US 9,802,050 B2Granted

Energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder and method of using same

AssigneeRush University Medical Center

InventorMarvin A. Rossi

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Abstract

An energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder comprising a nanocapacitor connected to at least one carbon nanotube and method of using same are described. An adjustable amount of electric energy is stored within the nanocapacitor so that the energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder delivers either a biologically destructive or a biologically non-destructive electrical charge to target cells in response to biological, chemical or electrical stimuli. An optional biocompatible coating onto the outer surface of the carbon nanotube transponder improves cellular targeting, cellular binding or body tolerance towards the carbon nanotube transponder. Optionally, a molecular label attached to at least one carbon nanotube allows for in vivo tracking of the carbon nanotube transponder. The targeted release of electric energy from the carbon nanotube transponder can, for example, destroy cancer cells in cancer patients, or control the flux of electric wave within a cellular tissue to treat cardiac and/or epileptic patients.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of using a plurality of energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders to treat medical afflictions selected from the group consisting of cancer, epilepsy, brain seizures, ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia in human and non-human patients, the method comprising:

(a) identifying target cells responsible for a medical affliction to be treated;
(b) predetermining an electric charge to store into a nanocapacitor of an energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder;
(c) storing said electric charge into said nanocapacitor of said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder;
(d) placing a plurality of said energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders proximately to said target cells;
(e) automatically releasing said electric charge from said nanocapacitor into an environment of said plurality of energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders in response to an environmental stimulus comprising changes in a chemical concentration in the environment, or changes in an electrical property of the environment of said plurality of energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders detected by a nanosensor of the energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponder, the nanosensor positioned in the environment;
and
(f) assessing treatment efficacy with said plurality of energy-releasing carbon nanotube transponders.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/050,097Filed 22 Feb 2016 · division
Priority: 15 Sep 2009
Published: US 2016/0166838 A116 Jun 2016
Granted: 31 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A61N 1/37205
Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators: microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
A61N 1/00
Electrotherapy
A61N 1/205
Continuous direct currents: for promoting a biological process
A61N 1/36064
Adapted for a particular treatment: epilepsy

Family

Application61/242,691Us provisional application · filed 15 Sep 2009
PCT/US2010/048956Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Sep 2010
Application13/421,297Parent of this division · filed 15 Mar 2012
Application14/317,935Parent of this division · filed 27 Jun 2014
US 2016/0166838 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Jun 2016
US 9,302,114 B2Parent of this division
US 8,788,033 B2Parent of this division
Application13/421,297Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2012/0209344 A1Published application
US 2014/0309715 A1Published application
US 9,802,050 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.