Device, systems and methods for localized heating of a vessel and/or in combination with mr/nmr imaging of the vessel and surrounding tissue

Abstract

Featured are devices, systems and methods for localized heating of a vessel as well as devices, systems and methods for MR/NMR imaging of a vessel while locally heating a portion of the vessel. More particularly featured are such devices, systems and methods for use when administering or delivering therapeutic agents including genes and/or drugs to the tissues of the vessel. Such a method includes positioning a thermal energy delivery device proximal a target site within the vessel of a body and activating the thermal energy delivery device so as to heat the target site thereby locally increasing a temperature of tissue at the target site. In further embodiments, the method includes introducing a therapeutic medium to the target site over a predetermined time period, and wherein said activating occurs at least one of before, during or after said step of introducing.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A device for delivering thermal energy to a target site within a vessel lumen of a body, the thermal energy delivery device comprising:
 a catheter, said catheter including a heating element; and   a power source operably coupled to the heating element and being configured so as to selectively energize the heating element.   
   
   
       14 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 13 , further including a control mechanism that controls activation of the power source and the selective energization of the heating element, thereby controlling an amount of thermal energy and a duration of application of thermal energy to the target site. 
   
   
       15 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 13 , wherein said catheter includes a guide wire, that provides a mechanism for remote manipulating and guiding of the catheter within a lumen or body cavity of the body and wherein a portion of the guide wire comprises the heating element. 
   
   
       16 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 15 , wherein the guide wire is operably coupled to the power source. 
   
   
       17 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 16 , wherein the power source comprises an RF generator and an RF amplifier operably coupled to the RF generator. 
   
   
       18 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 15 , wherein the guide wire is further configured and arranged so as to form a MR Receiver antenna tuned to a predetermined frequency. 
   
   
       19 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said catheter further includes an inflatable balloon that is configured and arranged so as to be selectively inflatable, where the balloon is in a deflated condition as the catheter is being manipulated with the lumen or body cavity and capable of being inflated when positioned proximal to the target site; and   wherein said inflatable balloon is configured and arranged so the portion of the guide wire comprising the heating element is disposed within the inflatable balloon.   
   
   
       20 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 15 , wherein said inflatable balloon is configured and arranged so that the portion of guide wire comprising the heating element is in a desired arrangement with respect to tissue of the target site when the balloon is inflated. 
   
   
       21 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 20 , wherein said inflatable balloon is configured and arranged so that the portion of the guide wire comprising the heating element is disposed proximal the center of the vessel lumen when the balloon is inflated proximal the target site. 
   
   
       22 . The thermal energy delivery device of  claim 15 , wherein the inflatable balloon further includes a porous outer layer, where a therapeutic medium is inputted into the region between the porous outer layer and the balloon so as to be dispersed therefrom. 
   
   
       23 . A device for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site within a vessel of a body, the therapeutic delivery device comprising:
 a catheter, said catheter including a heating element and being configured and arranged so as to disperse therefrom the therapeutic agent; and   a power source operably coupled to the heating element and being configured so as to selectively energize the heating element.   
   
   
       24 . The therapeutic delivery device of  claim 23 , further including a control mechanism that controls activation of the power source and the selective energization of the heating element, thereby controlling an amount of thermal energy and a duration of application of thermal energy to the target site including the timing of such application with respect to the dispersing of the therapeutic medium from the catheter. 
   
   
       25 . The therapeutic delivery device of  claim 23 , wherein said catheter includes a guide wire, and wherein a portion of the guide wire comprises the heating element. 
   
   
       26 . The delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein the guide wire is operably coupled to the power source. 
   
   
       27 . The therapeutic delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein said catheter further includes:
 a balloon member that is configured and arranged so as to be selectively inflatable;   a flexible outer member configured and arranges so as to be about at least a portion of the balloon member; and   wherein said balloon member is configured and arranged so the portion of the guide wire comprising the heating element is disposed within the balloon member.   
   
   
       28 . The therapeutic delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein the guide wire is further configured and arranged so as to form a MR receiver antenna tuned to a predetermined frequency. 
   
   
       29 . The therapeutic delivery device of  claims 28 , wherein the guide wire is operably coupled to an MR/NMR imaging system and wherein said therapeutic delivery device further includes a mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and each of the power source and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals in a frequency band are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and so signals outside said frequency band are not coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system. 
   
   
       30 . The therapeutic delivery device of  claim 28  further comprises another filtering mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals at or below a predetermined frequency are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and those above the predetermined frequency are essentially blocked. 
   
   
       31 . The therapeutic delivery device of  claim 30 , wherein said further includes a filtering mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and the power source so that power output signals at or above another predetermined frequency are outputted to the guide wire from the power source and so power output signals below said another predetermined frequency are essentially blocked. 
   
