Patent Application
20200222619
Millimeter wave electro-magnetic low-intensity radiation therapy has been used in a wide breadth of therapeutic applications including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorder, and pain relief. Millimeter wave radiation of blood that is external to a human body may be useful.
Some embodiments of the technology are illustrated, by way of example and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure generally relates to millimeter wave radiation of a blood container.
As set forth above, millimeter wave radiation of blood that is external to a human body may be useful, for example, for improving blood's rheological properties including normalizing red blood cell aggregation rate. According to some aspects, an apparatus comprises: a container storing blood; means for magnetically attaching a device to the container; and means for emitting electromagnetic millimeter wave radiation on the container for a predetermined period of time.
According to some aspects, a system comprises: a container storing blood in an internal part of the container; and a device magnetically attached to the container at an external part of the container, the device emitting electromagnetic millimeter wave radiation on the container for a predetermined period of time.
According to some aspects, a system comprises: a container storing packed red blood cells in an internal part of the container; a first magnet attached to the container at a first external part of the container; a second magnet attached to the container at a second external part of the container; and a millimeter wave emitter coupled to the second magnet, the millimeter wave emitter emitting electromagnetic millimeter wave radiation on the container for a predetermined period of time.
The present disclosure describes, among other things, techniques for millimeter wave radiation of a blood container. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of different embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present disclosure may be practiced without all of the specific details.
The container 110 stores the packed red blood cells 120. In some examples, the packed red blood cells 120 may be replaced with blood plasma or any other blood. The container 110 may be made of plastic, glass, or any other material. An example blood container, which can serve as the container 110, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,710, issued to Beall on Nov. 16, 1965, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A first magnet 130 and a second magnet 140 are placed at the sides of the container, for example, at opposite sides. Any magnetic material may serve as the first magnet 130 or the second magnet 140. The container 110 may be a plastic or glass container which is external to and distinct from a human (or other animal) body.
The magnet 130 or the magnet 140 may be a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets.
As shown, the magnet 140 includes a millimeter wave (mmWave) emitter 140. The mmWave emitter 140 may include all or a part of a mmWave radio. Example mmWave radio(s) are described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,659,904, issued to Kamgaing on May 23, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The mmWave emitter 150 is coupled with a timer 160. The timer 160 is used to set a predetermined (e.g. by a user) period of time. The mmWave emitter 150 emits mmWave radiation on the container 110 for the predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time may be programmed by a user.
In some aspects, the system 100 includes the container 110 storing blood (e.g. packed red blood cells 120) in an internal part of the container 110. The system 100 includes a device (e.g. mmWave emitter 150) magnetically (e.g. via magnet 140) attached to the container 110 at an external part of the container 110. the device emits electromagnetic millimeter wave radiation on the container 110 for a predetermined period of time (e.g. set by the timer 160).
In some aspects, the system 100 includes the container 110 storing packed red blood cells 120 in an internal part of the container 110. The system 100 includes the first magnet 130 attached to the container 110 at a first external part of the container 110. The system 100 includes the second magnet 140 attached to the container 110 at a second external part of the container 110. The system 100 includes a millimeter wave emitter 150 coupled (e.g. attached) to the second magnet 140. The millimeter wave emitter 150 emits electromagnetic millimeter wave radiation on the container 110 for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time may be programmed by the user using the timer 160.
In some examples, the technology described herein relates to medicine and blood transfusion. Millimeter wave electro-magnetic low-intensity radiation therapy is useful in a wide breadth of therapeutic applications including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorder, and pain relief. Millimeter wave radiation may be applied to the skin at such a low intensity that the patient does not feel any heating effect. Given that millimeter wave exposure intensity is <10 mW/square centimeter of skin, in accordance to United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations Standard 29 CFR 1910.97 there may be no harm to a person's health as this is non-ionizing radiation.
In some aspect, the technology described herein includes a method and device that improves blood's rheological parameter(s) prior to transfusion. Rheological parameter(s) effected by millimeter radiation of the blood in stored in pouch or other container (outside human organism), includes normalizing the rate of erythrocyte (red blood cell) aggregation thus increasing the exposed surface area of red blood cells. This enables the red blood cells to deliver more oxygen to tissue and may improve the clinical effect of blood transfusion for patients. In some cases, low-intensity millimeter-waves applied to blood cells in test tubes (“in-vitro”) improves rheological properties. In some cases, millimeter wave radiation is applied to the entire person (at the same frequency as “in vitro”), from patients who had stomach and/or duodenum ulcers.
