EP2352455A1 - Method and device for marking a medium, and marker usable in such a method - Google Patents

Method and device for marking a medium, and marker usable in such a method

Info

Publication number
EP2352455A1
EP2352455A1 EP09741386A EP09741386A EP2352455A1 EP 2352455 A1 EP2352455 A1 EP 2352455A1 EP 09741386 A EP09741386 A EP 09741386A EP 09741386 A EP09741386 A EP 09741386A EP 2352455 A1 EP2352455 A1 EP 2352455A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
marker
interest
medium
activation
ultrasonic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09741386A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mickael Tanter
Vincent Servois
Olivier Couture
Mathias Fink
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Institut Curie
Original Assignee
Institut Curie
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Institut Curie filed Critical Institut Curie
Publication of EP2352455A1 publication Critical patent/EP2352455A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K41/00—Medicinal preparations obtained by treating materials with wave energy or particle radiation ; Therapies using these preparations
    • A61K41/0028—Disruption, e.g. by heat or ultrasounds, sonophysical or sonochemical activation, e.g. thermosensitive or heat-sensitive liposomes, disruption of calculi with a medicinal preparation and ultrasounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
    • A61B90/39—Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/001—Preparation for luminescence or biological staining
    • A61K49/0013—Luminescence
    • A61K49/0017—Fluorescence in vivo
    • A61K49/0019—Fluorescence in vivo characterised by the fluorescent group, e.g. oligomeric, polymeric or dendritic molecules
    • A61K49/0021—Fluorescence in vivo characterised by the fluorescent group, e.g. oligomeric, polymeric or dendritic molecules the fluorescent group being a small organic molecule
    • A61K49/0041—Xanthene dyes, used in vivo, e.g. administered to a mice, e.g. rhodamines, rose Bengal
    • A61K49/0043—Fluorescein, used in vivo
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/001—Preparation for luminescence or biological staining
    • A61K49/0063—Preparation for luminescence or biological staining characterised by a special physical or galenical form, e.g. emulsions, microspheres
    • A61K49/0069—Preparation for luminescence or biological staining characterised by a special physical or galenical form, e.g. emulsions, microspheres the agent being in a particular physical galenical form
    • A61K49/0089—Particulate, powder, adsorbate, bead, sphere
    • A61K49/0091—Microparticle, microcapsule, microbubble, microsphere, microbead, i.e. having a size or diameter higher or equal to 1 micrometer
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/22—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations
    • A61K49/222—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, liposomes
    • A61K49/223—Microbubbles, hollow microspheres, free gas bubbles, gas microspheres
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/22—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations
    • A61K49/222—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, liposomes
    • A61K49/225—Microparticles, microcapsules
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
    • A61B90/36—Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
    • A61B90/37—Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
    • A61B2090/378—Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation using ultrasound
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
    • A61B90/39—Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
    • A61B2090/3904—Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers specially adapted for marking specified tissue
    • A61B2090/3908—Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
    • A61B90/39—Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
    • A61B2090/3937—Visible markers
    • A61B2090/3945—Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
    • A61B90/39—Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
    • A61B2090/3937—Visible markers
    • A61B2090/395—Visible markers with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and devices for marking a medium.
  • a solid target medium eg, biological tissue
  • these methods are used in particular in the medical field, to mark a lesion previously identified by medical imaging so that this area of interest can then be easily and precisely accessible during a surgical operation, for example for a biopsy or resection.
  • These known methods consist in particular in implanting in said area of interest a registration member made for example of metal or other identifiable material (see for example the document US-B-6 758 855).
  • Known methods of this type have the particular disadvantage of being invasive and not be usable in all cases, especially when it is necessary to mark a large number of areas of interest and / or areas of interest. interest of very small size or complex shape.
  • these methods also have the disadvantage of then requiring resection of the tissue around the marking member, whereas such a resection may finally prove to be useless.
  • the present invention is intended to overcome these disadvantages.
  • the invention proposes a marking method for marking at least one zone of interest in a solid target medium, said method comprising at least the following steps: a marker addition step in which an optical tag initially inactivated and ultrasonically activatable is added to the medium, followed by an activation step in which an ultrasound beam is emitted. activation, focused on said area of interest and having a duration and power dimensioned to activate the marker, said marker being adapted to bind to the medium to color locally after activation.
  • the optical marker can thus exclusively color the area or areas of interest in the medium, so that they are easily and accurately identifiable to the eye, in natural light or otherwise. For example, one can stain lesions in human or animal tissue after spotting these lesions by imaging. It is then possible for a surgeon to have precise access to these lesions, especially in view of a biopsy or a resection. This method makes it possible to easily and quickly mark areas of interest of all shapes, even if they are very numerous or if they are of small size or if they have complex shapes. This marking is non-invasive, and without prejudging the treatment subsequently applied to the marked areas.
  • the optical marker in question may for example initially be inactivated by encapsulation in microcapsules, the microcapsules being broken during the emission of focused ultrasound.
  • the marker in question may also be of thermosensitive type, initially intrinsically unfit to bind to the medium, then made able to bind to the medium during its interaction with ultrasound.
  • the area of interest is previously identified by ultrasound imaging by an ultrasound system and during the activation step, the ultrasound beam focused by said ultrasound system is emitted; during the activation step, the ultrasonic activation beam is emitted for a duration of 1 to
  • the optical marker added to the medium during the marker addition step comprises a dye encapsulated in microcapsules, the microcapsules being broken to release the dye during the ultrasonic activation step; the microcapsules are filled with gas or vaporizable liquid; during the activation step, the actual labeling of the zone of interest is followed by identifying breaks in microcapsules by ultrasound; the optical marker added to the medium during the marker addition step, contains a dye selected from vital dyes for use in clinical practice; said dye comprises fluorescein.
  • the invention also relates to a marking device for implementing the above method, comprising an ultrasonic transducer array, and a control device adapted to emit an ultrasonic activation beam, focused in at least one zone of interest of a solid target medium, characterized in that the control device is adapted to emit the ultrasonic activation beam for a period of 1 to 1000 ⁇ s, said control device and the control network.
  • transducers being designed so that said ultrasonic activation beam has a power such that it exerts in the medium a pressure of less than 8 MPa.
  • the ultrasonic transducer array is adapted to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves
  • the control device is adapted to perform an image of the target medium by ultrasound by means of said array of transducers, the marking device further comprising a user interface to show said image to an operator and to enable said operator to delimit the area of interest, the control device being adapted to emit said ultrasonic activation beam in the area of interest delimited with the user interface;
