Medical or veterinary digestive tract utilization systems and methods

• US 20090163894A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Langer, Robert, Boyden, Edward S., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Application Number:
  US12/002,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20090163894A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1032 Trachea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1042 Alimentary tract A61M2210/0618 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for implementing or deploying medical or veterinary utility modules comprising a first module operable in a digestive or respiratory tract to engage a second module, optionally by a magnetic field. Alternatively or additionally, systems may be operable to remain in situ and also operable to permit a therapeutic material dispensation. In some contexts, for example, systems or methods may dispense a therapeutic material via a subject'"'"'s throat or elsewhere in the digestive or respiratory tract.

Claims

1-60. -60. (canceled)

61. A medical or veterinary system comprising:

a magnetically manipulable module operable to remain within a digestive or respiratory tract of a subject for more than a day and to permit a first therapeutic material dispensation therein from the magnetically manipulable module.

62. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

an anti-inflammatory agent.

63. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

a propellant.

65. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

more than one dose of a therapeutic material.

66. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

an adhesive operable for coupling with a mucous membrane.

67. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

an antimicrobial agent.

68. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

the magnetically manipulable module, small enough to pass through the digestive or respiratory tract per vias naturales.

69. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

a reservoir containing at least an artificial marker.

70. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

a releasable dispenser.

71. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

a fluid-containing reservoir at a higher-than-ambient pressure.

72. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

one or more actuators operable for releasing one or more therapeutic materials.

74. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61 in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

the magnetically manipulable module, operable to permit a second therapeutic material dispensation in lieu of the first therapeutic material dispensation.

75. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

a ferromagnetic material.

77. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, operable to remain in a gastric compartment of the digestive or respiratory tract for more than a week.

78. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, configured for implantation adjacent the digestive or respiratory tract.

79. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, including at least a material flow path at least about one millimeter long.

80. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, including at least a fluid-containing reservoir at a higher-than-ambient pressure.

81. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, comprising at least a tethered structure.

83. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, comprising at least an annular structure.

84. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, operable to engage the magnetically manipulable module by direct contact in situ.

85. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, small enough to pass through the digestive or respiratory tract per vias naturales.

86. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module, operable to remain at least partly within a throat of or an esophagus of the digestive or respiratory tract for more than an hour.

87. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module operable for receiving status-indicative data remotely from the magnetically manipulable module.

88. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, further comprising:

another module operable in the digestive or respiratory tract to support the magnetically manipulable module directly or indirectly for more than a week.

106. The medical or veterinary system of claim 61, in which the magnetically manipulable module comprises:

an external form small enough to pass through the digestive or respiratory tract per vias naturales;

a first reservoir containing more than one dose of a therapeutic material containing one or more of an anti-inflammatory agent or an antimicrobial agent;

a second reservoir containing more than one dispensation of an artificial marker;

one or more dispensing chambers operable for combining a fluid-containing propellant at a higher-than-ambient pressure with one or more of (a) a portion of the therapeutic material from the first reservoir or (b) a portion of the artificial marker;

a first actuator selectively operable for releasing the therapeutic material into the digestive or respiratory tract via the one or more dispensing chambers responsive to a first device state;

a second actuator selectively operable for releasing the artificial marker into the digestive or respiratory tract via the one or more dispensing chambers responsive to a second device state;

a magnetic-flux-generating element operable for holding the magnetically manipulable module in a portion of the digestive or respiratory tract; and

an electrically conductive coil operable for opposing at least some magnetic flux from the magnetic-flux-generating element.

64. (canceled)

73. (canceled)

76. (canceled)

82. (canceled)

89-105. -105. (canceled)

107-244. -244. (canceled)