Methods, systems and devices for in vivo electrochemical production of therapeutic agents

• US 20020188323A1
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Remon Medical Technologies Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gileadi, Eliezer, Penner, Avi, Doron, Eyal
• Application Number:
  US09/847,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188323A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02

Abstract

A medical implant for producing a therapeutic agent in a body. The medical implant comprises a pair of electrodes and a mechanism for creating an electrical potential between pairs of the electrodes. The electrical potential serves for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the therapeutic agent.

Claims

1. A method of producing a therapeutic agent in a body, the method comprising implanting a plurality of electrodes in the body and creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the therapeutic agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions, molecular oxygen, nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one substance is nitrite and/or nitrate ions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic agent is an oxidizing agent.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic agent is nitric oxide.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a telemetric energy transfer from outside the body.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said telemetric energy transfer is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy transfer, magnetic energy transfer and acoustic energy transfer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions and molecular oxygen.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a telemetric energy transfer from outside the body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said telemetric energy transfer is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy transfer, magnetic energy transfer and acoustic energy transfer.

108. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 1, wherein said vessel body is made, at least in part, of a metal and serves as one of said electrodes.

140. The method of claim 11, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

141. The method of claim 18, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

14. A method of producing an oxidizing agent in a body, the method comprising implanting a plurality of electrodes in the body and creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the oxidizing agent.

21. A method of preventing or reducing cell proliferation in a region of a body, the method comprising producing an oxidizing agent in the region of the body by implanting a plurality of electrodes in the body and creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the oxidizing agent in an amount sufficient for reducing cell proliferation in the region of the body.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions and molecular oxygen.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a telemetric energy transfer from outside the body.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said telemetric energy transfer is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy transfer, magnetic energy transfer and acoustic energy transfer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a telemetric energy transfer from outside the body.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein said telemetric energy transfer is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy transfer, magnetic energy transfer and acoustic energy transfer.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a telemetric energy transfer from outside the body.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein said telemetric energy transfer is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy transfer, magnetic energy transfer and acoustic energy transfer.

47. The medical implant of claim 46, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

48. The medical implant of claim 47, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions, molecular oxygen, nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

49. The medical implant of claim 46, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

50. The medical implant of claim 49, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

51. The medical implant of claim 49, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

52. The medical implant of claim 49, wherein said at least one substance is nitrite and/or nitrate ions.

53. The medical implant of claim 46, wherein said therapeutic agent is an oxidizing agent.

54. The medical implant of claim 53, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

55. The medical implant of claim 46, wherein said therapeutic agent is nitric oxide.

56. The medical implant of claim 46, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

57. The medical implant of claim 46, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes an energy transducer for transducing telemetric energy received from outside the body into electric energy.

58. The medical implant of claim 57, wherein said telemetric energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, magnetic energy and acoustic energy.

60. The medical implant of claim 59, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

61. The medical implant. of claim 60, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions and molecular oxygen.

62. The medical implant of claim 59, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

63. The medical implant of claim 59, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

64. The medical implant of claim 59, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes an energy transducer for transducing telemetric energy received from outside the body into electric energy.

65. The medical implant of claim 64, wherein said telemetric energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, magnetic energy and acoustic energy.

142. The method of claim 25, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

143. The method of claim 28, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

144. The method of claim 43, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

147. The artificial implant of claim 56, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

148. The artificial implant of claim 63, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

28. A method of producing nitric oxide in a body, the method comprising implanting a plurality of electrodes in the body and creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into nitric oxide.

37. A method of vasodilating a tissue or organ in a body, the method comprising implanting a plurality of electrodes in the body and creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into a vasodilating agent nitric oxide.

46. A medical implant for producing a therapeutic agent in a body, the medical implant comprising a pair of electrodes and a mechanism for creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the therapeutic agent.

59. A medical implant for producing an oxidizing agent in a body, the medical implant comprising a pair of electrodes and a mechanism for creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the oxidizing agent.

66. A medical implant characterized by preventing cell proliferation in its vicinity via producing an oxidizing agent in a body, the medical implant comprising a pair of electrodes and a mechanism for creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the oxidizing agent.

67. The medical implant of claim 66, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

68. The medical implant of claim 67, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions and molecular oxygen.

69. The medical implant of claim 66, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

70. The medical implant of claim 66, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

71. The medical implant.of claim 66, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes an energy transducer for transducing telemetric energy received from outside the body into electric energy.

72. The medical implant of claim 71, wherein said telemetric energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, magnetic energy and acoustic energy.

149. The artificial implant of claim 70, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

73. A medical implant for producing nitric oxide in a body, the medical implant comprising a pair of electrodes and a mechanism for creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the nitric oxide.

74. The medical implant of claim 73, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

75. The medical implant of claim 74, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

76. The medical implant of claim 73, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

77. The medical implant of claim 76, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

78. The medical implant of claim 76, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

79. The medical implant of claim 76, wherein said at least one substance is nitrite and/or nitrate ions.

80. The medical implant of claim 73, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

81. The medical implant of claim 73, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes an energy transducer for transducing telemetric energy received from outside the body into electric energy.