  • the control device is further adapted to follow the effective marking of the area of interest by locating in the medium, by ultrasound, breaks of marker microcapsules filled with gas or vaporizable liquid.
  • the subject of the invention is also an optical marker that can be used in a method as defined above, said marker being inactivated and ultrasonically activatable, said marker being adapted to bind to a target medium to color it locally after activation by ultrasound.
  • the optical marker comprises microcapsules retaining a dye, the microcapsules being adapted to be broken by ultrasound; the microcapsules contain gas or vaporizable liquid; the optical marker contains a dye selected from vital dyes for use in clinical practice; said dye comprises fluorescein.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a marking device according to one embodiment of the invention, in use;
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the marking device of FIG. 1, and
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the screen of the marking device of FIG.
  • the marking device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an ultrasound system comprising: a network 2 of ultrasound transducers, for example a linear array of the type commonly used in ultrasound, comprising a number n of ultrasonic transducers 2a (for example, order of 100 to 300 transducers), an electronic rack 3 controlling the network 2 of transmitting transducers and able to acquire signals picked up by this network,
  • a network 2 of ultrasound transducers for example a linear array of the type commonly used in ultrasound, comprising a number n of ultrasonic transducers 2a (for example, order of 100 to 300 transducers)
  • an electronic rack 3 controlling the network 2 of transmitting transducers and able to acquire signals picked up by this network
  • a microcomputer 4 for controlling the electronic rack 3 comprising a user interface that includes a screen 5 on which ultrasound images taken can be viewed; by means of the network 2 of transducers, and said user interface also comprising for example a keyboard 6 associated with a mouse or the like (not shown) and if necessary a pointing device 7 such as an optical pen or the like, which allows by for example an operator 8 delimit an area on the screen 5, as will be explained later.
  • the transducer array 2 is adapted to be contacted with a solid target medium 9, for example a portion of a human or animal body, so as to locate and mark one or more areas of interest in that medium, such as it will be explained later.
  • the zone of interest 10 may be, for example, a lesion, in particular a tumor.
  • the electronic rack 3 and the microcomputer 4 together form a control device adapted to control the network 2 of transducers and acquire and process signals from this network.
  • a control device adapted to control the network 2 of transducers and acquire and process signals from this network.
  • the electronic rack 3 may comprise, for example: n analog / digital converters 11 (AZO 1 -A / O n ) individually connected (for example by a cable) to the n transducers (T 1 -T n ) the network 2 of transducers; n buffers 12 (Bi-B n ) respectively connected to the analog / digital converters 11, an electronic central unit 13 (CPU) communicating with the buffer memories 12 and the microcomputer 4, a central memory 14 (MEM) connected to the CPU 13,
  • the marking device 1 which has just been described can be used by successively following steps of adding marker, locating the area of interest and marking the area of interest.
  • an initially inactivated and ultrasonically activatable optical marker is added to the medium.
  • This marker addition is carried out for example by injection, the marker then diffusing into the medium 9.
  • the optical marker in question may for example comprise a dye encapsulated in microcapsules.
  • This dye may be, for example, fluorescein or any other dye chosen from the vital dyes that can be used in clinical practice.
  • microcapsules are in fact microbubbles which may, for example, have a diameter of the order of 1 to 10 ⁇ m and be filled with gas (in particular air or perfluorocarbon) or vaporizable liquid during the bursting of the microbubble; they may be provided with a thin external wall based on lipid, protein or polymer, adapted to break when it receives a sufficiently powerful ultrasonic beam.
  • gas in particular air or perfluorocarbon
  • vaporizable liquid during the bursting of the microbubble
  • they may be provided with a thin external wall based on lipid, protein or polymer, adapted to break when it receives a sufficiently powerful ultrasonic beam.
  • Microcapsules that can be used in the context of the present invention, and their method of production, are described in the state of the art, in particular by Dayton et al. [Molecular imaging using microbubble ultrasound contrast agent - Frontiers in Bioscience 12, 5124-5142, September 1, 2007], Hettiarachchi et al. [On-chip generation of microbubbles as a practical technology for manufacturing agents for ultrasonic imaging - Lab Chip 2007, 7, 463-468 - The Royal Society of Chemistry 2007], TaIu et al. [Maintaining monodispersity in a microbubble population formed by flow focussing-Langmuir 2008 - American Chemical Society] and in US-B-6 416 740. 2.
  • Tracing step The device 1 is then conventionally used in ultrasound imaging mode, to display an image 10a of the area of interest 10 on the screen 5, as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the operator 8 can delimit the area of interest 10 by drawing the limit 10b of the image 10a of this area on the screen 5, for example by the aforementioned optical pen 7 or any other user interface serving as a pointing device.
  • this tracking work can be performed successively in several parallel planes, so as to delimit the area of interest in three dimensions.
  • Activation step of the marker When the area of interest 10 has been delimited by the operator, it triggers the step of activating the optical marker. During this step, the central unit 13 sends successively ultrasonic activation beams, focused at different points of said area of interest 10, so that the entire area of interest 10 receives ultrasounds to activate the optical marker by bursting the microcapsules that initially retain the dye.
  • Each ultrasonic activation beam has a duration and power sized to activate the marker without damaging the medium.
  • each activation ultrasonic beam has a duration of 1 to 1000 ⁇ s, in particular of 10 to 1000 ⁇ s (microseconds) and said ultrasonic activation beam has a power such that it exerts in the medium 9 a pressure lower than 8 MPa, especially less than 6 MPa (mega Pascals), which corresponds to conventional imaging powers.
  • the dye initially retained by the microcapsules is then violently released and is housed locally in the cell walls of the tissue forming the medium 9, so that it remains bound to the medium for the stain locally after activation.
  • This coloration may last from a few hours to a few days, depending on the nature and quantity of the dye used.
  • the marker In the rest of the medium, the marker is not activated and is then eliminated naturally by the body, under the effect of blood circulation.
  • the optical marker can thus exclusively stain the zone (s) of interest in the medium (9), so that they can then be easily and accurately identified with the eye, in natural light or otherwise, during a surgical procedure in order to in particular a biopsy or a resection of the area of interest 10.
  • This method makes it possible to easily and quickly mark areas of interest of all shapes, even if they are very numerous or if they are of small size or if they have complex shapes. This marking is non-invasive, and without prejudging the treatment subsequently applied to the marked areas.
  • the operator 8 can follow the actual marking of the zone of interest by identifying the microcapsule breaks by the sounds they emit by bursting, sounds that are picked up by the transducer array 2 and typically located by channel formation by the central unit 13, then for example presented on the screen in the form of dots or other symbols
  • the process may comprise an activation step for each of these planes, the location in the following plane n ' only when the activation of the optical marker is complete in the current plane.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)

Abstract

To mark an area of interest (10) in a target medium (9), an initially inactivated and ultrasound-activatable optical marker is added to the medium, and then an ultrasound activation beam is emitted, being focused on the area of interest in order to locally activate the marker, which then colors the area of interest.

