METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN VIVO SURVEILLANCE OF CIRCULATING BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS

• US 20080241847A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Wayne Cancer Institute
• Original Assignee: John Wayne Cancer Institute
• Inventors: Taback, Bret, Hoon, David, Shaolian, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,084,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0285 Nanoscale sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14735 comprising an immobilised reagent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6862 Stents
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing

Abstract

The invention relates generally to in vivo collection of circulating molecules, tumor cells and other biological markers using a collecting probe. The probe is configured for placement within a living organism for an extended period of time to provide sufficient yield of biological marker for analysis.

Claims

1. A biological surveillance probe for detecting disease, comprising

an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a binding surface attached to the elongate body, wherein the binding surface has a microconfiguration for an increased surface area; and

at least one binding partner attached to the binding surface to bind at least one complementary target.

2. The probe of claim 1, wherein the binding surface is a microporous surface.

3. The probe of claim 1, wherein the binding surface has at least one laser-drilled hole.

4. The probe of claim 1, wherein the binding surface has been configured by vapor deposition.

5. The probe of claim 1, wherein the binding surface has been configured by physical vapor deposition.

6. The probe of claim 19, wherein the binding surface has been configured by chemical vapor deposition.

7. The probe of claim 1, wherein the binding surface has been configured by sputtering.

8. The probe of claim 7, wherein the binding surface has been configured by reactive sputtering.

9. The probe of claim 1, wherein the binding surface has been configured by sintering.

10. The probe of claim 1, wherein the binding surface has been configured by vacuum deposition.

11. The probe of claim 2, wherein the binding surface comprises a material selected from a group comprising a microporous polymer, nanotube, metal, non-metal, ceramic or combination thereof.

12. The probe of claim 1, wherein the elongate body is a catheter body.

13. The probe of claim 1, wherein the elongate body is a stent support.

14. The probe of claim 13, wherein the binding surface is polymeric jacket.

15. The probe of claim 1, further comprising at least one optically sensitive dye engaged to the binding surface.

16. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a fibrin-deposition resistant component.

17. The probe of claim 1, further comprising at least one anti-thrombotic agent engaged to the binding surface.

18. The probe of claim 1, further comprising at least one antimicrobial agent engaged to the binding surface.

19. The probe of claim 1, further comprising an atraumatic tip attached to the distal end of the elongate body.

20. A method for collecting biological markers, comprising the steps of:

providing a collecting probe comprising a microconfigured binding surface and at least one binding agent affixed to the binding surface for binding a marker;

positioning at least a portion of the probe in an anatomical structure of a living organism;

maintaining the probe in a general position for a specified period of time; and

removing the probe from the living organism.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

binding at least one marker at a first point in time; and

binding at least one marker at a second point in time.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

binding at least one marker at about a first peak in marker concentration; and

binding at least the biological marker at about a second peak in marker concentration.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising analyzing the probe for markers bound to the binding agent.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the analyzing step is performed ex vivo.