Method and apparatus for in vivo collection of circulating biological components

• US 8,569,044 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Wayne Cancer Institute
• Original Assignee: John Wayne Cancer Institute
• Inventors: Hoon, David, Taback, Bret, Shaolian, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): LAM, ANN Y
• Application Number:
  US13/205,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6865 Access ports
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 5/00 Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery

Abstract

The invention relates generally to in vivo collection of circulating molecules, tumor cells and other biological markers using a collecting probe. The probe is configured for placement within a living organism for an extended period of time to provide sufficient yield of biological marker for analysis. In some embodiments of the invention, active attraction of biological markers are provided. A partial or complete analytic/detection assembly may also be integrated with the probe.

Claims

1. A method for detecting disease, comprising the steps of:

introducing a binding agent into a body;

attracting at least a portion of the binding agent to a binding agent attraction device positioned within the body; and

assessing the binding agent attracted to the attraction device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the introducing step is performed by injecting the binding agent into the bloodstream.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the introducing step is performed by eluting the binding agent from an implant within the body.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the disease is cancer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the disease is an infection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the disease is a bacterial infection.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the disease is a viral infection.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the disease is a fungal infection.