BIO-MEDICAL UNIT AND APPLICATIONS FOR CANCER TREATMENT

• US 20110077580A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: ROFOUGARAN, Ahmadreza (REZA)
• Granted Patent: US 9,081,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An in vivo cancer treatment system includes a plurality of bio-medical units, a communication control device, and a wireless power source device. A bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units includes a power harvesting module operable to convert a wireless power source into a supply voltage; a communication module operable to communication data, wherein the communication unit is powered by the supply voltage; and a field generation module operable to generate a type of electromagnetic field, wherein the field generation module is powered by the supply voltage. The communication control device communicates with the plurality of bio-medical units to facilitate treatment of cancer cells within the body. The wireless power source device generates the wireless power source.

Claims

1. An in vivo cancer treatment system comprises:

a plurality of bio-medical units for injection into a body, wherein a bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units includes;

a power harvesting module operable to convert a wireless power source into a supply voltage;

a communication module operable to communication data, wherein the communication unit is powered by the supply voltage; and

a field generation module operable to generate a type of electromagnetic field, wherein the field generation module is powered by the supply voltage;

a communication control device external to the body, wherein the communication control device communicates with the plurality of bio-medical units to facilitate treatment of cancer cells within the body; and

a wireless power source device external to the body, wherein the wireless power source device generates the wireless power source.

2. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power source device comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency (RF) generating module to generate an RF power signal as the wireless power source;

a millimeter wave (MMW) signal generating module to generate a MMW power signal as the wireless power source; and

a magnetic resonance signal generating module to generate a magnetic resonance power signal as the wireless power source.

3. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the communication control device comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver to transceive RF data signals with at least one of the plurality of bio-medical units;

a millimeter wave (MMW) transceiver to transceive MMW data signals with at least one of the plurality of bio-medical units; and

a magnetic resonance transceiver to transceive magnetic resonance data signals with at least one of the plurality of bio-medical units.

4. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the field generation module further functions to perform at least one of:

generate an electric field to contain a cancer treatment drug in a localized area that at least partially encircling the cancer cells, when the cancer treatment drug is ionized; and

generate a magnetic field to contain the cancer treatment drug in the localized area that at least partially encircling the cancer cells, when the cancer treatment drug is polarized.

5. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the field generation module further functions to perform at least one of:

generate an electric field to charge a second substance that contains a cancer treatment drug in a localized area that at least partially encircling the cancer cells, when the cancer treatment drug is ionized; and

generate a magnetic field to magnetize the second substance that contains the cancer treatment drug in the localized area that at least partially encircling the cancer cells, when the cancer treatment drug is polarized.

6. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises at least one of:

a first dispensing module operable to;

store a cancer treatment drug; and

dispense at least a portion of the cancer treatment drug in accordance with a control signal of the data;

a second dispensing module operable to;

store a second substance that contains the cancer treatment drug in a localized area at least partially encircling the cancer cells; and

dispense at least a portion of the second substance in accordance with a control signal of the data;

7. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises:

a propulsion module operable to move the bio-medical unit in accordance with control signals of the data.

8. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the bio-medical unit further comprises:

an imaging module to generate image data regarding the treatment.

9. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the field generation module further functions to perform at least one of:

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to transmit RF signals at the cancer cells to facilitate RF radiation of the cancer cells; and

a millimeter wave (MMW) transmitter to transmit MMW signals at the cancer cells to facilitate MMW radiation of the cancer cells.

10. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1, wherein the communication control device further functions to:

transmit a first control signal to a first set of the plurality of bio-medical units, wherein the first control signal contains instructions for a first pattern of treatment to be performed by the first set of the plurality of bio-medical units; and

transmit a second control signal to a second set of the plurality of bio-medical units, wherein the second control signal contains instructions for a second pattern of treatment to be performed by the second set of the plurality of bio-medical units.

11. The in vivo cancer treatment system of claim 1 further comprises:

the bio-medical unit transmitting power level data to the communication control device;

the communication control device is further operable to;

interpret the power level data;

determine whether the bio-medical unit requires charging based on the power level data,

when the bio-medical unit requires charging, transmit a charge enable signal to the wireless power source device and temporarily suspending the treatment; and

the wireless power source device generates the wireless power source in response to the charge enable signal.

12. A bio-medical unit for use with an in vivo cancer treatment system, the bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to convert a wireless power source into a supply voltage;

a communication module operable to communication data regarding treatment of cancer cells within a body, wherein the communication unit is powered by the supply voltage; and

a field generation module operable to generate a type of electromagnetic field to facilitate the treatment of the cancer cells, wherein the field generation module is powered by the supply voltage.

13. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the communication module comprises at least one of:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver to transceive RF data signals with a communication control device;

a millimeter wave (MMW) transceiver to transceive MMW data signals with the communication control device; and

a magnetic resonance transceiver to transceive magnetic resonance data signals with the communication control device.

14. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the field generation module further functions to perform at least one of:

generate an electric field to contain a cancer treatment drug in a localized area that at least partially encircling the cancer cells, when the cancer treatment drug is ionized; and

generate a magnetic field to contain the cancer treatment drug in the localized area that at least partially encircling the cancer cells, when the cancer treatment drug is polarized.

15. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the field generation module further functions to perform at least one of:

generate an electric field to charge a second substances that contains a cancer treatment drug in a localized area that at least partially encircling the cancer cells, when the cancer treatment drug is ionized; and

generate a magnetic field to magnetize the second substance that contains the cancer treatment drug in the localized area that at least partially encircling the cancer cells, when the cancer treatment drug is polarized.

16. The bio-medical unit of claim 12 further comprises at least one of:

a first dispensing module operable to;

store a cancer treatment drug; and

dispense at least a portion of the cancer treatment drug in accordance with a control signal of the data;

a second dispensing module operable to;

store a second substance that contains the cancer treatment drug in a localized area at least partially encircling the cancer cells; and

dispense at least a portion of the second substance in accordance with a control signal of the data;

17. The bio-medical unit of claim 12 further comprises:

a propulsion module operable to move the bio-medical unit in accordance with control signals of the data.

18. The bio-medical unit of claim 12 further comprises:

an imaging module to generate image data regarding the treatment.

19. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the field generation module further functions to perform at least one of:

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to transmit RF signals at the cancer cells to facilitate RF radiation of the cancer cells; and

a millimeter wave (MMW) transmitter to transmit MMW signals at the cancer cells to facilitate RF radiation of the cancer cells.

20. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the communication module further functions to:

receive a first control signal that contains instructions for a first pattern of treatment to be performed;

or

receive a second control signal that contains instructions for a second pattern of treatment to be performed.