Ultrasound Ablation Composition with Electrostatic Microbubble Clusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound ablation technologies face limitations such as short circulation time of microbubbles, inefficiency with low frequency ultrasound, low spatial selectivity, and unintended heating away from the target site, particularly for transcranial applications.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a microbubble-microdroplet cluster composition that forms agglomerated entities through electrostatic forces, activated by ultrasound to create ablation-assisting bubbles, which are then insonated to induce mechanical and thermal stress on the target region, enhancing ablation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If acoustic intensity is increased to achieve more efficient destruction of larger target volume, then ablation efficiency is improved, but energy deposition to surrounding healthy tissue increases causing adverse effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating bubbles with different properties at different locations: ablation-assisting bubbles in the target region that collapse to produce mechanical stress and cavitation for tissue destruction, and contrast bubbles that remain stable for imaging. This spatial differentiation of bubble properties enables localized ablation effect while maintaining safety in surrounding tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling bubble behavior through ultrasound frequency and intensity variations. Ablation-assisting bubbles are activated at specific ultrasound frequencies to collapse and generate mechanical stress, while contrast bubbles are maintained at different parameters for stable imaging. This parameter control allows selective activation of ablation effect only in the target region.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If microbubbles are used to reduce energy deposition, then damage to surrounding tissue is minimized, but circulation time is short (2-3 minutes) which is insufficient for HIFU treatment duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bubble population into two distinct functional groups: contrast bubbles that provide imaging capability and remain in circulation, and ablation-assisting bubbles that are activated and collapse to produce ablation effect. This segmentation allows the imaging function to continue while the ablation function is performed by activated bubbles that don't require long circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation-assisting bubbles serve their purpose by collapsing under ultrasound to generate mechanical stress and cavitation effects that directly ablate tissue. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for prolonged circulation, as the bubbles perform their ablation function and are naturally cleared, while contrast bubbles continue circulating for imaging.
3Use of energy by moving object
If regular microbubbles are used for thermal ablation, then energy absorption is enhanced, but spatial selectivity is low causing unintended heating away from target site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating bubbles with different properties at different locations: ablation-assisting bubbles in the target region that collapse to produce mechanical stress and cavitation for tissue destruction, and contrast bubbles that remain stable for imaging. This spatial differentiation of bubble properties enables localized ablation effect while maintaining safety in surrounding tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes mechanical vibration by inducing cavitation oscillations in ablation-assisting bubbles through focused ultrasound. The bubbles oscillate and collapse, generating intense localized mechanical stress and shock waves that ablate tissue through cavitation rather than thermal heating, thereby improving spatial selectivity.
4Length of stationary object
If HIFU frequency is reduced to treat deep target tissue, then penetration depth is improved, but treatment volume length increases which may affect surrounding healthy tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bubble population into two distinct functional groups: contrast bubbles that provide imaging capability and remain in circulation, and ablation-assisting bubbles that are activated and collapse to produce ablation effect. This segmentation allows the imaging function to continue while the ablation function is performed by activated bubbles that don't require long circulation.
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
The method achieves efficient tissue ablation with reduced energy deposition, increased residence time of bubbles, and improved spatial targeting, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Implementation Method 1
activating a phase shift transition of the microdroplet component of the at least one cluster by ultrasound insonation to create the at least one ablation-assisting bubble
Implementation Method 2
The mechanical effect is cavitation wherein the HIFU sound field interacts with a gas bubble in the targeted tissue. Cavitation refers to a range of complex phenomena that involve the creation, oscillation, growth and collapse of bubbles within a medium.
Implementation Method 3
The efficacy of HIFU for tissue ablation is dependent on the frequency of the HIFU field, and the depth of the target tissue region
Implementation Method 4
The thermal effect may be hyperthermia, wherein tissue temperatures are elevated. In particular, the thermal effect of HIFU is heat generation due to absorption of the acoustic energy with a rapid elevation of temperature in the local tissue leading to instantaneous and irreversible cell death via coagulation necrosis.
Implementation Method 5
The lipid-coated microbubbles may be a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging due to their compressible gas cores, which render the microbubbles echogenic, and strongly absorbing, in a certain frequency band that is dependent on the microbubble diameter.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a composition for enhanced ultrasound ablation and methods relating to same. The composition may include a microbubble-microdroplet cluster composition, wherein the microbubble-microdroplet cluster composition may include groups of negatively charged microbubbles and positively charged microdroplets permanently held together by their opposing electrostatic attractive forces to form a single, agglomerated entity.