Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-05
2001-05-15
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C604S020000, C604S022000, C600S437000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233481
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to diagnostic procedures used in the treatment of abnormal cell tissue.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is made evident in the above-referenced U.S. Patent, in the treatment of cancer and macular degeneration with photodynamic therapy (PDT), a class of photosensitizing compounds has been developed by a number of drug companies that are either selectively retained in, or are preferentially produced by, rapidly dividing cells. These dye-like molecules, when exposed to laser light in the visible or UV region, are excited to the triplet state where they have the capacity to promote molecular oxygen to its first excited singlet (
1
O
2
). This species of molecular oxygen is believed to be cytotoxic and to cause local necrosis of tumor cells.
One particular drawback of the technique, however, is the limit in penetration depth inherent in using visible light as an activation mechanism. Additionally, the use of lasers or lamps as an activation source may require the use of expensive or complicated delivery systems. Furthermore, diagnosis and treatment of internal cancer sites may be invasive, and require the use of fiber optic catheters, endoscopes, or similar instruments.
Similar problems can arise when performing a diagnostic procedure to determine a presence of and/or location of abnormal cell tissue.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object and advantage of this invention to provide an improved method for performing a diagnostic technique that overcomes the foregoing and other problems.
It is another object and advantage of this invention to provide an improved method for activating fluorescent photosensitizer compounds, the improved method employing ultrasonic energy.
It is a further object and advantage of this invention to provide an improved method for activating fluorescent photosensitizer compounds, the improved method employing focused and scanned ultrasonic energy that triggers chemiluminescent reactions which emit detectable long wavelength light.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other problems are overcome and the objects and advantages are realized by methods and apparatus in accordance with embodiments of this invention.
In accordance with the present invention a method for generating an image of a selected area of tissue includes the steps of: (a) providing a fluorescent photosensitizer compound in combination with a hydrogen-containing solvent to the selected area of tissue; (b) generating acoustic energy for generating free radicals from the solvent; (c) reacting the free radicals with an oxalate ester to generate a key intermediate; (d) transferring chemical energy to the fluorescent photosensitizer compound from the key intermediate; (e) activating the fluorescent photosensitizer compound with the transferred energy to emit long wavelength light; and (f) detecting the long wavelength light to generate the image of the selected area of tissue. The long wavelength light is radiation in a range of wavelengths that is greater than ultraviolet radiation wavelengths.
In one embodiment, the selected area of tissue is a selected area of living tissue, and the method includes a further step of analyzing the image to identify a tumor within the living tissue.
An imaging apparatus is also disclosed wherein a selected area of tissue may be analyzed for the presence of a tumor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4889129 (1989-12-01), Dougherty
patent: 4917084 (1990-04-01), Sinofsky
patent: 4930504 (1990-06-01), Diamantopoulos et al.
patent: 4957481 (1990-09-01), Gatenby
patent: 5092841 (1992-03-01), Spears
patent: 5111821 (1992-05-01), Potter
patent: 5498710 (1996-03-01), Pandey et al.
patent: 5527350 (1996-06-01), Grove et al.
patent: 5572996 (1996-11-01), Doiron et al.
patent: 5625456 (1997-04-01), Lawandy
patent: 5817048 (1998-10-01), Lawandy
Lateef Marvin M.
Lin Jeoyuh
Ohlandt Greeley Ruggiero & Perle LLP
Spectra Science Corporation
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