Targeted system for removing tumor cells from cell populations
OwnerBernhard O. Palssoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is presented to remove contaminating tumor cells from a cell population. The method includes labeling individual tumor cells in the population and then killing them with a high energy laser beam. The laser is focused so that it specifically kills the identified tumor cell, but not the remaining cells in the population.
Claims32
A method for eliminating a first population of cells from a second population of cells, comprising:
- a) labeling said first population of cells so that said first population of cells can be distinguished from said second population of cells;
- b) placing said first population of cells and said second population of cells is in a stationary position on a surface;
- c) locating one cell in said first population of cells by reference to said label;
- d) applying a first pulse from a controlled energy source to said one cell;
- e) determining if said one cell was killed by said first pulse;
- and
- f) applying a second pulse from a controlled energy source if said one cell was not killed.
A method of eliminating tumor cells from within a cell population that includes non-tumor cells, comprising the steps of:
- a) labeling said non-tumor cells so that the non-tumor cells can be distinguished from said tumor cells;
- b) locating one of said tumor cells by identifying a non-labeled cell in said cell population;
- and
- c) killing said tumor cell by applying a pulse from a controlled energy source to said located tumor cell while said tumor cell is in a substantially stationary position on a surface.
A method of killing a first population of cells within a mixture of cells, said mixture comprising said first population of cells and a second population of cells, comprising:
- a) illuminating a portion of said mixture of cells, wherein said first population of cells or said second population of cells is labeled such that they are substantially distinguishable from one another;
- b) capturing an image of a plurality of cells in the illuminated portion of said mixture of cells;
- c) determining at least two dimensional coordinates of a cell of said first population of cells by reference to the captured image, and by reference to the presence of, or lack of, the label on said cell;
- and
- d) applying a lethal dose of energy to the coordinates of said cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.