Methods and systems for using resonant acousto-EM energy and acousto-EM signatures to disrupt biologic structures

• US 7,497,119 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GR Intellectual Reserve LLC
• Original Assignee: GR Intellectual Reserve LLC
• Inventors: Abel, Albert E., Brooks, Juliana H. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, ROSE MARY
• Application Number:
  US11/584,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20070039389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 735/79, 600/427, 600/429, 600/439, 601/2, 601/3, 601/4, 607/97, 607/51, 604/22, 435/173.1, 435/173.7
• US Class Current: 73/579
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0093 Detecting, measuring or recording by applying one single type of energy and measuring its conversion into another type of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0029 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/06 Hydrolysis; Cell lysis; Extraction of intracellular or cell wall material lysis of microorganisms C12N1/06; extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/014 Resonance or resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02466 Biological material, e.g. blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/032 by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/036 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves

Abstract

The present invention makes use of resonant acousto-EM energy (alone or in combination with resonant acoustic energy) applied to biologic structures for the disruption of at least one function of the biologic structure. In particular, the invention provides methods of generating acousto-EM energy in biologic structures such as virus, bacteria, fungi, worms and tumors for the disruption of these structures.

Claims

1. A method for disrupting at least one function of a targeted biologic structure, which comprises:

a) determining at least one resonant acousto-EM energy of said biologic structure; and

b) targeting the biologic structure by providing to the biologic structure at least a portion of said at least one acousto-EM energy of the biologic structure to induce acoustic resonance in at least a portion of the biologic structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises applying a substantially complete acousto-EM signature of at least a portion of the biologic structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises applying at least one substantially complete acousto-EM signature of a plurality of portions of the biologic structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises applying resonant acousto-EM energy at a sufficient power intensity to disrupt at least one function of the biologic structure, said at least one function being selected from the group of functions consisting of growth, reproduction, regeneration, embryogenesis, metabolism, fermentation, germination, oxidation or reduction activity and wound healing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said biologic structure comprises at least one structure selected from the group of structures consisting of tissue masses, worms, arthropods, chitins, plants, animals, multicellular organisms, protozoa, liver, muscle, feet, brain, kidney, spleen, lung, lens of eye, aqueous humor, vitreous humor, plant cell, proteins, molecules, cell wall, capsule, spore, pili, plasma membrane, organ, portions of structures, components of structures, flagellum, crytoplasmic inclusion body, basal body, appendages, skin, shell, egg, cement/cement plate, bone, DNA, RNA, carbohydrates, lipids, lipopolysaccharides, glycolipids, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, chloroplasts, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, endotoxins, exotoxins, proteases and ligands for host cell receptors.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one organism selected from the group consisting of viruses, bacteria, fungi, worms, microorganisms and parasites, and wherein said at least one organism is targeted within a human body.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one organism selected from the group consisting of viruses, bacteria, fungi, worms, microorganisms and parasites, and wherein said at least one organism is targeted extracorporeally to a human body.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one HIV virus which is targeted within a human body.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one HIV virus which is targeted extracorporeally to a human body.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one bacteria.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one virus.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one parasite.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one fungi.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one microorganism.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising using at least one resonant acoustic frequency of said targeted biologic structure together with said at least one acousto-EM energy.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a single device can apply both of said resonant acoustic frequency and said at least one acousto-EM energy.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one resonant acoustic frequency comprises a frequency range of 150 Hz to 1.5 terahertz.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises applying at least one energy selected from the group consisting of pulsed direct current, alternating current, pulsed electric field, pulsed magnetic field and electromagnetic radiation.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one targeted biologic structure contacts at least a portion of at least one biological member selected from the group consisting of cornea, tissue mass, muscle, brain, spleen, lens of eye, organ, egg, heart, liver, lung, skin, bone, bone marrow cells, blood and blood products, kidney and pancreas.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one biological member is exposed to said at least one acousto-EM energy prior to said at least one biological member being transplanted.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one disease causing microorganism which causes disease in plants.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of plant bacteria and plant viruses.

