Therapeutics reservoir

Abstract

A method and system of forming at least one therapeutic reservoir in a target tissue by trapping therapeutics in at least a portion of said target tissue by selectively applying energy to said target tissue. Optionally, trapping comprises preventing said therapeutics in said target tissue from being carried away by a circulation. The system can include a catheter with both an ultrasonic element and a drug delivery port, optionally connected to control circuitry.

1 . A method of forming at least one therapeutic reservoir in a target tissue comprising:
 trapping therapeutics in at least a portion of said target tissue by selectively applying ultrasound energy to said target tissue.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein selectively applying energy comprises applying a sufficient amount of said energy to said target tissue to trap said therapeutics without damaging surrounding non-target tissue. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising activating said therapeutics in said target tissue. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said trapping comprises maintaining said therapeutics in said target tissue for a period of time sufficiently long for said therapeutics to exert a therapeutic effect and after said therapeutics outside said target tissue have been removed from a patient. 
     
     
         6 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said ultrasound is applied intravascularly to said target tissue. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said ultrasound is unfocused. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a frequency of said ultrasound energy is between 5 Mhz and 30 Mhz. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said selectively applying energy comprises applying a pattern of energy sufficient to block a volume of at least one of blood vessels in said target tissue and lymph vessels in said target tissue to prevent therapeutics from traversing through said volume of blood vessels. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said blocking comprises denaturing collagen surrounding at least one of said blood vessels and said lymphatic vessels. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said selectively applying energy comprises applying a pattern of energy to an arterial wall without damaging an intima of said wall. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said selectively applying energy comprises applying energy in a non-contiguous manner to form a plurality of therapeutics reservoirs. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said selectively applying energy comprises applying a pattern of energy to a location within said target tissue to form said therapeutics reservoir substantially at said location. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein said target tissue comprises a wall of an artery and said location comprises an adventia layer of said wall. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein said artery is a renal artery. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein said therapeutic is neurotoxic to renal nerves in said renal artery wall. 
     
     
         26 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising blocking at least some of a blood flow to force said therapeutics into ducts of said target tissue. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said trapping comprises trapping in vasa vasorum tissue. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said trapping comprises trapping in vessels having a size of less than 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         42 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . An ultrasound system for forming a therapeutics reservoir comprising:
 a catheter comprising:
 a distal end; 
 a proximal end comprising:
 an ultrasound emission element configured for producing ultrasound energy having sufficient energy to seal tissue thereby trapping therapeutics in blood vessels thereof; and 
 
   a controller which to controls application of said ultrasound energy to provide said trapping.   
     
     
         45 . A system according to  claim 44 , further comprising at least one port for release of a fluid to blood, said port located on said proximal end, upstream from said emission element. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A catheter according to  claim 45 , wherein said port is positioned at least 10 mm from said ultrasound emission element. 
     
     
         48 . A catheter according to  claim 45 , wherein said port is adapted to allow a flow rate of said fluid of at least 1 mL/second. 
     
     
         49 . A catheter according to  claim 45 , wherein said port is positioned substantially in line with said emission element. 
     
     
         50 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A catheter according to  claim 45 , further comprising an injection mechanism in fluid communication with said port, said mechanism configured to inject said fluid through said port, said controller further configured to control said injection mechanism. 
     
     
         53 . A catheter according to  claim 45 , wherein said fluid comprises a neurotoxic drug. 
     
     
         54 . A catheter according to  claim 44 , wherein said emission element is configured to emit ultrasound at an intensity of at least 20 Watt/cm 2 . 
     
     
         55 . A catheter according to  claim 45 , wherein said controller is configured to control release of said fluid through said port and emission of ultrasonic energy by said ultrasound emission element. 
     
     
         56 - 58 . (canceled)