Patent ID: 6352683
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: A61K

Abstract:
A system for delivering a drug to a specific site and for monitoring the drug at the specific site, said system comprising:a carrier material which reflects or absorbs or emits electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations enabling the monitoring of said carrier material, said carrier material comprising an ultrasonic contrast agent composed of microbubbles having a diameter of between 1-1000 &mgr;m; a drug carried by said carrier material; a local-delivery catheter having said carrier material disposed therein and said drug carried by said carrier material disposed therein, said local-delivery catheter being designed such that said carrier material and said drug may be delivered to said specific site, said local-delivery catheter being designed so as to force said carrier material and said drug into an internal blood vessel wall at said specific site so that said carrier material and said drug are trapped therein; an ultrasonic imaging system that detects said carrier material at said specific site to confirm the presence of said carrier material at said specific site; and vibration generator associated with said imaging system, said vibration generator generating electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations that induce release of said drug from said carrier material when said carrier material is at said specific site by causing said microbubbles to collapse.