Surgery – Miscellaneous – Methods
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-01
2001-03-13
Nguyen, Dinh X. (Department: 3738)
Surgery
Miscellaneous
Methods
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199555
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for the treatment of cancer. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for the destruction of tumors. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a minimally invasive method for the destruction of tumors.
Cancer continues to be a scourge of mankind. There is a plethora of techniques for treating cancer. Most of these techniques have dire side effects, generally involving substantial amounts of pain to the patient.
Once cancer has reached the tumor stage, where lumps of cancerous tissues are detectable either directly through touch and vision or indirectly with the aid of MRI and CAT scanners, the principal treatment is surgical. The victim is operated on and the tumor cut out of the body. Frequently, the location and size of the tumor are such that surgical removal results in a severe impairment to the patient's body and lifestyle. For example, surgical removal of a large tumor in a femur frequently results in an amputation.
The operations for surgically removing tumors are nearly universally open incision type operations. These operations are naturally debilitating and require extensive post surgical care. For these reasons, the costs of conventional open incision surgery are enormous.
Although minimally invasive procedures such as laparoscopic or thoracoscopic surgery have increased at geometric rates in frequency of performance, minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of cancer has not been employed. Of course, other kinds of minimally invasive techniques such as chemotherapy and radiation treatment are widely practiced. However, these techniques have substantial debilitating side effects. Patients must suffer significantly in virtually every case.
Nevertheless, minimally invasive techniques are the future of medicine. Patient trauma and hospitalization time are reduced. In addition, costs and expenses are decreased.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for treating cancer.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for destroying tumors.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a method for destroying tumors which is less invasive than conventional open-incision surgical techniques.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method which is less expensive than conventional techniques.
A further object of the present Invention is to provide a cancer treatment technique which is minimally detrimental to the patient.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings and descriptions herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention arises from the applicant's familiarity with patients who, after surgery, are incapable of eating. Such patients require enormous amounts of energy, more than healthy individuals, in order to assist the healing process. These patients are conventionally supplied with the necessary energy and nutrients in the form of a highly concentrated sugar solution, known as total parenteral nutrition, delivered via a catheter inserted into the vena cava. It is well known that such a solution is not fed to small veins because it is sclerotic. Small veins are destroyed by highly concentrated sugar solutions.
The present invention is based on this known sclerotic effect of highly concentrated sugar solutions and on the documented fact that tumors grow their own blood supplies in order to support their abnormally pronounced cellular activity. The present invention contemplates the purposeful delivery of a highly concentrated sugar solution to the blood supply system of a tumor, either directly through the patient's vascular system or indirectly through the body of the tumor. Because of the known sclerotic effect of concentrated sugar solutions, the blood supply system and more specifically the venous side of the tumor blood supply system collapses and ceases its function. With its blood supply suddenly and irreversibly blocked, the tumor is soon destroyed. If necessary, the destroyed tumor can be removed by conventional surgical techniques after the cells have died in the patient.
A method for treating cancer comprises, in accordance with the present invention, the steps of inserting a tube into a patient, so that a distal end of the tube is disposed proximately to a tumor, and feeding a sclerosing agent through the tube into the patient and into the tumor. The word “distal” is used herein relative to a radiologist or other medical personnel. Thus the distal end of a catheter is disposed inside a patient, away from the radiologist.
The sclerosing agent is preferably a concentrated sugar solution, for example, a 25-50% dextrose solution. However, other known sclerotic agents can be used. For example, 5% quinine and urea hydrochloride solution. Preferably, the sclerotic agent is a natural substance which is generally nontoxic and biocompatible. A sugar such as dextrose is such a substance. However, the sclerosing procedure of the present invention may be combined with other kinds of treatment which include the introduction of toxic substances into the body. For example, an alcohol such as methyl alcohol or arsenic may be delivered to the body of the tumor for selective absorption into cancer cells.
In many cases, the tube which is used to deliver the sclerosing agent to the tumor can take the form of a catheter which is introduced into the patient through the patient's vascular system. The catheter is inserted along blood vessels until the distal end of the catheter is proximate to the tumor. Preferably, the catheter is inserted from the upstream side (through arteries) so that the distal end of the catheter is disposed near the tumor, in an artery supplying the tumor.
Pursuant to another feature of the present invention, the sugar is introduced into the catheter in a form which inhibits adherence of the sugar to an inner surface of the catheter. This procedure thus contemplates that the sugar is provided in the form of time release capsules or pellets which disintegrate upon entering the blood. Many controlled release delivery systems are known which would be suitable for purposes of the present invention.
Alternatively or additionally, the tube through which the sclerosing agent is introduced is provided with heating elements which heat the solution containing the sclerosing agent. Where the sclerosing agent is a concentrated sugar solution, the heating of the introducer tube reduces the precipitation of sugar along the lumen of the tube. Where the sclerosing agent is delivered in the form of time-release capsules or pellets, the heating of the introducer tube, particularly at a distal end thereof, accelerates the release of the sclerosing agent into solution and, more specifically, into the blood stream.
The heating of the introducer tube has an additional effect. It is known that heating (or cooling) of a tumor detrimentally affects the cellular activity of the tumor and may in itself destroy the tumor. In the prior art, this heating (or cooling) is generally accomplished by heating (or cooling) the entire patient. The tumor cells are more susceptible to the heating (or cooling) than are normal cells. In accordance with the present invention, the heating of a tumor is accomplished by feeding a heated solution directly to the tumor via a tube inserted either through the patient's vascular system or through overlying tissues. Where the solution contains a sclerotic agent, the necrotic effect on the tumor is enhanced.
The timed or delayed release of sugar or other sclerotic agent into solution may be accomplished by conventional means, for example, by coating of the sugar with a layer of a substance with dissolves in water at a controlled rate. As an alternative to time release coatings, the sugar may be fed to the introducer tube in the form of solid sugar pellets which are hardened throughout. The sugar dissolves in the blood supply of the tumor to produce a high sugar concentration, which results in a s
Sudol R. Neil
Wilk Peter J.
Coleman Henry D.
Nguyen Dinh X.
Sudol R. Neil
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