One embodiment includes a magnetically attached device that would hug a pouch or container for red blood cells or plasma (for example standard packed red blood cells). Then the electro-magnetic emitter would be turned on for a programmable period of time (e.g. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, etc.). This embodiment is shown in
One type of transfusion is of Red Blood Cells (RBC). However, there is evidence that RBCs stored for over 2 weeks are damaged and do not improve the clinical outcome. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that the maximal allowable shelf life of stored human red blood cells (RBCs) requires maintaining cellular integrity (assessed as free hemoglobin <1% of total hemoglobin) together with an average 24-hour post-transfusion RBC survival of more than 75%. RBC survival may increase after exposure to low-intensity millimeter wave radiation because cell aggregation rate has been shown to be normalized ‘in vitro.’ Therefore RBC cells should be less aggregated, and have more surface area available for oxygen transport once they enter the organism, making them more efficacious for the patient. Increased RBC aggregation may be implicated in Gaucher disease, and sickle cell disease.
Erythrocyte aggregation is the reversible clumping of red blood cells (RBCs) under low shear forces or at stasis. Erythrocytes aggregate in a special way, forming rouleaux. Rouleaux are stacks of erythrocytes which form because of the unique discoid shape of the cells in vertebrate body. The flat surface of the discoid RBCs gives them a large surface area to make contact and stick to each other; thus, forming a rouleau. Rouleaux formation takes place in suspensions of RBC containing high-molecular, fibrilar proteins or polymers in the suspending medium. The most important protein causing rouleaux formation in plasma is fibrinogen. RBC suspended in simple salt solutions may not form rouleaux.
Conditions which cause increased rouleaux formation include infections, inflammatory and connective tissue disorders, and cancers. It also occurs in diabetes mellitus and is one of the causative factors for microvascular occlusion in diabetic retinopathy.
Erythrocyte aggregation is the main determinant of blood viscosity at low shear rate. Rouleaux formation also determines Erythrocyte sedimentation rate which is a non-specific indicator of the presence of disease.
Increased erythrocyte (red blood cell) aggregation rate may be a proxy for disease. The method of normalizing erythrocyte aggregation described herein may therefore have a marked improvement on the clinical outcome.
Some aspects relate to a machine implemented method to improve blood (or it's components) rheological parameters using low-intensity millimeter-wave radiation when the blood or its components (e.g. Red Blood Cells) are outside the organism. Some aspects relate to a machine implemented method to apply low-intensity millimeter waves to blood (or it's components) prior to transfusion. Some aspects relate to a machine implemented method to expose blood (or it's components) to electro-magnetic radiation at any frequency in range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz for a pre-defined duration.
Certain embodiments are described herein as numbered examples 1, 2, 3, etc. These numbered examples are provided as examples only and do not limit the subject technology.
Example 1 is an apparatus comprising: a container storing blood; means for attaching a device to the container; and means for emitting electromagnetic millimeter wave radiation on the container for a predetermined period of time.
In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 includes, wherein the blood comprises red blood cells or plasma.
In Example 3, the subject matter of Examples 1-2 includes, wherein the predetermined period of time is programmed by a user.
In Example 4, the subject matter of Examples 1-3 includes, wherein the container comprises a blood storage unit external to and distinct from a human body.
In Example 5, the subject matter of Examples 1-4 includes, wherein the means for attaching the device to the container comprises at least one magnet.
Example 6 is a system comprising: a container storing blood in an internal part of the container; and a device attached to the container at an external part of the container, the device emitting electromagnetic millimeter wave radiation on the container for a predetermined period of time.
In Example 7, the subject matter of Example 6 includes, wherein the blood comprises red blood cells or plasma.
In Example 8, the subject matter of Examples 6-7 includes, wherein the predetermined period of time is programmed by a user.
In Example 9, the subject matter of Examples 6-8 includes, wherein the container comprises a blood storage unit external to and distinct from a human body.
In Example 10, the subject matter of Examples 6-9 includes, wherein the device is attached to the container via at least one magnet.
Example 11 is a system comprising: a container storing packed red blood cells in an internal part of the container; a first magnet attached to the container at a first external part of the container; a second magnet attached to the container at a second external part of the container; and a millimeter wave emitter coupled to the second magnet, the millimeter wave emitter emitting electromagnetic millimeter wave radiation on the container for a predetermined period of time.
In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 includes, wherein the predetermined time period is programmed by a user.
In Example 13, the subject matter of Examples 11-12 includes, wherein the container comprises a blood storage unit external to and distinct from a human body.
Example 14 is an apparatus comprising means to implement of any of Examples 1-13.
Example 15 is a system to implement of any of Examples 1-13.
Example 16 is a method to implement of any of Examples 1-13.