23. A system for inducing targeted acoustic resonance in a biologic structure to disrupt at least one function of the biologic structure comprising:

a) means for providing to the biologic structure at least one resonant acousto-EM signature of the biologic structure to induce acoustic resonance therein; and

b) transducer means for producing at least one resonant acoustic frequency to said biologic structure.

24. A method for disrupting at least one function of a biologic structure comprising:

a) detecting at least one acousto-EM signature of the biologic structure; and

b) providing to the biologic structure said at least one detected acousto-EM signature so as to induce acoustic resonance in the biologic structure.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said providing comprises applying at least a portion of an acousto-EM signature of the biologic structure.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said providing comprises applying at least one substantially complete acousto-EM signature of the biologic structure.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said providing comprises applying said at least one detected acousto-EM signature at a sufficient power intensity to disrupt at least one function of the biologic structure, said at least one function being selected from the group of functions consisting of growth, reproduction, regeneration, embryogenesis, metabolism, fermentation, germination, oxidation or reduction activity and wound healing.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein a second at least one detected acousto-EM signature is applied to said biologic structure.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one organism selected from the group consisting of viruses, bacteria, fungi, worms, microorganisms and parasites, and wherein said at least one organism is targeted within a human body.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one organism selected from the group consisting of viruses, bacteria, fungi, worms, microorganisms and parasites, and wherein said at least one organism is targeted extracorporeally to a human body.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one bacteria.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one virus.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one microorganism.

34. The method of claim 24, further comprising using at least one resonant acoustic frequency of said targeted biologic structure together with said at least one acousto-EM energy.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein said providing comprises applying at least one electromagnetic energy selected from the group consisting of pulsed direct current, alternating current, pulsed electric field, pulsed magnetic field and electromagnetic radiation.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein a single device can apply both of said resonant acoustic frequency and said at least one acousto-EM energy.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one resonant acoustic frequency comprises a frequency range of 150 Hz to 1.5 terahertz.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one targeted biologic structure contacts at least a portion of at least one biological member selected from the group consisting of cornea, tissue mass, muscle, brain, spleen, lens of eye, organ, egg, heart, liver, lung, skin, bone, bone marrow cells, blood and blood products, kidney and pancreas.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one biological member is exposed to said at least one acousto-EM energy prior to said at least one biological member being transplanted.

40. The method of claim 24, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one disease causing microorganism which causes disease in plants.

41. The method of claim 24, wherein said targeted biologic structure comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of plant bacteria and plant viruses.

42. A method for disrupting at least one function of a targeted biologic structure, which comprises:

a) determining at least one resonant acousto-EM energy of said biologic structure;

b) targeting the biologic structure by providing to the biologic structure at least a portion of said at least one acousto-EM energy of the biologic structure to induce acoustic resonance in at least a portion of the biologic structure; and

c) providing at least one second resonant acousto-EM energy of the biologic structure.

43. A system for inducing targeted acoustic resonance in a biologic structure to disrupt at least one function of the biologic structure comprising:

a) means for detecting at least one acousto-EM signature of the biologic structure;

b) means for providing to the biologic structure said at least one resonant acousto-EM signature of the biologic structure.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said means for providing to the biologic structure said at least one resonant acousto-EM signature comprises means for providing at least two resonant acousto-EM signatures of the biologic structure.

45. A method for disrupting a biologic structure comprising:

a) determining at least one acousto-EM signature of the biologic structure; and

b) applying said at least one acousto-EM signature to the biologic structure.

46. A device for disrupting a biologic structure comprising:

a) at least one means for applying to a biologic structure at least one acousto-EM signature of the biologic structure, said at least one means for applying comprising at least one energy selected from the group consisting of pulsed direct current, alternating current, pulsed electric field, pulsed magnetic field and electromagnetic radiation; and

b) at least one transducer means for generating at least one resonant acoustic frequency of said biologic structure.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein said at least one electromagnetic energy source comprises at least one electromagnetic radiation emitter.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein said at least one electromagnetic radiation emitter comprises a radiation horn.