Description

Procédé et dispositif de marquage d'un milieu, et marqueur utilisable dans un tel procédé. Method and device for marking a medium, and marker usable in such a method.
DOMAINE DE L'INVENTION La présente invention est relative aux procédés et dispositifs de marquage d'un milieu.FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods and devices for marking a medium.
ARRIERE PLAN DE L'INVENTIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
On connaît actuellement des procédés de marquage d'une zone d'intérêt dans un milieu cible solide (par exemple un tissu biologique) . Ces procédés sont utilisés notamment dans le domaine médical, pour marquer une lésion précédemment repérée par imagerie médicale de façon que cette zone d'intérêt puisse ensuite être aisément et précisément accessible lors d'une opération chirurgicale, par exemple en vue d'une biopsie ou d'une résection. Ces procédés connus consistent notamment à implanter dans ladite zone d'intérêt un organe de repérage réalisé par exemple en métal ou en un autre matériau repérable (voir par exemple le document US-B-6 758 855) . Les procédés connus de ce type présentent notamment l'inconvénient d'être invasifs et de ne pas être utilisables dans tous les cas de figure, notamment lorsqu'il est nécessaire de marquer un grand nombre de zones d'intérêt et/ou des zones d'intérêt de très petite taille ou de forme complexe. De plus, dans les applications médicales où le milieu solide est un tissu vivant, ces procédés présentent également l'inconvénient d'obliger ensuite à réséquer le tissu autour de l'organe de marquage, alors qu'une telle résection peut finalement s'avérer inutile.Methods of labeling an area of interest in a solid target medium (eg, biological tissue) are presently known. These methods are used in particular in the medical field, to mark a lesion previously identified by medical imaging so that this area of interest can then be easily and precisely accessible during a surgical operation, for example for a biopsy or resection. These known methods consist in particular in implanting in said area of interest a registration member made for example of metal or other identifiable material (see for example the document US-B-6 758 855). Known methods of this type have the particular disadvantage of being invasive and not be usable in all cases, especially when it is necessary to mark a large number of areas of interest and / or areas of interest. interest of very small size or complex shape. Moreover, in medical applications where the solid medium is a living tissue, these methods also have the disadvantage of then requiring resection of the tissue around the marking member, whereas such a resection may finally prove to be useless.
OBJETS ET RESUME DE L'INVENTIONOBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
La présente invention a notamment pour but de pallier ces inconvénients.The present invention is intended to overcome these disadvantages.
A cet effet, l'invention propose un procédé de marquage pour marquer au moins une zone d'intérêt dans un milieu cible solide, ce procédé comprenant au moins les étapes suivantes : une étape d'ajout de marqueur dans laquelle on ajoute au milieu un marqueur optique initialement inactivé et activable par ultrasons, puis une étape d'activation dans laquelle on émet un faisceau ultrasonore d'activation, focalisé sur ladite zone d'intérêt et présentant une durée et une puissance dimensionnées pour activer le marqueur, ledit marqueur étant adapté pour se lier au milieu pour le colorer localement après activation.For this purpose, the invention proposes a marking method for marking at least one zone of interest in a solid target medium, said method comprising at least the following steps: a marker addition step in which an optical tag initially inactivated and ultrasonically activatable is added to the medium, followed by an activation step in which an ultrasound beam is emitted. activation, focused on said area of interest and having a duration and power dimensioned to activate the marker, said marker being adapted to bind to the medium to color locally after activation.
Le marqueur optique peut ainsi colorer exclusivement la ou les zones d'intérêt dans le milieu, de façon qu'elles soient aisément et précisément repérables à l'œil, en lumière naturelle ou autre. Par exemple, on peut ainsi colorer des lésions dans un tissu humain ou animal après avoir repéré ces lésions par imagerie. Il est alors possible à un chirurgien d'accéder précisément à ces lésions en vue notamment d'une biopsie ou d'une résection. Ce procédé permet de marquer aisément et rapidement des zones d'intérêt de toutes formes, même si elles sont très nombreuses ou si elles sont de petite taille ou si elles ont des formes complexes. Ce marquage se fait de façon non invasive, et sans préjuger du traitement ultérieurement appliqué aux zones marquées.The optical marker can thus exclusively color the area or areas of interest in the medium, so that they are easily and accurately identifiable to the eye, in natural light or otherwise. For example, one can stain lesions in human or animal tissue after spotting these lesions by imaging. It is then possible for a surgeon to have precise access to these lesions, especially in view of a biopsy or a resection. This method makes it possible to easily and quickly mark areas of interest of all shapes, even if they are very numerous or if they are of small size or if they have complex shapes. This marking is non-invasive, and without prejudging the treatment subsequently applied to the marked areas.
Le marqueur optique en question peut être par exemple initialement inactivé par encapsulation en microcapsules, les microcapsules étant cassées lors de l'émission des ultrasons focalisés. Le marqueur en question peut également être de type thermosensible, initialement intrinsèquement inapte à se lier au milieu, puis rendu apte à se lier au milieu lors de son interaction avec les ultrasons .The optical marker in question may for example initially be inactivated by encapsulation in microcapsules, the microcapsules being broken during the emission of focused ultrasound. The marker in question may also be of thermosensitive type, initially intrinsically unfit to bind to the medium, then made able to bind to the medium during its interaction with ultrasound.
Dans divers modes de réalisation du procédé selon l'invention, on peut éventuellement avoir recours en outre à l'une et/ou à l'autre des dispositions suivantes : la zone d'intérêt est préalablement repérée par imagerie ultrasonore par un échographe et lors de l'étape d'activation, on fait émettre le faisceau ultrasonore focalisé par ledit échographe ; lors de l'étape d'activation, on fait émettre le faisceau ultrasonore d'activation pendant une durée de 1 àIn various embodiments of the method according to the invention, it may optionally be to one and / or to the other of the following provisions: the area of interest is previously identified by ultrasound imaging by an ultrasound system and during the activation step, the ultrasound beam focused by said ultrasound system is emitted; during the activation step, the ultrasonic activation beam is emitted for a duration of 1 to
