Syringe with energy delivery component and method of use

Abstract

A syringe having an energy source disposed therein is disclosed. The syringe is capable of both the delivery and/or aspiration of materials as well as the delivery of an effective amount of various types of energy to a target to produce a desired result. A method utilizing the syringe to administer materials and to deliver energy to the material is also disclosed.

1 . A syringe, comprising:
 a barrel having proximal and distal ends in which the proximal end is configured to accept a piston, and the distal end comprises an outlet for discharging a material from the barrel;   at least one energy source associated with the syringe; and   a delivery element in communication with the energy source, the delivery element capable of delivering energy from the energy source to a target to produce a desired effect.   
     
     
         2 . The syringe of  claim 1  wherein the delivery element is a fiber optic cable having a proximal end in communication with the energy source, and a distal end that is configured to be selectively positioned external to the outlet of the barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The syringe of  claim 1  wherein the delivery element is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical agitator, a thermal coil, and an ultrasonic waveguide. 
     
     
         4 . The syringe of  claim 1  wherein the energy source is capable of producing types of energy selected from the group consisting of heat, mechanical, light, thermal and radioactive. 
     
     
         5 . The syringe of  claim 1  wherein the material is a photopolymerizing resin. 
     
     
         6 . The syringe of  claim 1  wherein the delivery element is able to be selectively positioned adjacent to a target area that is external to the syringe. 
     
     
         7 . The syringe of  claim 1  wherein the delivery element remains within the syringe adjacent to a target area that is within the barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is selected from the group consisting of a biological agent and a chemical agent. 
     
     
         9 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery element is a transducer. 
     
     
         10 . A syringe, comprising:
 an energy source disposed within a piston, the energy source being in communication with a delivery element that is configured to transmit an effective amount of energy to a target.   
     
     
         11 . The syringe of  claim 10  wherein the delivery element is selected from the group consisting of an optical wave guide, a mechanical wave guide, a thermal energy conduit, a mechanical agitator, an acoustic wave guide, and a thermal coil. 
     
     
         12 . The syringe of  claim 10  wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of thermal, mechanical, ultrasonic, magnetic, nuclear, chemical, and photonic energy. 
     
     
         13 . The syringe of  claim 10  further comprising a detector disposed in the syringe, the detector capable of measuring a response from the target resulting from the delivery of energy. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treatment, comprising:
 delivering a distal end of a syringe to a treatment site; and   delivering the energy from the energy source to a target through a delivery element, at least a portion of which is disposed within the syringe, the energy capable of producing a desired effect.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target is a therapeutic material disposed within the syringe. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of ejecting the therapeutic material from the syringe following the delivery of energy thereto. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target is a therapeutic material disposed external to the syringe. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the delivery of energy to the therapeutic material is effected after the step of ejecting the therapeutic material from the syringe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the energy source produces a type of energy selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic energy, radiation energy, thermal energy, and mechanical energy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 measuring a response from the target prior to ejecting the material from the syringe, the response being measured by a detector disposed in the syringe.