Implantable device and method for the electrical treatment of cancer

• US 6,738,663 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Onco Stim
• Original Assignee: Oncostim, Inc.
• Inventors: Schroeppel, Edward A., Kroll, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/974,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1-3, 607/39-75
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6957 the form being a device or a kit, e.g. stents or microdevices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

An implantable electrical method and apparatus for the treatment of cancer tumors based on the usage of various levels of electrical fields and current to assist in specific ways to reduce tumor size. The appropriate voltage, currents, and time duration as well as the usage of adjunctive pharmacological therapy are taught.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy at a voltage between 1 volt and 20 volts to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors.

2. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors wherein said direct current electrical therapy is applied at voltages and time periods sufficient for changing the pH by at least 2.0 inside said tumor.

3. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy at a voltage between 20 mV and 500 mV to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors.

4. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors wherein said direct current electrical therapy is applied at voltages and time periods sufficient to attract white blood cells.

5. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy at a voltage between 100 mV and 10 volts to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors.

6. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device dousing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors wherein said direct current electrical therapy is applied as a series of voltage pulses between 20 and 900 volts.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said voltage pulses number between 1 and 10,000.

8. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors wherein said direct current electrical therapy is applied as a series of voltage pulses having a pulse width of between 100 μ

s and 20 ms.

9. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors wherein said direct current electrical therapy is applied as a series of voltage pulses having a spacing period of between 100 μ

s and 1 second.

10. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors wherein said direct current electrical therapy is applied at voltages and pulse widths sufficient to force open tumor cell membranes.

11. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy at voltages between 20 mV and 500 mV to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors wherein said device monitors at least one voltage from tissue such that said direct current electrical therapy is adjusted according to the sensed tissue voltage.

12. An implantable medical device for the treatment of cancer comprising:

a hermetically sealed device housing; and

a battery contained within said hermetically sealed device housing; and

circuitry contained within said hermetically sealed device housing wherein said circuitry is coupled to said battery; and

at least one electrode operably coupled to said circuitry wherein said circuitry delivers direct current electrical therapy to said at least one electrode continuously for a period of time not less than 1 minute for the treatment of cancerous tumors; and

any one of the group consisting of a drug reservoir, a drug pump, a communication means to synchronize said direct current electrical therapy with a drug deliver system, and circuitry to alternate output polarities to reduce levels of electrode corrosion and degradation.

13. A method of treating cancerous tumors comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one catheter into a tumor; and

implanting a source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

connecting said catheter to said source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

delivering said chemotherapeutic drug into said tumor from said source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

delivering direct current electrical therapy.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the additional step of synchronizing delivery of said chemotherapeutic drug to delivery of said direct current electrical therapy.

15. A method of treating cancerous tumors comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one catheter into a tumor; and

implanting a source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

connecting said catheter to said source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

delivering said chemotherapeutic drug into said tumor by way of a catheter with fixation means from said source of chemotherapeutic drug wherein said catheter also delivers direct current electrical therapy.

16. A method of treating cancerous tumors comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one electrode into said tumor; and

implanting a source of electrical power; and

connecting said electrode to said source of electrical power; and

delivering electrical current into said tumor with alternating polarities in order to deliver direct current electrical therapy to said tumor without causing extensive corrosion of said electrodes.

17. A method of treating cancerous tumors comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one catheter adjacent to said tumor; and

implanting a source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

connecting said catheter to said source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

delivering said chemotherapeutic drug into said tumor from said source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

delivering direct current electrical therapy.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the additional step of synchronizing delivery of said chemotherapeutic drug to delivery of said direct current electrical therapy.

19. A method of treating cancerous tumors comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one catheter adjacent to said tumor; and

implanting a source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

connecting said catheter to said source of chemotherapeutic drug; and

delivering said chemotherapeutic drug into said tumor by way of a catheter with fixation means from said source of chemotherapeutic drug wherein said catheter also delivers direct current electrical therapy.

20. A method of treating cancerous tumors comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one electrode adjacent to said tumor; and

implanting a source of electrical power; and

connecting said electrode to said source of electrical power; and

delivering electrical current into said tumor with alternating polarities in order to deliver direct current electrical therapy to said tumor without causing extensive corrosion of said electrodes.