1000 μs et ledit faisceau ultrasonore d'activation présente une puissance telle qu'il exerce dans le milieu une pression inférieure à 8 MPa ; le marqueur optique ajouté au milieu lors de l'étape d'ajout de marqueur, comporte un colorant encapsulé en microcapsules, les microcapsules étant rompues pour libérer le colorant lors de l'étape d'activation par ultrasons ; les microcapsules sont remplies de gaz ou de liquide vaporisable ; lors de l'étape d'activation, on suit le marquage effectif de la zone d'intérêt en repérant des ruptures de microcapsules par échographie ; le marqueur optique ajouté au milieu lors de l'étape d'ajout de marqueur, contient un colorant choisi parmi les colorants vitaux utilisables en pratique clinique ; - ledit colorant comporte de la fluorescéine .1000 μs and said ultrasonic activation beam has a power such that it exerts in the medium a pressure of less than 8 MPa; the optical marker added to the medium during the marker addition step, comprises a dye encapsulated in microcapsules, the microcapsules being broken to release the dye during the ultrasonic activation step; the microcapsules are filled with gas or vaporizable liquid; during the activation step, the actual labeling of the zone of interest is followed by identifying breaks in microcapsules by ultrasound; the optical marker added to the medium during the marker addition step, contains a dye selected from vital dyes for use in clinical practice; said dye comprises fluorescein.
Par ailleurs, l'invention a également pour objet un dispositif de marquage pour la mise en œuvre du procédé ci- dessus, comprenant un réseau de transducteurs ultrasonores, et un dispositif de commande adapté pour faire émettre un faisceau ultrasonore d'activation, focalisé dans au moins une zone d'intérêt d'un milieu cible solide, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de commande est adapté pour faire émettre le faisceau ultrasonore d'activation pendant une durée de 1 à 1000 μs, ledit dispositif de commande et le réseau de transducteurs étant conçus pour que ledit faisceau ultrasonore d'activation présente une puissance telle qu'il exerce dans le milieu une pression inférieure à 8 MPa.Furthermore, the invention also relates to a marking device for implementing the above method, comprising an ultrasonic transducer array, and a control device adapted to emit an ultrasonic activation beam, focused in at least one zone of interest of a solid target medium, characterized in that the control device is adapted to emit the ultrasonic activation beam for a period of 1 to 1000 μs, said control device and the control network. transducers being designed so that said ultrasonic activation beam has a power such that it exerts in the medium a pressure of less than 8 MPa.
Dans divers modes de réalisation du dispositif de marquage selon l'invention, on peut éventuellement avoir recours en outre à l'une et/ou à l'autre des dispositions suivantes : le réseau de transducteurs ultrasonores est adapté pour émettre et recevoir des ondes ultrasonores, le dispositif de commande est adapté pour réaliser une image du milieu cible par échographie au moyen dudit réseau de transducteurs, le dispositif de marquage comportant en outre une interface utilisateur pour montrer ladite image à un opérateur et pour permettre audit opérateur de délimiter la zone d'intérêt, le dispositif de commande étant adapté pour émettre ledit faisceau ultrasonore d'activation dans la zone d'intérêt délimitée avec l'interface utilisateur ; le dispositif de commande est en outre adapté pour suivre le marquage effectif de la zone d'intérêt en repérant dans le milieu, par échographie, des ruptures de microcapsules de marqueur remplies de gaz ou de liquide vaporisable .In various embodiments of the marking device according to the invention, one or more of the following provisions may also be used: the ultrasonic transducer array is adapted to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves the control device is adapted to perform an image of the target medium by ultrasound by means of said array of transducers, the marking device further comprising a user interface to show said image to an operator and to enable said operator to delimit the area of interest, the control device being adapted to emit said ultrasonic activation beam in the area of interest delimited with the user interface; the control device is further adapted to follow the effective marking of the area of interest by locating in the medium, by ultrasound, breaks of marker microcapsules filled with gas or vaporizable liquid.
Enfin, l'invention a encore pour objet un marqueur optique utilisable dans un procédé tel que défini ci- dessus, ledit marqueur étant inactivé et activable par ultrasons, ledit marqueur étant adapté pour se lier à un milieu cible pour le colorer localement après activation par ultrasons.Finally, the subject of the invention is also an optical marker that can be used in a method as defined above, said marker being inactivated and ultrasonically activatable, said marker being adapted to bind to a target medium to color it locally after activation by ultrasound.
Dans divers modes de réalisation du marqueur selon l'invention, on peut éventuellement avoir recours en outre à l'une et/ou à l'autre des dispositions suivantes : le marqueur optique comporte des microcapsules retenant un colorant, les microcapsules étant adaptées pour être rompues par ultrasons ; - les microcapsules contiennent du gaz ou du liquide vaporisable; le marqueur optique contient un colorant choisi parmi les colorants vitaux utilisables en pratique clinique ; - ledit colorant comporte de la fluorescéine .In various embodiments of the marker according to the invention, one or more of the following provisions may also be used: the optical marker comprises microcapsules retaining a dye, the microcapsules being adapted to be broken by ultrasound; the microcapsules contain gas or vaporizable liquid; the optical marker contains a dye selected from vital dyes for use in clinical practice; said dye comprises fluorescein.
BREVE DESCRIPTION DES DESSINSBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront au cours de la description suivante d'un de ses modes de réalisation, donné à titre d'exemple non limitatif, en regard des dessins joints. Sur les dessins :Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. On the drawings:
- la figure 1 est un schéma de principe montrant un dispositif de marquage selon une forme de réalisation de l'invention, en cours d'utilisation, - la figure 2 est un schéma fonctionnel du dispositif de marquage de la figure 1, et la figure 3 est une vue agrandie de l'écran du dispositif de marquage de la figure 1.FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a marking device according to one embodiment of the invention, in use; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the marking device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the screen of the marking device of FIG.
DESCRIPTION PLUS DETAILLEE Sur les différentes figures, les mêmes références désignent des éléments identiques ou similaires.DESCRIPTION DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.
Le dispositif de marquage 1 représenté sur la figure 1 est un échographe comportant : un réseau 2 de transducteurs ultrasonores, par exemple un réseau linéaire du type de ceux couramment utilisés en échographie, comprenant un nombre n de transducteurs ultrasonores 2a (par exemple de l'ordre de 100 à 300 transducteurs), une baie électronique 3 commandant le réseau 2 de transducteurs en émission et pouvant acquérir des signaux captés par ce réseau,The marking device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an ultrasound system comprising: a network 2 of ultrasound transducers, for example a linear array of the type commonly used in ultrasound, comprising a number n of ultrasonic transducers 2a (for example, order of 100 to 300 transducers), an electronic rack 3 controlling the network 2 of transmitting transducers and able to acquire signals picked up by this network,
