Ultrasonic Dispersion of Compositions in Tissue

摘要

Therapeutic agents, diagnostic agents and other compositions can be effectively delivered to target tissues using ultrasonic dispersion. For example, a therapeutic agent in solution may be injected subcutaneously in the vicinity of a target tissue in a patient. External ultrasound is used to disperse the therapeutic agent in the target tissue. The disclosed methods provide increased concentrations of therapeutic agents in tissue relative to traditional delivery methods, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes while reducing costs. In addition the methods can be used to deliver effective concentrations of therapeutic agents to tissues with limited blood supply.

主权项

1. An infection treatment system comprising:
an ultrasound system configured to broadcast ultrasound transcutaneously toward a treatment field associated with an infected tissue and a subcutaneously injected solution, wherein the ultrasound system is configured to broadcast ultrasound for 5 minutes or less at a power density of 2.5 to 4 W/cm2 and at a frequency of less than 5 MHz that is configured to interact with the solution to disperse the solution with a therapeutic dose of drug dissolved therein through the treatment field and into the infected tissue via microstreaming or by cavitation; and wherein the concentration of drug in the infected tissue is therapeutically effective against the infection while maintaining serum concentration of the drug to less than 10 micrograms/ml one hour after the application of transcutaneous ultrasound; and a temperature monitor for preventing inadvertent heat damage to the skin or surrounding tissue by monitoring a temperature during broadcasting of the ultrasound by the ultrasound system and configured to identify a need to cease the broadcast of ultrasound toward the treatment field when a monitored temperature exceeds a temperature threshold.