Embodiments of the present invention were conceived and reduced to practice without Federal sponsorship or funding.
This invention relates to methods and systems for removing plaque from arteries and blood vessels in human subjects non-invasively utilizing coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles introduced into the human bloodstream and controlled by external magnetic fields to effect plaque removal.
Atherosclerosis is a major health risk. In this progressive condition, also called coronary artery disease, fatty material, consisting of fat, cholesterol and other substances, collects on artery walls over time. As this fatty material hardens, it forms calcium deposits called plaques. The build-up of plaque makes a blood vessel narrow and less flexible and eventually, may block blood flow. Reduced blood flow in the coronary arteries may cause chest pain called angina, shortness of breath, a heart attack and other symptoms. Atherosclerosis often has no symptoms until a plaque ruptures or the buildup is severe enough to obstruct blood flow.
In an unstable condition called atherosclerotic plaque, small pieces of plaque may break away and lodge in smaller blood vessels, blocking blood flow. This blockage, called an embolization, is a common cause of heart attack and stroke. Blood clots can also form around a tear in the plaque leading to a blockage. A blood clot that moves into an artery in the heart, lungs, or brain can cause a stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism. Plaque may also weaken the wall of an artery leading to an aneurysm.
A buildup of cholesterol plaques in the walls of arteries may cause obstruction of blood flow. Plaques may rupture causing acute occlusion of the artery by clot.
Although some medications and medical procedures are being developed to open blocked arteries, with surgery as a more invasive solution, most physicians recommend a healthy diet and exercise to control the build-up of arterial plaques.
There are several known methods for detecting plaque deposits in arteries. Some of these methods are highly invasive, and others are less so. Today, many patients are evaluated for coronary artery disease by invasive tests such as angiography, which involves inserting a catheter into the body and threading it into the aorta. Molecular and nuclear imaging offer the opportunity to assess blood flow non-invasively, without making a surgical incision or inserting a medical instrument into the body.
Heart scans, known as coronary calcium scans, are specialized X-ray tests that provide images to locate and provide measurements of calcium-containing plaque in the arteries. Plaque deposits can grow over time and restrict blood flow to the heart. Another method of detecting arterial plaque is an ultrasonic scan, which can provide an image of plaque location and size.
Still another method detecting and locating arterial plaque includes injecting a dye into a patient which contains a radioactive isotope such as technetium 99m, which has a short radioactive half-life. The radioactive dye is absorbed by the plaque deposit so that it may be detected noninvasively by a scanner.
Although these and other methods are known for detecting plaque, there are few solutions for removing plaque in a safe manner, without invasive techniques such as surgery. Surgery carries inherent risks, since soft plaque deposits can rupture and cause a heart attack or stroke.
There is a pressing need for a method of removing plaque from arteries and the related vasculature in a safe, noninvasive manner.
Research is being conducted using drug-loaded magnetic microspheres for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs in a process known as targeted chemotherapy. Using an externally applied magnetic field, the drug-loaded nanoparticles may be manipulated to the location of a tumor through the human vascular system, where the chemotherapy drugs may be released in a specific target area. In other research, magnetic nanoparticles are manipulated in the blood stream to the location of the tumor, and the nanoparticles are heated by magnetic induction to a sufficient temperature to kill cancer cells in the proximity of the heated nanoparticles.
The present invention is related to nanoparticles but it addresses a different problem. The problem is to cleanse plaque deposits from the arteries of a human subject without using intrusive methods. The inventor's solution is a system and method for introducing a plurality of polymer-coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles into the bloodstream in the vicinity of a plaque deposit, and vibrate the nanoparticles in proximity of a plaque deposit to physically abrade and dislodge the plaque deposit, and allow the plaque deposit to harmlessly dissolve in the bloodstream.
Performed throughout the vascular system of the human subject systematically, the magnetic plaque clearance system and method of the present invention will provide a seemingly rejuvenating effect to a patient's circulatory system by removing plaque deposits which could later cause artery blockages.