- un micro-ordinateur 4 pour commander la baie électronique 3, le micro-ordinateur 4 comportant une interface utilisateur qui inclut un écran 5 sur lequel peuvent être visualisées des images échographiques prises au moyen du réseau 2 de transducteurs, et ladite interface utilisateur comportant également par exemple un clavier 6 associé à une souris ou similaire (non représentée) et le cas échéant un dispositif de pointage 7 tel qu'un stylo optique ou similaire, qui permet par exemple à un opérateur 8 de délimiter une zone sur l'écran 5, comme il sera expliqué plus loin.a microcomputer 4 for controlling the electronic rack 3, the microcomputer 4 comprising a user interface that includes a screen 5 on which ultrasound images taken can be viewed; by means of the network 2 of transducers, and said user interface also comprising for example a keyboard 6 associated with a mouse or the like (not shown) and if necessary a pointing device 7 such as an optical pen or the like, which allows by for example an operator 8 delimit an area on the screen 5, as will be explained later.
Le réseau 2 de transducteurs est adapté pour être mis en contact avec un milieu cible solide 9, par exemple une partie d'un corps humain ou animal, de façon à repérer et marquer une ou plusieurs zones d'intérêt 10 dans ce milieu, comme il sera expliqué plus loin. La zone d'intérêt 10 peut être par exemple une lésion, notamment une tumeur.The transducer array 2 is adapted to be contacted with a solid target medium 9, for example a portion of a human or animal body, so as to locate and mark one or more areas of interest in that medium, such as it will be explained later. The zone of interest 10 may be, for example, a lesion, in particular a tumor.
La baie électronique 3 et le micro-ordinateur 4 forment ensemble un dispositif de commande adapté pour commander le réseau 2 de transducteurs et acquérir et traiter des signaux venant de ce réseau. Eventuellement, on pourrait faire assurer les fonctions de la baie électronique 3 et du micro-ordinateur 4 par un seul dispositif électronique.The electronic rack 3 and the microcomputer 4 together form a control device adapted to control the network 2 of transducers and acquire and process signals from this network. Optionally, one could ensure the functions of the electronic rack 3 and the microcomputer 4 by a single electronic device.
Comme représenté sur le figure 2, la baie électronique 3 peut comporter par exemple : n convertisseurs analogique/digital 11 (AZO1- A/On) individuellement connectés (par exemple par un câble) aux n transducteurs (T1-Tn) du réseau 2 de transducteurs ; n mémoires tampon 12 (Bi-Bn) respectivement connectés aux convertisseurs analogique/digital 11, une unité centrale électronique 13 (CPU) communiquant avec les mémoires tampon 12 et le micro- ordinateur 4, une mémoire centrale 14 (MEM) connectée à l'unité centrale 13,As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic rack 3 may comprise, for example: n analog / digital converters 11 (AZO 1 -A / O n ) individually connected (for example by a cable) to the n transducers (T 1 -T n ) the network 2 of transducers; n buffers 12 (Bi-B n ) respectively connected to the analog / digital converters 11, an electronic central unit 13 (CPU) communicating with the buffer memories 12 and the microcomputer 4, a central memory 14 (MEM) connected to the CPU 13,
- un processeur de traitement de signal 15 (DSP) connecté à l'unité centrale 13. Le dispositif de marquage 1 qui vient d'être décrit peut être utilisé en suivant successivement des étapes d'ajout de marqueur, de repérage de la zone d'intérêt et de marquage de la zone d'intérêt.a signal processing processor 15 (DSP) connected to the central unit 13. The marking device 1 which has just been described can be used by successively following steps of adding marker, locating the area of interest and marking the area of interest.
1. Etape d'ajout de marqueur Au cours de l'étape d'ajout de marqueur, on ajoute au milieu 9 un marqueur optique initialement inactivé et activable par ultrasons. Cet ajout de marqueur est réalisé par exemple par injection, le marqueur se diffusant ensuite au sein du milieu 9. Le marqueur optique en question peut par exemple comporter un colorant encapsulé en microcapsules. Ce colorant peut être par exemple la fluorescéine ou tout autre colorant choisi parmi les colorants vitaux utilisables en pratique cliniques. Les microcapsules sont en fait des microbulles qui peuvent par exemple présenter un diamètre de l'ordre de 1 à 10 μm et être remplies de gaz (notamment d'air ou de perfluorocarbone) ou de liquide vaporisable lors de l'éclatement de la microbulle ; elles peuvent être dotées d'une paroi externe mince à base de lipide, de protéine ou de polymère, adaptée pour se rompre lorsqu'elle reçoit un faisceau ultrasonore suffisamment puissant .1. Marker Addition Step During the marker addition step, an initially inactivated and ultrasonically activatable optical marker is added to the medium. This marker addition is carried out for example by injection, the marker then diffusing into the medium 9. The optical marker in question may for example comprise a dye encapsulated in microcapsules. This dye may be, for example, fluorescein or any other dye chosen from the vital dyes that can be used in clinical practice. The microcapsules are in fact microbubbles which may, for example, have a diameter of the order of 1 to 10 μm and be filled with gas (in particular air or perfluorocarbon) or vaporizable liquid during the bursting of the microbubble; they may be provided with a thin external wall based on lipid, protein or polymer, adapted to break when it receives a sufficiently powerful ultrasonic beam.
Des microcapsules utilisables dans le cadre de la présente invention, et leur mode d'obtention, sont décrites dans l'état de la technique, notamment par Dayton et al. [Molecular ultrasound imaging using microbubble contrast agent - Frontiers in Bioscience 12, 5124-5142, 1er septembre 2007], Hettiarachchi et al. [On-chip génération of microbubbles as practical technology for manufacturing contrats agents for ultrasonic imaging - Lab Chip 2007, 7, 463-468 - The Royal Society of Chemistry 2007], TaIu et al. [Maintaining monodispersity in a microbubble population formed by flow focussing - Langmuir 2008 - American Chemical Society] et dans le document US-B-6 416 740. 2. Etape de repérage Le dispositif 1 est ensuite utilisé classiquement en mode d'imagerie échographique, pour visualiser une image 10a de la zone d'intérêt 10 sur l'écran 5, comme représenté sur la figure 3. L'opérateur 8 peut délimiter la zone d'intérêt 10 en traçant la limite 10b de l'image 10a de cette zone sur l'écran 5, par exemple grâce au stylo optique 7 susmentionné ou à tout autre interface utilisateur servant de dispositif de pointage. Eventuellement, ce travail de repérage peut être effectué successivement dans plusieurs plans parallèles, de façon à délimiter la zone d'intérêt en trois dimensions. 