Claims
- 1. A particle, comprising a polymeric matrix and a ferromagnetic material distributed in the polymeric matrix, wherein the particle has a diameter of from about ten microns to about 3,000 microns.
- 2. The particle of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic material is selected from the group consisting of transition metals, metal alloys, and metal oxides.
- 3. The particle of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic material is selected from the group consisting of magnetite, nickel, cobalt, iron and Mu-metal.
- 4. The particle of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises magnetite.
- 5. The particle of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic material is selected from the group consisting of soft ferrites, rare-earth magnet alloys, and amorphous and non-earth alloys.
- 6. The particle of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic material is in the shape of at least one article selected from the group consisting of particles, fibers, flakes, and powders.
- 7. The particle of claim 6, wherein the article has a diameter of from about two microns to about 20 microns.
- 8. The particle of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic material is substantially homogeneously distributed throughout the polymeric matrix.
- 9. The particle of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a polysaccharide.
- 10. The particle of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylic acids, polymethacrylic acids, poly vinyl sulfonates, carboxymethyl celluloses, hydroxyethyl celluloses, substituted celluloses, polyacrylamides, polyethylene glycols, polyamides, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polystyrenes, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyethylenes, polymethylmethacrylates, polycaprolactones, polyglycolic acids, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acids, and combinations thereof.
- 11. The particle of claim 1, wherein the particle further comprises a therapeutic agent.
- 12. The particle of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a first polymer and a second polymer.
- 13. The particle of claim 12, wherein the second polymer forms a coating over the first polymer.
- 14. The particle of claim 1, wherein the particle is substantially spherical.
- 15. The particle of claim 1, wherein the particle contains pores.
- 16. The particle of claim 1, wherein the particle has an interior with a density of large pores and a surface region with a density of large pores, and the density of large pores of the interior is greater than the density of large pores of the surface region.
- 17. The particle of claim 1, wherein the particle comprises from about 0.1 percent to about 90 percent by weight of the ferromagnetic material.
- 18. The particle of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix has a coating comprising an inorganic, ionic salt.
- 19. A particle, comprising a polymeric matrix and a radiopaque material distributed in the polymeric matrix, wherein the particle has a diameter of from about ten microns to about 3,000 microns, and wherein the particle has an interior with a density of large pores and a surface region with a density of large pores, and the density of large pores of the interior is greater than the density of large pores of the surface region.
- 20. The particle of claim 19, wherein the radiopaque material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, and contrast agents.
- 21. The particle of claim 19, wherein the radiopaque material comprises a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and bismuth subcarbonate.
- 22. The particle of claim 19, wherein the radiopaque material comprises platinum or barium sulfate.
- 23. The particle of claim 19, wherein the radiopaque material is substantially homogeneously distributed throughout the polymeric matrix.
- 24. The particle of claim 19, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a polysaccharide.
- 25. The particle of claim 19, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylic acids, polymethacrylic acids, poly vinyl sulfonates, carboxymethyl celluloses, hydroxyethyl celluloses, substituted celluloses, polyacrylamides, polyethylene glycols, polyamides, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polystyrenes, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyethylenes, polymethylmethacrylates, polycaprolactones, polyglycolic acids, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acids, and combinations thereof.
- 26. The particle of claim 19, wherein the particle further comprises a therapeutic agent.
- 27. The particle of claim 19, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a first polymer and a second polymer.
- 28. The particle of claim 27, wherein the second polymer forms a coating over the first polymer.
- 29. The particle of claim 19, wherein the particle is substantially spherical.
- 30. The particle of claim 19, wherein the particle comprises from about 0.1 percent to about 50 percent by weight of the radiopaque material.
- 31. A particle, comprising a polymeric matrix and a material distributed in the polymeric matrix, wherein the material is visible by magnetic resonance imaging, and the particle has a diameter of from about ten microns to about 3,000 microns, and wherein the particle has an interior with a density of large pores and a surface region with a density of large pores, and the density of large pores of the interior is greater than the density of large pores of the surface region.
- 32. The particle of claim 31, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of non-ferrous metal-alloys containing paramagnetic elements; non-ferrous metallic bands coated with an oxide or a carbide layer of dysprosium or gadolinium; non-ferrous metals coated with a layer of superparamagnetic material; and nanocrystalline particles of the transition metal oxides.
- 33. The particle of claim 31, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of terbium-dysprosium, dysprosium, gadolinium, Dy2O3, and Gd2O3.
- 34. The particle of claim 31, wherein the material comprises gadolinium.
- 35. The particle of claim 31, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a polysaccharide.
- 36. The particle of claim 31, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylic acids, polymethacrylic acids, poly vinyl sulfonates, carboxymethyl celluloses, hydroxyethyl celluloses, substituted celluloses, polyacrylamides, polyethylene glycols, polyamides, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polystyrenes, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyethylenes, polymethylmethacrylates, polycaprolactones, polyglycolic acids, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acids, and combinations thereof.
- 37. The particle of claim 31, wherein the particle further comprises a therapeutic agent.
- 38. The particle of claim 31, wherein the particle is substantially spherical.
- 39. The particle of claim 31, wherein the particle comprises from about five percent to about 50 percent by weight of the material.
- 40. A method, comprising:
heating a plurality of particles disposed in a body lumen, wherein the particles comprise a polymeric matrix and a ferromagnetic material distributed in the polymeric matrix, and wherein the particles have a diameter of from about ten microns to about 3,000 microns.
- 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the method ablates body tissue.
- 42. The method of claim 40, wherein heating the particles comprises exposing the particles to RF radiation.
- 43. The method of claim 40, wherein heating the particles heats body tissue.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/232,265, entitled “Drug Delivery Particle,” and filed on Aug. 30, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10232265 |
Aug 2002 |
US |
Child |
10651475 |
Aug 2003 |
US |