Systems and methods for opening a tissue

Abstract

Systems and methods for opening a tissue to a target value are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, a region of the tissue is targeted for opening, a size range of microbubbles corresponding to the target value is determined, microbubbles of the size range are positioned in proximity to the targeted region, and an ultrasound beam is applied to the targeted region such that the tissue is opened with the assistance of the microbubbles to the target value.

1 . A method for opening a tissue to a target value, comprising:
 targeting a region of the tissue for opening;   selecting the target value based on a size of a molecule to pass through the tissue and a surface area of the region to be exposed to the molecule;   determining a size range of microbubbles corresponding to the target value;   positioning the microbubbles of the size range in proximity to the targeted region;   determining a pressure range of an ultrasound beam corresponding to the size range of the microbubbles and the target value; and   applying the ultrasound beam at the pressure range to the targeted region such that the tissue is opened with the assistance of the microbubbles to the target value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a concentration range of microbubbles corresponding to the target value, and wherein positioning the microbubbles further comprises positioning the microbubbles of the concentration range. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure range corresponds to a resonance frequency of the microbubbles proximate to the targeted region. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the microbubbles comprises applying the ultrasound beam at a first pressure range to move the microbubbles into vessels of the tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure range corresponding to the size range of the microbubbles and the target value comprises a second pressure range different from the first pressure range. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises a blood-brain barrier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises a vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the size range of microbubbles comprises determining a size range corresponding to a size range of vessels of the tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the size range of microbubbles is 4 to 5 microns. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the size range of microbubbles is 1 to 2 microns. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the size range of microbubbles is 9 to 10 microns. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the size range of microbubbles is 6 to 8 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microbubbles are acoustically activated microbubbles. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microbubbles are molecule carrying microbubbles. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the molecule is a medicinal molecule. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the molecule is a contrast agent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the molecule is a biomarker. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the molecule is a liposome. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the molecule carrying microbubbles are carrying a medicinal molecule and a contrast agent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning medicinal molecules in proximity to the targeted region. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning a contrast agent in proximity to the targeted region. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising collecting image information for the targeted region of the opening tissue. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein imaging the targeted region comprises applying an ultrasound beam to the targeted region. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein imaging the targeted region comprises utilizing a magnetic resonance imaging device to image the targeted region. 
     
     
         25 . A system for opening a tissue to a target value, comprising:
 a targeting assembly for targeting a region of the tissue;   a processor programmed with logic configured to:
 determine a size range of microbubbles corresponding to the target value; and 
 determining a pressure range of an ultrasound beam corresponding to the size range of the microbubbles and the target value; 
   an introducer adapted to deliver a solution including the microbubbles of the size range to a location proximate to the targeted region; and   a transducer, coupled to the targeting assembly, adapted to apply the ultrasound beam to the targeted region to thereby open the tissue with the assistance of the microbubbles to the target value.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the targeting assembly comprises one or more members for placement on an anatomical landmark of the tissue. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the solution of size-controlled microbubbles further comprises a microbubble concentration range corresponding to the target value. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the solution of size-controlled microbubbles further comprise microbubbles of a size range corresponding to a size range of vessels of the tissue. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the pressure range corresponds to a resonance frequency of the microbubbles proximate to the targeted region. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the transducer is adapted to position the microbubbles by applying the ultrasound beam at a first pressure range to move the microbubbles into vessels of the tissue. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the pressure range corresponding to the size range of the microbubbles and the target value comprises a second pressure range different from the first pressure range. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the tissue comprises a blood-brain barrier. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the tissue comprises a vessel. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the size range of microbubbles is 4 to 5 microns. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the size range of microbubbles is 1 to 2 microns. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the size range of microbubbles is 9 to 10 microns. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the size range of microbubbles is 6 to 8 microns. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the microbubbles are acoustically activated microbubbles. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the microbubbles are molecule carrying microbubbles. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the molecule is a medicinal molecule. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the molecule is a contrast agent. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the molecule is a biomarker. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the molecule is a liposome. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a solution of medicinal molecules and an introducer for delivering the solution of medicinal molecules to a location proximate to the targeted region. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising a solution of contrast agent and an introducer for delivering the solution of contrast to a location proximate to the targeted region. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 an imaging device adapted to capture image data of the opened tissue of the targeted region; and   an image processor, operatively coupled to the imaging device, adapted to process the image data to form an image therefrom.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the imaging device comprises an imaging ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the imaging device comprises a magnetic resonance imaging device.