Electromagnetic therapy control system
First Claim
1. A method for applying a therapeutic agent to a treatment zone in a patient, which treatment zone is not adjacent the skin of the patient, comprising:
- applying a steady or low frequency magnetic field to the patient to include the treatment zone;
supplying microspheres for circulation through the patient to include said zone, said microspheres including a therapeutic agent, and also includes medically bodily compatible magnetic material having a Curie point at which the magnetic material becomes substantially non-magnetic slightly above the normal body temperature of the patient; and
applying high frequency electromagnetic field energy to said patient where said magnetic field is applied to said patient, except to said treatment zone, to heat up said magnetic material to demagnetize it so the microspheres are not restrained by said magnetic field except in said treatment zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Chemotherapy may be selectively localized to a tumor located at a point well within the human body by physically associating the chemotherapy agent with magnetic material having a Curie point temperature slightly above the normal temperature of the human body. Both materials may be associated with protein microspheres such as human serum albumin. By applying a magnetic field to the tumor location and then applying electromagnetic radiation to heat the Curie point magnetic material (so that it loses its magnetic properties), away from the tumor site, but not at the tumor site, the unheated magnetic material and the physically associated chemotherapy agent will be localized at the tumor. Radioactive material may also be employed to facilitate imaging of the concentration of the microspheres and for radiation treatment.
82 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for applying a therapeutic agent to a treatment zone in a patient, which treatment zone is not adjacent the skin of the patient, comprising:
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applying a steady or low frequency magnetic field to the patient to include the treatment zone; supplying microspheres for circulation through the patient to include said zone, said microspheres including a therapeutic agent, and also includes medically bodily compatible magnetic material having a Curie point at which the magnetic material becomes substantially non-magnetic slightly above the normal body temperature of the patient; and applying high frequency electromagnetic field energy to said patient where said magnetic field is applied to said patient, except to said treatment zone, to heat up said magnetic material to demagnetize it so the microspheres are not restrained by said magnetic field except in said treatment zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for applying a therapeutic agent to a treatment zone in a patient, which treatment zone is not adjacent the skin of the patient, comprising:
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means for applying a steady or low frequency magnetic field to the patient to include the treatment zone; means for supplying microspheres for circulation through the patient to include said zone, said microspheres including a therapeutic agent, and also includes medically, bodily compatible magnetic material having a Curie point at which the magnetic material becomes substantially non-magnetic slightly above the normal body temperature of the patient; and means for applying high frequency electromagnetic field energy to said patient where said magnetic field is applied to said patient, except to said treatment zone, to heat up said magnetic material to demagnetize it so the microspheres are not restrained by said magnetic field except in said treatment zone. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification