Systems, compositions, and methods for local imaging and treatment of pain

Abstract

Pain factors are labeled with targeted agents or markers delivered into the body. The labeled pain factors are imaged with appropriate imaging tools in a manner allowing selective identification and localization of areas of pain source or transmission. The labeled pain factors allow spatial differentiation in the imaging sufficient to specify the location of the pain so as to drive therapeutic decisions and techniques in order to treat the pain. Pain factors labeled and imaged in this manner may include one or more of nerve factors, blood vessel factors, cellular factors, and inflammation factors. Labeled markers may include for example radioactive materials (e.g. tritiated or iodinated molecules) or other materials such as metal (e.g. gold) nanoparticles. Intermediary binding materials may be used, such as for example bi-specific antibodies. Therapeutic components of the system and method include for example localized energy delivery or ablation treatments, or local drug or other chemical delivery. Locations containing pain factor selectively bound by targeted agents are selectively treated with directed energy into a region containing the targeted agent bound to the pain factor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for conducting a medical procedure related to a localized, active source of pain at a location associated with a region of tissue in a patient, comprising:
 artificially labeling a pain factor at the location in a manner substantially increasing the ability to image the pain factor with an imaging tool; and   imaging the labeled pain factor in a manner sufficient to selectively differentiate a first concentration of the labeled pain factor at the location versus a second concentration of the labeled pain factor in tissue adjacent to the location.