ANALYSIS & CLEARING MODULE, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140046146A1
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zurn, William Harrison
• Original Assignee: Zurn, William Harrison
• Inventors: Zurn, William Harrison
• Granted Patent: US 9,833,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00505 Urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2065 Tracking using image or pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/03 Computed tomography [CT] echo-tomography A61B8/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0891 for diagnosis of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0604 : Lungs and/or airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities

Abstract

Modules, systems and methods for clearing substances from a living body are disclosed. A module may include an instructions receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions of instructions from a master controller located outside of the body when the module is inside the body; an energy receiver configured to receive wireless transmission of non-destructive energy from the master controller located outside of the body when the module is inside the body; an energy converter configured to convert the non-destructive energy received to destructive energy; and an energy emitter configured to emit the destructive energy.

Claims

1. A module for insertion into a living body, said module comprising:

an instructions receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions of instructions from a master controller located outside of the body when said module is inside the body;

an energy receiver configured to receive wireless transmission of non-destructive energy from the master controller located outside of the body when said module is inside the body;

an energy converter configured to convert the non-destructive energy received to destructive energy; and

an energy emitter configured to emit the destructive energy.

2. The module of claim 1, further comprising an opening in a surface of said module, said opening communicating with a chamber within said module.

3. The module of claim 2, further comprising a negative pressure generator configured to generate negative pressure in said chamber to draw material in the body into said chamber.

4. The module of claim 3, further comprising a liquid chromatography analyzer configured to analyze the material drawn into said chamber.

5. The module of claim 1, further comprising a camera configured to capture images of the body when said module is inserted in the body, wherein said module wirelessly transmits said images to the master controller outside the body.

6. The module of claim 1, further comprising a battery configured to provide backup power to said module.

7. The module of claim 2, further comprising a gate, said gate being movable from an open position allowing said opening to communicate with said chamber, to a closed position wherein said opening is closed off, said gate being also movable from said closed position to said open position.

8. A module for insertion into a living body, said module comprising:

an instructions receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions of instructions from a master controller located outside of the body when said module is inside the body;

an opening in a surface of said module, said opening communicating with a chamber within said module, said opening and said chamber being configured and dimensioned to receive material from inside the body when said module is inserted into the body;

an analyzer configured to analyze composition of the material received in said chamber; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit composition analysis results produced by said analyzer to the master controller.

9. The module of claim 8, wherein said analyzer comprises a liquid chromatography analyzer.

10. The module of claim 8, further comprising a negative pressure generator configured to generate negative pressure in said chamber to draw the material into said chamber.

11. The module of claim 8, further comprising a gate, said gate being movable from an open position allowing said opening to communicate with said chamber, to a closed position wherein said opening is closed off, said gate being also movable from said closed position to said open position.

12. The module of claim 8, further comprising:

an energy receiver configured to receive wireless transmission of non-destructive energy from the master controller located outside of the body when said module is inside the body;

an energy converter configured to convert the non-destructive energy received to destructive energy; and

an energy emitter configured to emit the destructive energy.

13. A system for treatment of a condition within a living body, said system comprising:

a master controller located outside of the body; and

a module configured and dimensioned to be introduced into at least one of a body cavity, duct or vessel, and to be guided and driven through said at least one of a body cavity, duct or vessel by wireless forces and communication from said master controller.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said master controller drives said module using magnetic forces.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said module comprises at least one camera configured to wirelessly transmit images from within said at least one of a body cavity, duct or vessel to said master controller to aid guidance of said driving of said module.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said module comprises at least one guide element detectable by said master controller to aid guidance of driving of said module.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said module comprises a module instructions receiver and said master controller comprises a master instructions transmitter, said master instructions transmitter configured to transmit wireless instructions to said module instructions receiver when said master controller is located outside of the body and said module is inside the body;

and

said module comprises a module transmitter and said master controller comprises a master receiver, said module transmitter configured to transmit wireless transmissions to said master transmissions receiver when said master controller is located outside of the body and said module is inside the body.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said master controller comprises a non-destructive energy generator and a non-destructive energy transmitter, and said module comprises a non-destructive energy receiver configured to receive non-destructive energy transmitted by said non-destructive energy transmitter when said master controller is located outside of the body and said module is inside the body.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said module further comprises an energy converter configured to convert the non-destructive energy received to destructive energy;

and

an energy emitter configured to emit the destructive energy.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said module comprises:

an opening in a surface of said module, said opening communicating with a chamber within said module;

a negative pressure generator configured to generate negative pressure in said chamber to draw material in the body into said chamber;

and an analyzer configured to analyze composition of the material drawn into said chamber;

wherein said module is configured to wirelessly transmit analysis results of the material by said analyzer to said master controller.

21. A method of treating the body, said method comprising:

inserting a module into a duct, vessel or cavity of the body of a patient;

moving and guiding the module through the anatomy of the patient to a target location, wherein said moving and guiding are performed by wireless application of forces to the module by a master controller located outside of the body; and

performing a treatment on material in the body at the target location.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said moving and guiding are performed by a nuclear magnetic resonance machine of the master controller.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein a plurality of said modules are moved and guided by said master controller within one or more ducts, vessels or cavities, and at least two of said modules are moved and guided either serially or in parallel.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said performing a treatment comprises analyzing material from the target location.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said performing a treatment comprises drawing material from the target location into a chamber in the module.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising analyzing composition of the material in the chamber.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising destroying the material.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said destroying comprises vaporizing the material.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein said performing a treatment comprises destroying material from the target location.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said destroying comprises vaporizing the material.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the module includes at least one camera, said method further comprises capturing an image by said at least one camera and wirelessly transmitting said image to said master controller.