Ultrasound assembly for use with light activated drugs

Abstract

A kit and method for causing tissue death within a tissue site is disclosed. The kit includes a media with a light activated drug activatable upon exposure to a particular level of ultrasound energy. The kit also includes a catheter with a lumen coupled with a media delivery port through which the light activated drug can be locally delivered to the tissue site. The ultrasound transducer is configured to transmit the level of ultrasound energy which activates the light activated drug with sufficient power that the ultrasound energy can penetrate the tissue site.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for releasing a therapeutic from a microbubble, comprising: 
 providing a microbubble with a light activated drug; and    delivering ultrasound energy to the microbubble at a frequency and intensity which activates the light activated drug to cause a rupture of the microbubble.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microbubble is a liposome.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the light activated drug is the therapeutic.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microbubble includes a therapeutic in addition to the light activate drug.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light activated drug is coupled with a shell of the microbubble.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light activated drug is enclosed within the light activated drug.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light activated drug is included in a media outside the light activated drug.  
     
     
         8 . A microbubble, comprising: 
 a substrate defining a shell of the microbubble and having a thickness permitting hydraulic transport of the microbubble;    a light activated drug activatable upon exposure to ultrasound energy, activation of the light activated drug causing a disruption in the shell sufficient to cause a rupture of the microbubble; and    a therapeutic releasable from the microbubble upon rupture of the microbubble to yield a therapeutic effect.