Electro-optical instruments and methods for treating disease

• US 5,993,378 A
• Filed: 09/19/1994
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US08/401,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 128/665, 128/693, 604/22, 604/49, 604/134, 604/136, 604/82, 604/191, 600/104-107, 600/109, 600/156
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00195 with eyepieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02154 by optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0002 with a pressure sensor at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0086 : the needles having bent tips, i.e. the needle distal tips are angled in relation to the longitudinal axis of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0087 : Multiple injection needles protruding laterally from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 : being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 : Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/007 : Injectors for solid bodies, e.g. suppositories
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 : Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1002 : Intraluminal radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1014 : Intracavitary radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/50 : by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence

Abstract

Improvements in electro-optical instruments operable in body ducts, such as catheters, endoscopes, laparascopes and free travelling capsules adapted to pass through the body ducts. Methods for using same to detect and treat diseases such as cancer cells and body tissue. Medical materials, such as drug compounds usable with such instruments, are provided for detecting, marking and treating diseases such as cancer and preventing the spread of cancer. An instrument is provided which is capable of detecting a malady, such as a tumor, cancer,lesion, ulcer or other type of wound in a body duct of a living being which instrument may also be automatically operated to treat such a malady, such as by performing a surgical operation thereon.

Claims

1. A method for treating disease within a body cavity of a living being comprising:

a) disposing a medical instrument within a body cavity which medical instrument contains a housing, a supply of a fluent medical material operable to treat diseased tissue when applied thereto and a means for ejecting a select quantity of said medical material from said housing at a select location,

b) moving said medical instrument through said body cavity to cause said select location of said housing to become aligned with select diseased tissue within said body cavity and motor operating an arm to project outwardly from said housing so as to frictionally retain said housing at a select location within said body cavity,

c) detecting with a detection means when said select location of said housing becomes aligned with said select diseased tissue in said body cavity, generating a control signal with said detection means, and employing said control signal to control and cause said means for ejecting said medical material from said housing to cause a select quantity of said medical material to be ejected from said housing against said diseased tissue.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of motor operating said arm to effect the selective movement of said housing within said body cavity.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical material is ejected by spraying a quantity of said medical material against said select portion of the body cavity wall.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said medical material is a coolant operative to cool said diseased wall portion.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical material comprises monoclonal antibodies.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical material comprises a tumor killing agent.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical material comprises an antibiotic.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical material comprises an antinflammatory agent.

17. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medical material comprises a growth factor.

5. An instrument for applying medication to a select location within a body cavity, comprising:

a housing containing a supply of a fluent medical material operable to treat disease defining matter when applied thereto wherein said housing is mounted on a tubular support;

optical means enabling said housing to be guided within the body cavity to dispose said housing at a select location therein;

a motor operated arm projecting outwardly from said housing so as to frictionally retain said housing at a select location within said body cavity;

means for ejecting a select quantity of said medical material from said housing at a select location;

an optical fiber within said tubular support for transmitting optical images from the location in which said instrument is disposed; and

,

a video imaging means for generating video signals from images transmitted by said optical fiber and a computer programmed to effect automatic image analysis of the video signals to locate lesions within said body cavity.

8. An instrument in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a means for spraying a quantity of said medical material against a select wall portion of the body cavity.

9. An instrument in accordance with claim 5 wherein said housing is a hollow needle adapted to be passed through tissue at a select wall portion of the body cavity to inject said medical material therein.

10. An instrument in accordance with claim 5 wherein said computer is incorporated into said instrument.

11. An instrument in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a laser for emitting laser radiation which causes select matter intersected thereby to fluoresce and a photoelectric detector for detecting fluorescent radiation emanating from said select matter.

12. An instrument in accordance with claim 11 wherein said computer is programmed to effect automatic analysis of signals generated by said photoelectric detector to locate lesions within said body cavity.

6. An instrument for applying medication to a select location within a body cavity, comprising:

a housing containing a supply of a fluent medical material operable to treat disease defining matter when applied thereto;

optical means enabling said housing to be guided within the body cavity to dispose said housing at a select location therein;

a motor operated arm projecting outwardly from said housing so as to frictionally retain said housing at a select location within said body cavity;

means for ejecting a select quantity of said medical material from said housing at a select location; and

,

wherein said housing is an ingestable capsule.

7. An instrument in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a laser contained within said capsule operative to project a beam of laser light against respective select body matter adjacent said capsule.