A solution containing a plurality of superparamagnetic polymer-coated nanoparticles are introduced into the human subject's bloodstream by means of a syringe or any other convenient method. The nanoparticles are dispersed, and using an externally applied electromagnetic field, the nanoparticles are progressively moved through the subject's vascular system to the specific location of a plaque deposit. The density of the nanoparticles at a particular location is maximized by the application of an external electromagnetic field.
The electromagnetic field is then changed from a direct one to an oscillating one in order to disrupt or disintegrate the plaques. Disintegrated particles that do not directly dissolve into the blood stream are digested by enzymes on the coating of the nanoparticle or by enzymes introduced into the environment of the plaque. Additionally, or alternatively, disintegrated particles such as calcium deposits that do not directly dissolve into the blood stream are dissolved by hydroxyl or electron donating anions on the coating of the nanoparticle or by hydroxyl or electron donating anions introduced into the environment of the plaque.
The electromagnetic field is then changed from an oscillation one to a direct one in order to move the nanoparticles to a point of removal from the body.
The nanoparticles are removed by a unipolar magnetic field directing them to be removed at the point of injection or alternative location in the body. The nanoparticles are also removed by natural bodily functions.
The methods and systems are directed to the emergency clearance of arteries in the human body, and the routine annual and quarterly clearance and preventative maintenance of arteries in the human body.
The envisioned invention describes a process for the emergency clearance of arteries in the human body and the routine periodic annual and quarterly clearance and preventative maintenance of arteries in the human body.
It is intended that the matter contained in the preceding description be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.
Turning to
It is known how to generate strong electromagnetic fields which can be focused to a specific point. The present system generates a focused electromagnetic field, much as a solenoid produces a focused electromagnetic field. Additional concepts to increase magnetic field strength at a point location include the use of cone magnets or pyramid magnets to focus and intensify an electromagnetic field to a particular point location. The tapered conical shape produces a concentrated and more intense magnetic field on the tapered tip, compared to the base part of the magnetic core. Using this arrangement, and electromagnetic field can be focused and intensified at a particular point location. This will be discussed further on in connection with
The plurality of magnetic nanoparticles flows along with the blood flow in the artery, and the nanoparticles are attracted to the location of the plaque deposits in the artery. The magnetic field is operating in steady-state, so that the magnetic nanoparticles may be directed to the desired location in close proximity to the plaque deposit, at the location of the magnetic probes shown in
At this point in the process, the magnetic field under the control of a microcontroller, switches to an oscillating power source. An oscillating electromagnetic field is now generated in the vicinity of the plaque deposits. The nanoparticles vibrate or oscillate in response to the alternating current power source. There is an agitation of the magnetic nanoparticles, in a manner wherein the nanoparticles abrade the plaque deposit. The nanoparticles impact the surface of the plaque deposit and break it up and eventually destroy it. The plaque is reabsorbed into the blood stream to be carried away harmlessly or destroyed by coatings on the magnetic nanoparticles as will be described.
At the conclusion of the treatment, the nanoparticles will be attracted to a location within the patient, and since they are concentrated in one area, they may be conveniently removed from the body in a magnetically biased syringe or other means to destroy them.
Turning now to
The most widely used systems in biological settings are MNPs made of iron oxides (Fe3O4/Fe2O3) due to their well-known biocompatibilities (Longmire et al., 2008). When the size of the MPN is below a critical value (˜30 nm), these nanoparticles behave like a giant paramagnetic atom with a single magnetic domain exhibiting superparamagnetic behavior. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles respond rapidly to an applied magnetic field with negligible residual magnetism away from the magnetic field and when the magnetic field is turned off or removed.
In the present invention, the superparamagnetic nanoparticles are preferably spherical in shape. A magnetic core, manufactured from a ferrite material, is surrounded by a polymer-coat. In another embodiment, additional coatings of enzymes and and/or acidic moieties are applied to the nanoparticles for the purpose of dissolving or destroying plaque particles released during the breakup of the plaque deposit. This is for the purpose of preventing dislodged plaque particles from traveling upstream of the blockage and causing additional blockages in smaller blood vessels.
