbubbles encapsulating therapeutic agents combined with ultrasound energy (sonoporation) or cyclic pulsatile pressure forces synchronized with the patient's blood pulses to enhance drug delivery efficiency and reduce systemic exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If therapeutic agents are delivered via intravenous or intra-lumen infusion, then the substances reach the affected region, but the majority of the therapeutic substance flows downstream and is absorbed systemically or eliminated as waste, resulting in unnecessary systemic exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering therapeutic agents directly to the localized region of interest within the vascular lumen rather than systemic circulation. The system targets specific affected areas with therapeutic substances, ensuring concentrated delivery where needed while minimizing exposure to distant tissues and organs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary delivery system consisting of a catheter with targeted injection capability. This intermediary device enables precise placement of therapeutic agents at the affected site, acting as a mediator between the drug source and the target tissue, thereby preventing direct systemic circulation and waste elimination of the therapeutic substance.
2Reliability
If high doses of therapeutic substances are administered to ensure therapeutic effect at the target region, then the localized treatment effect is achieved, but unknown and unnecessary adverse results occur in regions, tissue, and/or organs distant from the region of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures reliable therapeutic effect at the target region by delivering concentrated doses locally through the catheter injection system. This localized high-dose delivery achieves the necessary therapeutic effect at the affected site without requiring systemic high-dose administration, thereby preventing adverse results in non-target organs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of high-dose therapeutic substance administration into a benefit by directing the high dose precisely to the target region. What would normally be a harmful systemic exposure is transformed into a beneficial localized treatment, achieving therapeutic effect while avoiding adverse results in distant tissues and organs.
3Productivity
If the flow boundary along the vessel wall is not disrupted, then normal fluid flow is maintained, but therapeutic substances cannot reach the localized region of interest within a therapeutic dose range
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by positioning the catheter and injection system before administering the therapeutic substance. This preliminary positioning enables direct delivery of the therapeutic agent to the affected region, disrupting the flow boundary effect in advance and ensuring the substance reaches the target region within the therapeutic dose range without requiring excessive quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter injection system serves as an intermediary that enables therapeutic substances to overcome the flow boundary along the vessel wall. By injecting directly at the target site through this intermediary device, the system allows therapeutic substances to reach the localized region of interest efficiently within the therapeutic dose range.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to vascular tissue, reducing the required dose, minimizing exposure to non-target organs, and achieving a therapeutically effective amount while preventing restenosis.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing the uptake of drugs or therapeutic agents encapsulated in microbubbles in combination with ultrasound energy
Implementation Method 2
The use of microbubbles encapsulating therapeutic agents combined with ultrasound energy (sonoporation)
Implementation Method 3
applying drugs or therapeutic agents in a cyclic manner using a pulse generator
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to methods, devices and systems relating to applying drugs or therapeutic agents to biological conduits, e.g., vascular lumens. More specifically, the present invention comprises enhancing the uptake of drugs or therapeutic agents encapsulated in microbubbles in combination with ultrasound energy as well as applying drugs or therapeutic agents in a cyclic manner using a pulse generator that may be matched in frequency with a patient's blood pulsing.