82. The medical implant of claim 81, wherein said telemetric energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, magnetic energy and acoustic energy.

150. The artificial implant of claim 80, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

83. A medical implant for vasodilating a tissue or organ in a body, the medical implant comprising a pair of electrodes and a mechanism for creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into a vasodilating agent nitric oxide.

84. The medical implant of claim 83, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

85. The medical implant of claim 84, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

86. The medical implant of claim 83, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

87. The medical implant of claim 86, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

88. The medical implant of claim 86, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

89. The medical implant of claim 86, wherein said at least one substance is nitrite and/or nitrate ions.

90. The medical implant of claim 83, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

91. The medical implant of claim 83, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes an energy transducer for transducing telemetric energy received from outside the body into electric energy.

92. The medical implant of claim 91, wherein said telemetric energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, magnetic energy and acoustic energy.

151. The artificial implant of claim 90, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

93. A stent comprising a stent body, a pair of electrodes and a mechanism for creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the therapeutic agent.

94. The stent of claim 93, wherein said stent body is made, at least in part, of a metal and serves as one of said electrodes.

95. The stent of claim 93, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

96. The stent of claim 95, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions, molecular oxygen, nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

97. The stent of claim 93, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

98. The stent of claim 97, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

99. The stent of claim 97, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

100. The stent of claim 97, wherein said at least one substance is nitrite and/or nitrate ions.

101. The stent of claim 93, wherein said therapeutic agent is an oxidizing agent.

102. The stent of claim 101, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

103. The stent of claim 93, wherein said therapeutic agent is nitric oxide.

104. The stent of claim 93, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

105. The stent of claim 93, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes an energy transducer for transducing telemetric energy received from outside the body into electric energy.

106. The stent of claim 105, wherein said telemetric energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, magnetic energy and acoustic energy.

152. The stent of claim 104, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

107. An artificial implantable vessel comprising a vessel body, a pair of electrodes and a mechanism for creating an electrical potential between pairs of said electrodes, said electrical potential being for electrochemically converting at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into the therapeutic agent.

109. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 107, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

110. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 109, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions, molecular oxygen, nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

111. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 107, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

112. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 111, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

113. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 111, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

115. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 107, wherein said therapeutic agent is an oxidizing agent.

116. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 115, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

117. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 107, wherein said therapeutic agent is nitric oxide.

118. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 107, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

119. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 107, wherein said mechanism for creating said electrical potential between said electrodes includes an energy transducer for transducing telemetric energy received from outside the body into electric energy.

120. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 119, wherein said telemetric energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, magnetic energy and acoustic energy.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein said oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of molecular chloride, perchloric acid, superoxide, ozone, molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

123. The method of claim 121, wherein said electrochemical production of said oxidizing agent is by electrochemical conversion of at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into said oxidizing agent.

124. The method of claim 123, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

125. The method of claim 124, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine ions, water, hydrogen ions, hydroxide ions and molecular oxygen.

126. The method of claim 121, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

127. The method of claim 121, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a telemetric energy transfer from outside the body.

128. The method of claim 127, wherein said telemetric energy transfer is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy transfer, magnetic energy transfer and acoustic energy transfer.

130. The method of claim 129, wherein said electrochemical production of said nitric oxide is by electrochemical conversion of at least one substance present in the body, directly or indirectly, into said oxidizing agent.

131. The method of claim 130, wherein said at least one substance is a normal blood constituent.

132. The method of claim 131, wherein said normal blood constituent is selected from the group consisting of nitrite and nitrate ions and L-arginine.

133. The method of claim 130, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body.

134. The method of claim 133, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a diet.

135. The method of claim 133, wherein said at least one substance is added to or augmented in the body through a medical administration.

136. The method of claim 133, wherein said at least one substance is nitrite and/or nitrate ions.

137. The method of claim 129, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a battery in electrical communication with said electrodes.

138. The method of claim 129, wherein creating said electrical potential between said electrodes is effected by a telemetric energy transfer from outside the body.

139. The method of claim 138, wherein said telemetric energy transfer is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy transfer, magnetic energy transfer and acoustic energy transfer.

145. The method of claim 126, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

146. The method of claim 137, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

153. The artificial implantable vessel of claim 118, wherein power supply from said battery is controlled via a logic chip communicating therewith or via telemetric energy transfer.

114. The artificial implantable vessel of claim lll, wherein said at least one substance is nitrite and/or nitrate ions.

121. A method of prevention cell proliferation in a body region, the method comprising implanting in the body region or in a blood vessel feeding said body region an implant designed and constructed for the electrochemical production of an oxidizing agent.

129. A method of vasodilating a body region, the method comprising implanting in the body region or in a blood vessel feeding said body region an implant designed and constructed for the electrochemical production of a vasodilating agent nitric oxide.