Materials and treatments using piezoelectric embolic materials

Abstract

An embolic agent and a piezoelectric substance are mixed together. The mixture can be delivered to a tumor or other object by a non-invasive method. The embolic agent prevents movement of the piezoelectric substance from the target location. Subsequent impulses applied to the target location cause ablation of the surrounding area due to the piezoelectric effect of the particles, promoting highly accurate and precise ablation without the need for more invasive procedures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mixture comprising:
 a biocompatible piezoelectric substance; and   an embolic agent,   wherein the that embolic agent is soluble with the biocompatible piezoelectric substance.   
     
     
         2 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible piezoelectric substance comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         3 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible piezoelectric substance comprises titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         4 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the embolic agent comprises ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide. 
     
     
         5 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the embolic agent comprises a biocompatible polymer suspended in dimethyl sulfoxide. 
     
     
         6 . The mixture of  claim 5 , wherein the biocompatible polymer is formed of hydroxyethyl methacrylate bonded to a triiodophenol visualization agent. 
     
     
         7 . A mixture comprising:
 A biocompatible piezoelectric substance, the biocompatible piezoelectric substance being insoluble in water; and   An injectable liquid embolic agent mixed with the piezoelectric substance.   
     
     
         8 . The mixture of  claim 7 , wherein the wherein the embolic agent is soluble with the biocompatible piezoelectric substance. 
     
     
         9 . The mixture of  claim 7 , wherein the biocompatible piezoelectric substance is soluble with the embolic agent. 
     
     
         10 . The mixture of  claim 7 , wherein the piezoelectric substance is made of material that will not degrade in response to dimethyl sulfoxide exposure. 
     
     
         11 . The mixture of  claim 7 , wherein the piezoelectric substance is selected from a group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, barium titanate, and bismuth titanate. 
     
     
         12 . The mixture of  claim 7 , wherein the piezoelectric substance includes individual piezoelectric particles that are sized to be about 500 micrometers or less. 
     
     
         13 . The mixture of  claim 12 , wherein the piezoelectric particles that are sized about 0.5 micrometers to about 5 micrometers. 
     
     
         14 . The mixture of  claim 7 , wherein the piezoelectric substance is chemically bound to the biocompatible embolic polymer. 
     
     
         15 . A mixture comprising:
 A biocompatible piezoelectric substance, the biocompatible piezoelectric substance being made of a material that will not degrade in response to dimethyl sulfoxide exposure; and   An injectable liquid embolic agent mixed with the piezoelectric substance.   
     
     
         16 . The mixture of  claim 15 , wherein the piezoelectric substance is selected from a group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, barium titanate, and bismuth titanate. 
     
     
         17 . The mixture of  claim 15 , wherein the piezoelectric substance includes individual piezoelectric particles that are sized to be about 500 micrometers or less. 
     
     
         18 . The mixture of  claim 15 , wherein the mixture further comprises dimethyl sulfoxide. 
     
     
         19 . The mixture of  claim 15 , wherein the mixture further comprises radiopaque tantalum. 
     
     
         20 . The mixture of  claim 15 , wherein the mixture further comprises iodine.