Diagnostic method and diagnostic means used in delivering a medicament to a patient

• US 6,553,249 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Klaus Potthoff
• Original Assignee: Klaus Potthoff
• Inventors: Potthoff, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US09/700,958
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 600/420, 600/431, 424/9.3, 604/48, 604/500, 604/514, 604/516, 604/93.01, 604/285, 604/287
• US Class Current: 600/420
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/18 characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a diagnostic method used to indicate the migration of a medicament through the digestive apparatus and resorption during this migration, with the use of a negative MRI-contrast agent and a positive contract substance, introduced into gelatin capsules. The gelatin capsules are arranged as inner capsules in a common outer capsule, which is provided with barium sulphate in such an amount, relative to the specific gravity of the contents of the stomach, so that the capsule will be able to sink through the contents of the stomach and reach the small intestine without a substantial time-delay. The invention also relates to a diagnostic apparatus to carry out the diagnostic method.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a medicament to a digestive tract of a patient to facilitate a magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s digestive tract, the method comprising the steps of;

filling at least one inner gelatin capsule with a first MRI contrast agent;

inserting the at least one inner gelatin capsule into an outer capsule;

including the medicament with the outer capsule or in a material forming the outer capsule for release in the digestive tract;

introducing the outer capsule and the at least one inner capsule into a patient'"'"'s stomach;

passing the outer capsule containing the at least one inner capsule through the parent'"'"'s stomach to a small intestine of the patient faster than other contents of the patient'"'"'s stomach; and

employing barium sulphate in the outer capsule as a second MRI contrast agent to facilitate the passing of the at least one inner capsule through the patient'"'"'s stomach to the small intestine faster than the other contents of the stomach.

2. The method of delivering a medicament to a patent'"'"'s digestive tract according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of;

inserting iron oxide into the outer capsule as an additional MRI contrast agent to facilitate distinguishing the at least one inner gelatin capsule containing the first MRI contrast agent;

providing a natural or synthetic organic non-toxic substance as the first MRI contrast agent;

controlling the dissolution of the outer capsule and the release of the medicament by coating the outer capsule with at least one of beeswax or a non-toxic substance having a melting temperature higher than a body temperature and which does not dissolve in contact with gastric stomach fluids of the patient'"'"'s stomach.

3. The method of delivering a medicament to a digestive tract of a patient according to claim 2, further comprising the step of forming the outer capsule from a mixture of solid paraffin and beeswax.

4. The method of delivering a medicament to a digestive tract of a patient according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of mixing the medicament with a chemically inert substance and inserting the mixture into a cargo capsule attached to the outer capsule.

5. The method of delivering a medicament to a digestive tract of a patient according to claim 4, further comprising the step of inserting at least two inner gelatin capsules into the outer capsule wherein so that when the at least two inner capsules are observed from a desired angle the at least two inner capsules yield a noncircular or non-single point-shaped contrasting picture.

6. The method of delivering a medicament to a digestive tract of a patient according to claim 2, further comprising the step of employing deep sea fish oil as the natural or synthetic organic non-toxic substance.

7. The method of delivering a medicament to a digestive tract of a user according to claim 1, further comprising the step of;

introducing iron oxide into the outer capsule to enhance the visual distinction between the first MRI contrast agent and the iron oxide in the outer capsule to improve detection in an MRI picture.

8. The method of delivering a medicament to a digestive tract of a patient according to claim 1, further comprising the step of at least one of the outer capsule and the inner capsule containing a mixture of solid paraffin and barium sulphate.

9. The method of delivering a medicament to a digestive tract of a patient according to claim 1, further comprising the step of binding at least one of the first, second and additional MRI contrast agents by one of wax and paraffin, and

forming at least one of the outer capsule and the at least one inner gelatin capsule from one of the wax and paraffin binding the at least one of the first, second and additional MRI contrast agents.