3. Etape d' activation du marqueur Lorsque la zone d'intérêt 10 a été délimitée par l'opérateur, il déclenche l'étape d'activation du marqueur optique. Au cours de cette étape, l'unité centrale 13 fait émettre successivement des faisceaux ultrasonores d'activation, focalisés en différents points de ladite zone d'intérêt 10, de façon que toute la zone d'intérêt 10 reçoive des ultrasons permettant d'activer le marqueur optique en faisant éclater les microcapsules qui retiennent initialement le colorant.Microcapsules that can be used in the context of the present invention, and their method of production, are described in the state of the art, in particular by Dayton et al. [Molecular imaging using microbubble ultrasound contrast agent - Frontiers in Bioscience 12, 5124-5142, September 1, 2007], Hettiarachchi et al. [On-chip generation of microbubbles as a practical technology for manufacturing agents for ultrasonic imaging - Lab Chip 2007, 7, 463-468 - The Royal Society of Chemistry 2007], TaIu et al. [Maintaining monodispersity in a microbubble population formed by flow focussing-Langmuir 2008 - American Chemical Society] and in US-B-6 416 740. 2. Tracing step The device 1 is then conventionally used in ultrasound imaging mode, to display an image 10a of the area of interest 10 on the screen 5, as shown in FIG. 3. The operator 8 can delimit the area of interest 10 by drawing the limit 10b of the image 10a of this area on the screen 5, for example by the aforementioned optical pen 7 or any other user interface serving as a pointing device. Optionally, this tracking work can be performed successively in several parallel planes, so as to delimit the area of interest in three dimensions. 3. Activation step of the marker When the area of interest 10 has been delimited by the operator, it triggers the step of activating the optical marker. During this step, the central unit 13 sends successively ultrasonic activation beams, focused at different points of said area of interest 10, so that the entire area of interest 10 receives ultrasounds to activate the optical marker by bursting the microcapsules that initially retain the dye.
Chaque faisceau ultrasonore d'activation présente une durée et une puissance dimensionnées pour activer le marqueur sans endommager le milieu. Par exemple, chaque faisceau ultrasonore d'activation a une durée de 1 à 1000 μs, notamment de 10 à 1000 μs (microsecondes) et ledit faisceau ultrasonore d'activation présente une puissance telle qu'il exerce dans le milieu 9 une pression inférieure à 8 MPa, notamment inférieur à 6 MPa (méga Pascals), ce qui correspond aux puissances d'imagerie classiques.Each ultrasonic activation beam has a duration and power sized to activate the marker without damaging the medium. For example, each activation ultrasonic beam has a duration of 1 to 1000 μs, in particular of 10 to 1000 μs (microseconds) and said ultrasonic activation beam has a power such that it exerts in the medium 9 a pressure lower than 8 MPa, especially less than 6 MPa (mega Pascals), which corresponds to conventional imaging powers.
Le colorant initialement retenu par les microcapsules est alors violemment libéré et vient se loger localement dans les parois cellulaires du tissu formant le milieu 9, de sorte qu'il reste lié au milieu pour le colorer localement après activation. Cette coloration peut durer de quelques heures à quelques jours, suivant la nature et la quantité du colorant employé.The dye initially retained by the microcapsules is then violently released and is housed locally in the cell walls of the tissue forming the medium 9, so that it remains bound to the medium for the stain locally after activation. This coloration may last from a few hours to a few days, depending on the nature and quantity of the dye used.
Dans le reste du milieu, le marqueur n'est pas activé est ensuite éliminé naturellement par l'organisme, sous l'effet de la circulation sanguine.In the rest of the medium, the marker is not activated and is then eliminated naturally by the body, under the effect of blood circulation.
Le marqueur optique peut ainsi colorer exclusivement la ou les zones d'intérêt 10 dans le milieu 9, de façon qu'elles soient ensuite aisément et précisément repérables à l'œil, en lumière naturelle ou autre, lors d'un intervention chirurgicale en vue notamment d'une biopsie ou d'une résection de la zone d'intérêt 10.The optical marker can thus exclusively stain the zone (s) of interest in the medium (9), so that they can then be easily and accurately identified with the eye, in natural light or otherwise, during a surgical procedure in order to in particular a biopsy or a resection of the area of interest 10.
Ce procédé permet de marquer aisément et rapidement des zones d'intérêt de toutes formes, même si elles sont très nombreuses ou si elles sont de petite taille ou si elles ont des formes complexes. Ce marquage se fait de façon non invasive, et sans préjuger du traitement ultérieurement appliqué aux zones marquées.This method makes it possible to easily and quickly mark areas of interest of all shapes, even if they are very numerous or if they are of small size or if they have complex shapes. This marking is non-invasive, and without prejudging the treatment subsequently applied to the marked areas.
Pendant l'étape d'activation, l'opérateur 8 peut suivre le marquage effectif de la zone d'intérêt en repérant les ruptures de microcapsules par les sons qu'elles émettent en éclatant, sons qui sont captés par le réseau 2 de transducteurs et localisés classiquement par formation de voie par l'unité centrale 13, puis par exemple présentés à l'écran sous forme de points ou autres symbolesDuring the activation step, the operator 8 can follow the actual marking of the zone of interest by identifying the microcapsule breaks by the sounds they emit by bursting, sounds that are picked up by the transducer array 2 and typically located by channel formation by the central unit 13, then for example presented on the screen in the form of dots or other symbols
16 (figure 3 ) .16 (Figure 3).
On notera que, lorsque le repérage de la zone d'intérêt 10 doit être effectué dans plusieurs plans parallèles par l'opérateur 8, le processus peut comporter une étape d'activation pour chacun de ces plans, la repérage dans le plan suivant n'étant effectué que lorsque 1 'activation du marqueur optique est terminée dans le plan en cours. Note that, when the location of the area of interest 10 must be carried out in several parallel planes by the operator 8, the process may comprise an activation step for each of these planes, the location in the following plane n ' only when the activation of the optical marker is complete in the current plane.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé de marquage pour marquer au moins une zone d'intérêt (10) dans un milieu cible solide (9) contenant initialement un marqueur optique inactivé et activable par ultrasons, ce procédé comprenant au moins une étape d'activation dans laquelle on émet un faisceau ultrasonore d'activation, focalisé sur ladite zone d'intérêt (10) et présentant une durée et une puissance dimensionnées pour activer le marqueur, ledit marqueur étant adapté pour se lier au milieu pour le colorer localement après activation.A labeling method for marking at least one zone of interest (10) in a solid target medium (9) initially containing an inactivated and ultrasonically activatable optical marker, which method comprises at least one activation step in which an ultrasonic activation beam, focused on said area of interest (10) and having a duration and power sized to activate the marker, said marker being adapted to bind to the medium to color locally after activation.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la zone d'intérêt (10) est préalablement repérée par imagerie ultrasonore par un échographe (1) et lors de l'étape d'activation, on fait émettre le faisceau ultrasonore focalisé par ledit échographe (1) .2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the zone of interest (10) is previously identified by ultrasound imaging by an ultrasound system (1) and during the activation step, the ultrasound beam focused by said ultrasound system is transmitted. (1).
