AGGREGATION AND CONTROL OF MAGNETO-RESPONSIVE ENTITIES

• US 20150243425A1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polyvalor LP
• Original Assignee: Corporation De L'Ecole Polytechnique De Montreal
• Inventors: Martel, Sylvain, Felfoul, Ouajdi
• Granted Patent: US 9,905,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/74 Bacteria therapeutic use of a bacterial protein A61K38/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/00 Medicinal preparations obtained by treating materials with wave energy or particle radiation ; Therapies using these preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/69 the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6901 Conjugates being cells, cell fragments, viruses, ghosts, red blood cells or viral vectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0023 Electronic aspects, e.g. circuits for stimulation, evaluation, control; Treating the measured signals; calibration G01R33/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0273 Magnetic circuits with PM for magnetic field generation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325

Abstract

Applicants have discovered a novel apparatus and method to aggregate and displace a plurality of magneto-responsive entities (steerable self-propelled entities or SSPEs) in three dimensions using time-multiplexing. The apparatus for controlling aggregation of SSPEs in a body comprises at least three sets of magnetic field sources arranged in three axes for generating a controlled magnetic field and a controller connected to at least one of said magnetic field sources to create a three dimensional convergence point. The method for aggregating the entities can comprise using a first set and a second set of said magnetic field sources to generate opposed magnetic field gradients in each said set to cause aggregation of said magneto-responsive entities in two axes and wherein the controller is configured to reverse a direction of said magnetic field gradient in a third set of magnetic field sources in a third axis according to a first pre-determined program.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling aggregation of magneto-responsive self-propelled entities in a body comprising:

at least three sets of magnetic field sources arranged in three axes for generating a magnetic field; and

a controller connected to at least one of said magnetic field sources to create a three dimensional convergence point.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first set and a second set of said magnetic field sources generate an opposed magnetic field gradients in each said set to cause aggregation of said magneto-responsive entities in two axes and wherein said controller is configured to reverse a direction of said magnetic field gradient in a third set of magnetic field sources in a third axis according to a first predetermined program.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured for one of:

sequentially actuating all combinations of two sets of magnetic field sources according to a second predetermined program;

controlling said magnetic field sources to cause displacement of said magneto-responsive entities;

targeting said entities to a location in said body by moving said convergence point with respect to said sets of magnetic field sources;

changing a size of said convergence point to increase pathfinding capability of magneto-responsive entities;

changing a shape of said convergence in order to increase pathfinding capability of magneto-responsive entities; and

controlling an actuation of said magnetic field source in order to increase pathfinding capability of magneto-responsive entities.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first set and said second set of magnetic field sources each comprise two coils having current flowing in opposite directions in each set.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said planes are orthogonal with respect to each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a platform for receiving said body, wherein a location of said convergence point is changed by moving said platform.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said targeting comprises a combination of a directional mode and an aggregation mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first and said second predetermined programs provide a frequency at which a predetermined proportion of said magneto-responsive entities are able to realign to said field following change in said magnetic field.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a top of said aggregation zone is modulated in order to increase pathfinding capability of magneto-responsive entities.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a magneto-responsive entity detector for detecting the location of said magneto-responsive entities.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a platform for moving between a first station having said magneto-responsive entity detector and a second station having said magnetic field sources.

39. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for positioning said coils to be around said body and means for releasing said body form the coils.

3. (canceled)

6-8. -8. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)

17-23. -23. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A method of aggregating magneto-responsive self-propelled entities in a body comprising:

generating in said body a magnetic field having a three dimensional convergence point; and

allowing said entities to move toward and aggregate near said convergence point.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein generating said convergence point further comprises keeping a constant magnetic field gradient in two axes and alternating a direction of said magnetic field gradient in a third axis according to a first predetermined program.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein generating said convergence point further comprises sequentially actuating all combinations of two opposed magnetic field sources according to a second predetermined program.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising changing a location of said convergence point by changing said magnetic field.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein said body is a non-living body.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein said location is reached by one of a continuous and a sequential movement of said convergence point.

36. The method of claim 28, further comprising targeting said magneto-responsive entities to a location in said body using a directional mode.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein said magneto-responsive entities comprise magnetotactic bacteria.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising coupling said bacteria to an anti-cancer compound.

32-33. -33. (canceled)