Magnetic stereotactic system for treatment delivery
First Claim
1. The method of delivering treatment to a specific location in a body part, comprising the steps of:
- a) impregnating a flexible carrier means with the treatment to be delivered;
b) attaching the carrier means to a magnetic object by a connection means;
c) inserting the magnetic object within the body;
d) magnetically coupling the magnetic object to a magnetic field of an electromagnet;
e) moving the magnetic object within the body to the specific location in the body part by changing the magnetic field with the electromagnet;
f) disengaging the magnetic object from the carrier means by effecting the connection means;
g) directing the magnetic object back out of the body by changing the magnetic field with the electromagnet.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A treatment delivery apparatus comprises a metallic object and a treatment carrier device which is connected by a heat-sensitive biodegradable connector link to the magnetic object. This carrier device contains the treatment, i.e. the drug, to be transported. An electromagnet is positioned outside of the body part for producing a magnetic field which captures the magnetic object. This electromagnet may be either a simple coil system attached to a robotic arm which moves the electromagnet adjacent the body part, or a multicoil electromagnet system surrounding the body part. In either case, the robotically moved electromagnet or multicoil electromagnet system moves the magnetic object within the body part to a desired location. A computer controls either the robotic arm or multicoil current magnitudes and directions. This computer also provides visualization for observing the location and movement of the magnetic object and carrier device. Upon reaching the desired location, the magnetic object is heated, which causes the heat-sensitive biodegradable connector link to melt, which separates the drug-containing carrier device from the magnetic object. The electromagnet means then moves the magnetic object back out of the body part. The treatment-containing carrier device remains in the desired location and the drug is delivered to the specific location.
245 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. The method of delivering treatment to a specific location in a body part, comprising the steps of:
-
a) impregnating a flexible carrier means with the treatment to be delivered; b) attaching the carrier means to a magnetic object by a connection means; c) inserting the magnetic object within the body; d) magnetically coupling the magnetic object to a magnetic field of an electromagnet; e) moving the magnetic object within the body to the specific location in the body part by changing the magnetic field with the electromagnet; f) disengaging the magnetic object from the carrier means by effecting the connection means; g) directing the magnetic object back out of the body by changing the magnetic field with the electromagnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. The method of cranial drug delivery, comprising the steps of:
-
a) placement of a fixed skull position reference apparatus on a patient'"'"'s skull; b) immobilizing a patient'"'"'s head; c) conducting a scan of the patient'"'"'s head and obtaining data from the scan and inputting the data in a computer; d) inputting data to the computer that identify vascular tubular brain structures and eloquent brain structures; e) displaying three-dimensional images of a patient'"'"'s brain, vascular tubular structures, eloquent brain regions and a region of treatment; f) opening a scalp of the patient and drilling a hole in the skull of the patient; g) attaching a flexible carrier means impregnated with the treatment to be delivered to a magnetic object by using a connection means; h) inserting the magnetic object within an opening in the skull; i) placing an electromagnet near the skull of the patient; j) controlling movement of the magnetic object within the skull and brain by changing magnetic field size and direction of the electromagnet and steering the movement of the magnetic object within the skull and brain to avoid eloquent regions of the brain and vascular tubular structures and guiding the magnetic object into a specific location in the brain; k) moving the magnetic object through the specific location in the brain until the carrier means is properly positioned; l) stopping the motion and disengaging the magnetic object from the carrier means; m) moving the magnetic object away from the region while guiding the object through the brain in the safest path to the opening in the skull; n) removing the magnetic object from the skull through the opening; o) closing the opening in the skull; and p) closing the opening in the scalp. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
-
16. The method of delivering treatment to a specific location in a body part, comprising the steps of:
-
a) attaching a proximal end of a flexible carrier means to a magnetic object by a connection means; b) inserting the magnetic object within the body; c) magnetically coupling the magnetic object to a magnetic field of an electromagnet; d) moving the electromagnet outside the body which moves the magnetic object within the body to the specific location in the body part; e) moving the magnetic object within the body to the specific location in the body part by changing the magnetic field with the electromagnet; f) disengaging the magnetic object from the carrier means by effecting the connection means; and g) directing the magnetic object back out of the body by changing the magnetic field with the electromagnet. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. The method of delivery of a flexible implant sheath device to a specific location in a body part, comprising the steps of:
-
a) attaching a first end of a flexible implant sheath device to a first magnetic object by a connection means; b) inserting the first magnetic object within the body; c) magnetically coupling the first magnetic object to a magnetic field of an electromagnet; d) moving the electromagnet outside the body which moves the first magnetic object within the body to the specific location in the body part; e) moving the first magnetic object within the body to the specific location in the body part by changing the magnetic field with the electromagnet; f) draping the first end of the flexible implant sheath device throughout the specific location in the body part; g) disengaging the first magnetic object from the carrier means by effecting the connection means; h) directing the first magnetic object back out of the body by changing the magnetic field with the electromagnet; and i) attaching a second end of the flexible implant sheath device to a surface of the body; wherein the first end of the sheath device is permeable and the second end is non-permeable. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
Specification