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel, lors de l'étape d'activation, on fait émettre le faisceau ultrasonore d'activation pendant une durée de 1 à 1000 μs et ledit faisceau ultrasonore d'activation présente une puissance telle qu'il exerce dans le milieu une pression inférieure à 8 MPa.3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, during the activation step, the activation ultrasonic beam is emitted for a duration of 1 to 1000 μs and said ultrasonic activation beam has a power such that it exerts in the medium a pressure of less than 8 MPa.
4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le marqueur optique comporte un colorant encapsulé en microcapsules, les microcapsules étant rompues pour libérer le colorant lors de l'étape d'activation par ultrasons.A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the optical marker comprises a microcapsule-encapsulated dye, the microcapsules being broken to release the dye in the ultrasonic activation step.
5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les microcapsules sont remplies de gaz ou de liquide vaporisable .5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the microcapsules are filled with gas or vaporizable liquid.
6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, dans lequel, lors de l'étape d'activation, on suit le marquage effectif de la zone d'intérêt en suivant la rupture des microcapsules par échographie. 6. Method according to claim 5, wherein, during the activation step, the actual marking of the area of interest is followed by following the rupture of the microcapsules by ultrasound.
7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le marqueur optique ajouté au milieu lors de l'étape d'ajout de marqueur, contient un colorant choisi parmi les colorants vitaux utilisables en pratique clinique.The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the optical tag added to the medium during the marker addition step, contains a dye selected from vital dyes useful in clinical practice.
8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, dans lequel ledit colorant comporte de la fluorescéine .The method of claim 7, wherein said dye comprises fluorescein.
9. Dispositif de marquage pour la mise en œuvre d'un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un réseau (2) de transducteurs ultrasonores, et un dispositif de commande (13, 4) adapté pour faire émettre un faisceau ultrasonore d'activation, focalisé dans au moins une zone d'intérêt (10) d'un milieu cible solide (9), caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de commande (13, 4) est adapté pour faire émettre le faisceau ultrasonore d'activation pendant une durée de 1 à 1000 μs, ledit dispositif de commande (13, 4) et le réseau (2) de transducteurs étant conçus pour que ledit faisceau ultrasonore d'activation présente une puissance telle qu'il exerce dans le milieu une pression inférieure à 8 MPa.9. A marking device for implementing a method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a network (2) of ultrasonic transducers, and a control device (13, 4) adapted to emit an ultrasonic beam. activation device, focussed in at least one zone of interest (10) of a solid target medium (9), characterized in that the control device (13, 4) is adapted to emit the ultrasonic activation beam during a period of 1 to 1000 μs, said control device (13, 4) and the transducer array (2) being designed so that said ultrasonic activation beam has a power such that it exerts in the medium a lower pressure at 8 MPa.
10. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le réseau (2) de transducteurs ultrasonores est adapté pour émettre et recevoir des ondes ultrasonores, le dispositif de commande (13, 4) est adapté pour réaliser une image du milieu cible par échographie au moyen dudit réseau (2) de transducteurs, le dispositif de marquage comportant en outre une interface utilisateur (5, 7) pour montrer ladite image à un opérateur et pour permettre audit opérateur de délimiter la zone d'intérêt (10), le dispositif de commande (13, 4) étant adapté pour émettre ledit faisceau ultrasonore d'activation dans la zone d'intérêt délimitée avec l'interface utilisateur.10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the network (2) of ultrasonic transducers is adapted to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, the control device (13, 4) is adapted to make an image of the target medium by ultrasound using said transducer array (2), the marking device further comprising a user interface (5, 7) for displaying said image to an operator and for enabling said operator to delimit the area of interest (10), the controller (13, 4) being adapted to emit said ultrasonic activation beam into the area of interest defined with the user interface.
11. Dispositif selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le dispositif de commande (13, 4) est en outre adapté pour suivre le marquage effectif de la zone d'intérêt (10) en repérant dans le milieu, par échographie, des ruptures de microcapsules de marqueur remplies de gaz ou de liquide vaporisable.11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the control device (13, 4) is further adapted to follow the actual marking of the area. of interest (10) by locating in the medium, by ultrasound, breaks of marker microcapsules filled with gas or vaporizable liquid.
12. Marqueur optique utilisable dans un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, ledit marqueur étant inactivé et activable par ultrasons, ledit marqueur étant adapté pour se lier à un milieu cible pour le colorer localement après activation par ultrasons.12. Optical marker for use in a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said marker being inactivated and ultrasonically activatable, said marker being adapted to bind to a target medium to stain it locally after ultrasonic activation.
13. Marqueur selon la revendication 12, comportant des microcapsules retenant un colorant, les microcapsules étant adaptées pour être rompues par ultrasons.13. Marker according to claim 12, comprising microcapsules retaining a dye, the microcapsules being adapted to be broken by ultrasound.
14. Marqueur selon la revendication 13, dans lequel les microcapsules contiennent du gaz ou du liquide vaporisable . The marker of claim 13, wherein the microcapsules contain vaporizable gas or liquid.
15. Marqueur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 14, contenant un colorant choisi parmi les colorants vitaux utilisables en pratique clinique.The marker of any one of claims 9 to 14 containing a dye selected from vital dyes for use in clinical practice.
16. Marqueur selon la revendication 15, dans lequel ledit colorant comporte de la fluorescéine . The marker of claim 15, wherein said dye comprises fluorescein.
EP09741386A 2008-09-08 2009-09-08 Method and device for marking a medium, and marker usable in such a method Withdrawn EP2352455A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0856001A FR2935604B1 (en) 2008-09-08 2008-09-08 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MARKING A MEDIUM, AND MARKER USABLE IN SUCH A METHOD
PCT/FR2009/051692 WO2010026357A1 (en) 2008-09-08 2009-09-08 Method and device for marking a medium, and marker usable in such a method

