Bi-directional access to tumors
AssigneeDuke University
InventorsNassir Mokarram-Dorri, Ravi Bellamkonda, Barun Brahma, James Leo Pokorney, Jack Cabell Griffis, III, Donald Kenneth Griffin, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for guiding the migration of cancer and other cells includes a reservoir device, a cover, a tube, a nanofiber structure, and a lock device. The reservoir device defines a reservoir having an open top. The cover is configured for removable installation over the open top of the reservoir. The tube has a proximal end portion reaching into the reservoir. The nanofiber structure communicates an inlet port in the tube with the reservoir. The lock device interlocks the tube with the reservoir device, and also interlocks the nanofiber structure with the reservoir device.
Claims22
A method for guiding migration of biological material away from a target site, the method comprising:
- providing a device comprising:
- a catheter comprising a lumen in fluid communication with an inlet opening at a distal end portion of the catheter and an outlet opening at a proximal end portion of the catheter;
- and
- a reservoir;
- coupling the proximal end portion of the catheter to the reservoir by folding the proximal end portion of the catheter radially outwardly within the reservoir and securing the folded proximal end portion within the reservoir, wherein a nanofiber structure is disposed within the catheter lumen and extends from the catheter and into the reservoir;
- implanting the catheter into a patient such that the distal end portion of the catheter is disposed adjacent to the target site;
- and
- receiving, in the reservoir, biological material that has migrated from the target site along the nanofiber structure.
A method of serially sampling biological material from a target site, the method comprising:
- providing a catheter comprising a distal end portion comprising (i) an inlet opening in communication with a catheter lumen and (ii) a proximal end portion, wherein a nanofiber structure is disposed within the catheter lumen;
- coupling the proximal end portion of the catheter to a reservoir by folding the proximal end portion of the catheter radially outwardly within the reservoir and securing the folded proximal end portion within the reservoir, the nanofiber structure extending from the distal end portion of the catheter to the reservoir;
- disposing the distal end portion of the catheter adjacent to the target site;
- at a first time, retrieving a first sample of biological material from the reservoir;
- at a second time, retrieving a second sample of biological material from the reservoir, wherein the second time is at least one week after the first time, and wherein the catheter is not removed from the first time to the second time;
- and
- comparing the first sample of biological material and the second sample of biological material to evaluate progression of a tumor at the target site.
A method for bi-directionally accessing a target site, the method comprising:
- providing a catheter comprising (i) a distal end portion having a distal opening in communication with a catheter lumen and (ii) a proximal end portion, wherein a nanofiber structure is disposed within the catheter lumen;
- coupling the proximal end portion of the catheter to a reservoir by folding the proximal end portion of the catheter radially outwardly within the reservoir and securing the folded proximal end portion within the reservoir, the nanofiber structure extending from the distal end portion of the catheter to the reservoir;
- disposing the distal end portion of the catheter adjacent to the target site;
- retrieving a sample of biological material that has migrated from the target site, along the nanofiber structure, and into the reservoir;
- and
- disposing a therapeutic agent in the reservoir such that the therapeutic agent migrates along the nanofiber structure from the reservoir, out the distal opening, and to the target site, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a non-cell therapeutic agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.