Surgery – Miscellaneous – Methods
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2002-02-19
McDermott, Corrine (Department: 3738)
Surgery
Miscellaneous
Methods
Reexamination Certificate
active
06347633
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to hyperthermic treatment of hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Injected drug users are the largest group of people with hepatitis C infection. People who received a blood transfusion or kidney transplant before a diagnostic test became available form another large group of those infected.
Since human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is also common among injected drug users and is transmitted sexually, about forty percent of HIV infected patients are co-infected with HCV. Various types of HIV such as HIV-1 and HIV-2 exist. Hepatitis C virus occurs in six known genotypes and more than fifty subtypes. The hepatitis C virus is harbored in the liver and most people infected with HCV eventually will develop cirrhosis or liver carcinoma. HCV can cause an acute or chronic infection. In chronic infection, the infected person can exhibit signs of chronic hepatitis or be a chronic asymptomatic carrier.
Current treatments for hepatitis C include interferons and other pharmaceuticals. However, because these treatments are not effective for all patients, improved methods for treating hepatitis C are being sought.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method for treating a patient infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) comprising raising the core temperature of the patient and then returning the core temperature of the patient to normal at least one time. The core temperature is raised to a temperature range, a duration, and a number of times sufficient to reduce or eliminate the patient's viral load of HCV. In another embodiment of the invention, the patient is co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The invention also provides a method for treating a patient infected with HCV comprising raising the temperature of the patient's liver and then returning the temperature of the patient's liver to normal at least one time. The temperature of the patient's liver is raised to a temperature range, a duration, and a number of times sufficient to reduce or eliminate the patient's viral load of HCV.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4298006 (1981-11-01), Parks
patent: 5391142 (1995-02-01), Sites et al.
patent: 5486208 (1996-01-01), Ginsburg
patent: 5674190 (1997-10-01), Kelly
patent: 5730720 (1998-03-01), Sites et al.
patent: 6172046 (2001-01-01), Albrecht
patent: 195 31 935 (1997-02-01), None
PR Newswire “C. Everett Koop Joins First Circle Medical Board Former U.S. Surgeon General Supports Company's Effort to Develop a New Treatment for Patients with AIDS and Other Diseases” p. 1, 1998.*
Internal Medicine Specialists “From Mercury to Malaria to Penicillin: The History of the Treatment of Syphilis at the Mayo Clinic, 1916-1955” reprint of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1995; 32:255-61.*
Alonso et al., “Whole-Body Hyperthermia and the Augmentation of Cellular Cytotoxic Reponses in the Treatment of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,”Southern Medical Journal, 88(10):S142 (1995).
Alonso et al., “Systemic Hyperthermia in the Treatment of HIV-related Disseminated Kaposi's Sarcoma,”Am. J. Clin. Oncol.(CCT), 17(4):353-359 (1994).
Alonso et al., “Systemic Hyperthermia in the Treatment of HIV-related Disseminated Malignancy. Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients Treated with High Flow or Low Flow Extracorporeal Perfusion Hyperthermia,” approximate date 1992 (18 pages).
Alonso et al., “Systemic Hyperthermia in the Treatment of HIV-relatd Kaposi's Sarcoma. A Phase I Study,”Biomed&Pharmacother, 46(1):21-24 (1992).
“Backgrounder—Summary of Findings, Site Visit Report-Clinical Use of Hyperthermia in AIDS”, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Sep. 4, 1990 (5 pages).
“Extracorporeal Whole Body Hyperthermia,” First Circle Medical , Inc., Doc. No. 1600002, 1999 (71 pages).
Feb. 25, 1994 Letter from the Department of Health and Human Services forwarding the “Full Report of the Site Visit Report—Clinical Use of Hyperthermia in AIDS” (24 pages, including cover letter).
Logan et al., “Case Report, Total Body Hyperthermia in the Treatment of Kaposi's Sarcoma in an HIV Positive Patient,”Med. Oncol.&Tumor Pharmacother, 8(1):45-47 (1991).
More, “Hyperthermia Finds Little Effect,”GMHC Treatment Issues, vol. 9, No. 11, Nov. 1995 (2 pages).
Pontiggia et al., “Whole Body Hyperthermia Associated with Betacarotene Supplementation in Patients with AIDS,”Biomed&Pharmacother, 5:263-265 (1995).
Pontiggia et al., “Whole-Body Hyperthermia Followed by Beta Carotene Supplementation in Patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS),”Southern Medical Journal, 88(10):S142 (1995).
Shecterle et al., “More on Hepatitis C”,The Scientist, May 24, 1999.
Blick Gary
Groth Karl Emil
Kelly Theodore Charles
Westerbeck Todd L.
Barrett Thomas C.
First Circle Medical, Inc.
McDermott Corrine
Popovich & Wiles, P.A.
LandOfFree
Treatment of hepatitis C using hyperthermia does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Treatment of hepatitis C using hyperthermia, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Treatment of hepatitis C using hyperthermia will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2947129