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2352455A1 true EP2352455A1 (en) 2011-08-10

Family

ID=40512551

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09741386A Withdrawn EP2352455A1 (en) 2008-09-08 2009-09-08 Method and device for marking a medium, and marker usable in such a method

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US20110190627A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2352455A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2012501707A (en)
CN (1) CN102170836A (en)
BR (1) BRPI0918067A2 (en)
CA (1) CA2735966A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2935604B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2010026357A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8579922B2 (en) 2009-10-05 2013-11-12 Covidien Lp Method of suture identification and mesh marking for orienting and locating a mesh during hernia repair
US20120289811A1 (en) * 2011-05-13 2012-11-15 Tyco Healthcare Group Lp Mask on monitor hernia locator
US20130041266A1 (en) * 2011-08-12 2013-02-14 Tyco Healthcare Group Lp, System and Method for Indicating Positioning of an Internal Anatomical Feature
US8971989B2 (en) 2012-01-24 2015-03-03 Covidien Lp Magnetic field device for mapping and navigation in laparoscopic surgery
FR3000688B1 (en) 2013-01-08 2016-09-30 Centre Nat De La Rech Scient - Cnrs - PROCESS FOR ACTIVATING A CHEMICAL REACTION, MIXTURE ACTIVABLE THEREBY AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6416740B1 (en) 1997-05-13 2002-07-09 Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, Inc. Acoustically active drug delivery systems
AU2001217746A1 (en) * 1998-05-14 2002-05-27 Calypso Medical, Inc. Systems and methods for locating and defining a target location within a human body
US6179860B1 (en) 1998-08-19 2001-01-30 Artemis Medical, Inc. Target tissue localization device and method
US6740039B1 (en) * 1999-08-20 2004-05-25 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Methods and apparatus for displaying information relating to delivery and activation of a therapeutic agent using ultrasound energy
AU2000255610A1 (en) * 2000-06-28 2002-01-08 Insightec-Image Guided Treatment Ltd. Use of temperature sensitive liposomes
US6475148B1 (en) * 2000-10-25 2002-11-05 Acuson Corporation Medical diagnostic ultrasound-aided drug delivery system and method
US7160258B2 (en) * 2001-06-26 2007-01-09 Entrack, Inc. Capsule and method for treating or diagnosing the intestinal tract
US7358226B2 (en) * 2003-08-27 2008-04-15 The Regents Of The University Of California Ultrasonic concentration of drug delivery capsules
JP4521204B2 (en) * 2004-02-27 2010-08-11 株式会社東芝 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, image processing apparatus, and ultrasonic imaging method
US20050255044A1 (en) * 2004-05-14 2005-11-17 Lomnes Stephen J Contrast agent for combined modality imaging and methods and systems thereof
JP2009502772A (en) * 2005-07-22 2009-01-29 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ Method and system for in vivo drug delivery
US20070025917A1 (en) * 2005-07-26 2007-02-01 General Electric Company Optical imaging based on locally activated bioluminescence
EP1930045A1 (en) * 2006-12-08 2008-06-11 BIOTRONIK CRM Patent AG Implantable medical system with acoustic sensor to measure mitral blood flow

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2010026357A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2735966A1 (en) 2010-03-11
CN102170836A (en) 2011-08-31
BRPI0918067A2 (en) 2015-12-01
FR2935604A1 (en) 2010-03-12
JP2012501707A (en) 2012-01-26
US20110190627A1 (en) 2011-08-04
FR2935604B1 (en) 2012-01-06
WO2010026357A1 (en) 2010-03-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2352455A1 (en) Method and device for marking a medium, and marker usable in such a method
US9192306B2 (en) Photoacoustic imaging devices and methods of imaging
US20200306564A1 (en) Compositions, methods and systems for gas vesicle based cavitation
US6183502B1 (en) Blood flow blocking method and warming apparatus
Couture et al. Ultrasound internal tattooing
WO2009027277A2 (en) Imaging system for following a surgical tool in an operation field
FR2948024A1 (en) ULTRASOUND ACTIVABLE EMULSION AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
JPH03297475A (en) Controlling method for emission of medicine by means of resonance sound wave
JP2002515284A (en) Removal of stratum corneum by light
JP2009505769A (en) Combination of imaging and therapy transducer with therapy transducer amplifier
US20060058708A1 (en) Method and apparatus for ultrasonically increasing the transportation of therapeutic substances through tissue
US20160236012A1 (en) Ultrasound stimulation of pancreatic beta cells
CN107582096A (en) For obtaining device, method and the storage medium of information
AU2010360764A1 (en) Micro devices biomedical applications and uses of the same
EP2084702B1 (en) Method for generating mechanical waves by creating an interfacial acoustic radiation force
CN101019028A (en) Compounds and methods for combined optical-ultrasound imaging
TW200816947A (en) Device, system and method for interacting with a cell or tissue in a body
Maruvada et al. Optical monitoring of ultrasound-induced bioeffects in glass catfish
US20180099059A1 (en) Methods and apparatus for cell tracking and molecular imaging
Haga et al. Minimally invasive diagnostics and treatment using micro/nano machining
Hosseini et al. Development of shock wave assisted therapeutic devices and establishment of shock wave therapy
Koyama et al. Acoustic destruction of a microcapsule having a hard plastic shell
FR2673542A1 (en) Intrarectal treatment probe and apparatus for destroying tumoral tissues, in particular of the prostate, being used preferably in combination with an intraurethral imaging probe
JPH11169375A (en) Ultrasonic probe for diacrisis of tissue
US12000782B2 (en) Acoustic modulated lasers

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20110325

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: TANTER, MICKAEL

Inventor name: COUTURE, OLIVIER

Inventor name: SERVOIS, VINCENT

Inventor name: FINK, MATHIAS

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20150401