   
       32 . An MR/NMR imaging and therapeutic medium delivery system comprising;
 a delivery device including a guide wire configured and arranged so as to form a loopless MR/NMR receiver antenna being tuned to receive signals at a predetermined frequency and also to generate heat energy responsive to power signals inputted to the guide wire;   an MR/NMR signal receiving apparatus operably coupled to the guide wire;   a power source operably coupled to the guide wire; and   a mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and each of the power source and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals in one frequency band are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and so signals outside said one frequency band are not coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system.   
   
   
       33 . The MR/NMR imaging and therapeutic medium delivery system of  claim 32 , wherein said mechanism comprises a first filtering mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals at or below a predetermined frequency are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and those above the predetermined frequency are essentially blocked. 
   
   
       34 . The MR/NMR imaging and therapeutic medium delivery system of  claim 33 , wherein said mechanism further includes a second filtering mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and the power source so that power output signals at or above another predetermined frequency are outputted to the guide wire from the power source and so those power output signals below said another predetermined frequency are essentially blocked. 
   
   
       35 . The MR/NMR imaging and therapeutic medium delivery system of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a control mechanism that controls operations of the power source generator and selective energization of the guide wire so as to selectively generate an amount and duration of thermal energy therefrom.   
   
   
       36 . The MR/NMR imaging and therapeutic medium delivery system of  claim 32 , wherein said delivery device further includes:
 a balloon member that is configured and arranged so as to be selectively inflatable;   a flexible outer member configured and arranged so as to be about at least a portion of the balloon member; and   wherein said balloon member is configured and arranged so a portion of the guide wire comprising a source of thermal/heating energy for the tissues at the target site is disposed within the balloon member.   
   
   
       37 . The MR/NMR imaging and therapeutic medium delivery system of  claim 36 , wherein said balloon member is configured and arranged so as to define a first region in which is received an inflation medium and wherein said balloon member and said flexible outer member are configured and arranged so as to define a second region in which is received the therapeutic medium to be dispersed from said delivery device. 
   
   
       38 . The MR/NMR imaging and therapeutic medium delivery system of  claim 37 , further comprising a source of inflation medium and a source of therapeutic medium, said sources of inflation medium and therapeutic medium being fluidly coupled respectively to the first region and the second region. 
   
   
       39 . An apparatus that selectively delivers therapeutic medium to a target site of a vessel of a body and is capable of being coupled to a MR/NMR imaging system for imaging tissues at least at, about or proximal the target site, said apparatus comprising:
 a therapeutic medium delivery device being configured and arranged so as to selectively deliver the therapeutic medium to tissues of the target site; said therapeutic delivery device including a guide wire;   a power source operably coupled to the guide wire;   wherein the guide wire is configured and arranged so as to form a loopless MR/NMR receiver antenna being tuned to receive signals at a predetermined frequency and also to generate heat energy responsive to power signals inputted to the guide wire from the power source; and   a mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and each of the power source and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals in one frequency band are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and so signals outside said one frequency band are not coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system.   
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a control mechanism operably coupled to the power source that controls operations of the power source and selective energization of the guide wire so as to selectively generate an amount and duration of thermal energy therefrom.   
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said therapeutic medium delivery device further includes:
 a balloon member that is configured and arranged so as to be selectively inflatable;   a flexible outer member configured and arranged so as to be about at least a portion of the balloon member; and   wherein said balloon member is configured and arranged so a portion of the guide wire comprising a source of thermal/heating energy for the tissues at the target site is disposed within the balloon member.   
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said balloon member is configured and arranged so as to define a first region in which is received an inflation medium and wherein said balloon member and said flexible outer member are configured and arranged so as to define a second region in which is received the therapeutic medium to be dispersed from said catheter. 
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , further comprising a source of inflation medium and a source of therapeutic medium, said sources of inflation medium and therapeutic medium being fluidly coupled respectively to the first region and the second region. 
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the power source comprises an RF generator and an RF amplifier operably coupled to the RF generator. 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising a mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and each of the power source and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals in one frequency band are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and so signals outside said one frequency band are not coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a first filtering mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and the MR/NMR imaging system so that signals at or below a predetermined frequency are coupled to the MR/NMR imaging system and those above the predetermined frequency are essentially blocked and   a second filtering mechanism operably coupled between said guide wire and the power source so that power output signals at or above another predetermined frequency are outputted to the guide wire from the power source and so those power output signals below said another predetermined frequency are essentially blocked.   
   
   
       47 . (canceled) 
   
   
       48 . A device for delivering thermal energy to a target site within a vessel lumen of a body, the thermal energy delivery device comprising:
 a catheter, said catheter including a heating element.   
   
   
       49 . A device for delivering a therapeutic medium to a target site within a vessel of a body, the therapeutic delivery device comprising:
 a catheter, said catheter including a heating element and being configured and arranged so as to disperse therefrom the therapeutic agent.