EP0243947A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic shock wave targeting of drug delivery in patients
Assignee: Dornier Medizintechnik GmbH
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Filing: 1987-04-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-04-29
Abstract
Abstract Acoustic shock waves generated outside a patient's body are focused upon selected target zones within a patient's body to cause release of biologically active substances from liposomes administered to the patient. The procedures may serve to increase cell uptake of drugs and reduce systemic toxicity.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner Dr. Schwarze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/10; A61K9/127; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22004; A61K9/1271; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/02; A61F2007/0261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for delivering an increased concentration of cytostatic substance to the site of cancer cells without concurrently exposing all parts of the patient's body to the action of a high concentration of the cytostatic substance, said method comprising encapsulating the substance in liposomes, administering the liposomes to the patient so as to deliver at least a portion of the liposomes to the site of the cancer cells, and directing acoustic shock waves to said site to release the cytostatic substance from the liposomes located at said site.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for delivering an increased concentration of cytostatic substance to the site of cancer cells without concurrently exposing all parts of the patient's body to the action of a high concentration of the cytostatic substance, said method comprising encapsulating the substance in liposomes, administering the liposomes to the patient so as to deliver at least a portion of the liposomes to the site of the cancer cells, and directing acoustic shock waves to said site to release the cytostatic substance from the liposomes located at said site.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for treating a tumor which comprises encapsulating a cytostatic drug in liposomes, delivering the liposomes containing the encapsulated drug to the site of the tumor, and focusing shock waves on the site of the tumor to release cytostatic drug from the liposomes at the site of the tumor.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for treating a tumor which comprises encapsulating a cytostatic drug in liposomes, delivering the liposomes containing the encapsulated drug to the site of the tumor, and focusing shock waves on the site of the tumor to release cytostatic drug from the liposomes at the site of the tumor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of enhancing the cell uptake of a biologically active substance, said method comprising encapsulating the substance in a liposome, delivering the encapsulated substance to the site of the cell, and subjecting the liposome and the cell to treatment with shock waves to condition the cell and to release at least a portion of the biologically active substance from the liposome at the site of the cell.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of enhancing the cell uptake of a biologically active substance, said method comprising encapsulating the substance in a liposome, delivering the encapsulated substance to the site of the cell, and subjecting the liposome and the cell to treatment with shock waves to condition the cell and to release at least a portion of the biologically active substance from the liposome at the site of the cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said biologically active substance is a cytostatic substance and wherein said cell is a cancer cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the liposomes are administered intravenously in an amount sufficient to provide a treatment effective concentration at the site of the cancer cells, and wherein said shock waves are focused on the zone where the cancer cells are located so as not to effect substantial release of cytostatic substance from the liposomes in the bloodstream as a whole outside said zone.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of limiting the systemic toxicity of a pharmacological active agent administered to a mammal, comprising introducing the agent into the body of the mammal within shock wave sensitive liposomes, and thereafter directing acoustic shock waves to a target zone within the body of the mammal to release the agent from the liposomes at the desired target zone.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of limiting the systemic toxicity of a pharmacological active agent administered to a mammal, comprising introducing the agent into the body of the mammal within shock wave sensitive liposomes, and thereafter directing acoustic shock waves to a target zone within the body of the mammal to release the agent from the liposomes at the desired target zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said liposomes have diameters of less than about 1.5 micrometers and said introduction step is carried out by intravenous injection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 6, including forming said liposomes from (1) lipid material which provides lipid bilayers offering high resistance to leakage, and (2) another ingredient which coacts with the lipid material to provide lipid bilayers sensitive to shock waves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the ingredient coacting with the lipid material is protein.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of providing a predetermined dose of a pharmacological active agent to a target area in the body of a mammal which comprises administering the agent to the mammal within shock wave sensitive liposomes, and thereafter directing acoustic shock waves to a target zone within the body of the mammal to release the agent from the liposomes at the desired target zone.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of providing a predetermined dose of a pharmacological active agent to a target area in the body of a mammal which comprises administering the agent to the mammal within shock wave sensitive liposomes, and thereafter directing acoustic shock waves to a target zone within the body of the mammal to release the agent from the liposomes at the desired target zone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the pharmacological active agent is a cytostatic drug and the target zone includes cancer cells.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the cell uptake of the agent is enhanced by the shock wave treatment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 10, further comprising concurrently administering liposome encapsulated tracer substance in a known proportion to said agent and monitoring the concentration of the tracer substance at the target.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the liposomes are substantially biologically stable and contain irregularities in their lipid bilayers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the irregularities are proteins.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the cell-uptake in the target area of the agent is enhanced by shock wave treatment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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