An electromagnetic field generator using known techniques can generate sufficient magnetic field strength to effectively influence the movement of superparamagnetic nanospheres circulating in the vascular system of a patient. The magnetic field generator has two modes of operation. In the steady-state mode, the nanoparticles are moved as a group linearly to the location of the plaque deposit. In the second operational mode, the power source is alternated to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field, imparting vibrational or oscillatory motion to the nanoparticles so that the nanoparticles can be directed to abrade the plaque deposit and break up or dislodge the plaque deposit.
The externally-generated electromagnetic field is focused on a specific location, such as a small area in an artery, where it is previously determined (by MRI or other detection) that plaque buildup is present. The focused magnetic field attracts the polymer coated superparamagnetic nanospheres to that particular location in an artery.
The external electromagnetic field is mobile, so that it can be moved progressively to various locations in the patient's body. In this way, the focus magnetic field (1) attracts the nanoparticles to particular location adjacent to the location of a plaque deposit; and (2) imparts and oscillatory motion to the nanoparticles in the vicinity of the plaque deposit. This oscillatory motion will cause the plurality of nanoparticles to interact by abrasion with the plaque deposit. The polymer coating on the nanoparticles will minimize any damaging effect to exposed epithelial tissue in the artery walls from the vibrational impact of the nanoparticles or nanospheres.
In use, the conical magnetic poles of the electromagnet system, are positioned to be on opposite sides of the obstructed artery, so that a proper oscillatory motion can be imparted to the superparamagnetic nanoparticles, so that they will oscillate in a predictable manner, as determined by the microcontroller system.
In
The external electromagnets will move incrementally and progressively along all the major arteries of the human subject's vasculature, removing plaque deposits encountered along the way. At the completion of the treatment, the magnetic nanoparticles will be recalled (redirected) to the entry or alternative site, so that they can be removed via removal methods such as a syringe.
In another embodiment, the magnetic probes may be located on a mechanical frame with movement controlled by multiple servo mechanisms, under the control of a programmable microcontroller. In this embodiment, the magnetic probes will be moved to a programmed position relative to the patient's body so that the concentrated magnetic field is applied to a specific location corresponding to the location of the plaque deposit, which has been detected by other means.
Turning to
In the next step 32 of
In the second mode of operation, step 36, a microcontroller switches the magnetic field to an alternating current mode, which will be an oscillating magnetic field directed to the location of the arterial plaque. The microcontroller will control the time duration of the treatment procedure, in which the nanospheres will be vibrated or oscillated by the oscillating magnetic field in the vicinity of the plaque deposit. The oscillating action of the nanospheres will have an abrading effect on the plaque deposit breaking it up and dislodging it into small particles which will be readily absorbed into the bloodstream. The treatment will be under control of the microcontroller, which will control the duration of the treatment and the field strength of the magnetic probes, so that the oscillating action of the magnetic will be adjustable to provide optimum treatment of the particular deposit of plaque on the artery wall.
In another embodiment, the microcontroller will receive feedback data from an imaging system to monitor the progression of the treatment process. In a real-time, the program microcontroller monitors the process and determines the effect of the nanospheres on the plaque deposit during the treatment process, so that field strength, oscillation rate, and treatment duration can be adjusted in real time.
As plaque deposits break up into small particles, there is a possibility that the smaller particles could in themselves cause blockages in smaller blood vessels. In step 38 of
The enzymes, in this embodiment are designed to absorb or digest by using biochemical action to remove the dissolved plaque particles from the bloodstream so that they do not deposit downstream in other blood vessels.
Additionally, or alternatively, disintegrated particles such as calcium deposits that do not directly dissolve into the blood stream are dissolved by hydroxyl or electron donating anions on the coating of the nanoparticle or by hydroxyl or electron donating anions introduced into the environment of the plaque.
Alternatively, the nanoparticles could be charged by the proper anions or the like, so that the dislodged particles could bond to the magnetic nanoparticles and be safely removed at the same time the nanoparticles are removed at the removal site by syringe or other means in step 40 once the nanoparticles are attracted to the removal site.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63130524 | Dec 2020 | US |