Abstract
A medical device (10), preferably a micro robot for application inside a body, and more preferably for application inside a human body (2). The medical device (10) includes a body part (11) and a tail part (12). A recapture line (13) is attached to the tail part (12). The recapture line (13) has a tensile strength which is sufficient to pull back the device while the column strength of the recapture line (13) not sufficient to push the medical device (10).
Claims
1. A medical device, preferably a micro robot for use in a body vessel, preferably for application inside a human body, said medical device including: a body part and a tail part, wherein a recapture line is attached to the device, preferably the tail part, the recapture line is adapted to pull back the medical device from a target location and a stiffness not sufficient to move the medical device to a target location.
2-16. (canceled)
Description
[0045] Non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described, by way of example only, with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0046] FIG. 1: Schematic view of a medical device.
[0047] FIG. 2: Schematic view of an insertion site of a human body for the medical device.
[0048] FIG. 3: Schematic view of the medical device with a drive and a control member.
[0049] FIG. 4: Schematic view of the medical device with a positioning means.
[0050] FIG. 5: Schematic view of pulling the medical device with a magnetic field.
[0051] FIG. 6: Schematic view of data and energy transmission through a recapture line of the medical device.
[0052] FIG. 7a-d: Schematic view of functional units attached to the medical device.
[0053] FIG. 8: Schematic view of a tumor and antibodies delivered to the tumor by the medical device.
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a medical device 10 comprising a body part 11 and a tail part 12. A recapture line 13 is attached to the body part 12. The recapture line 13 is used to pull the medical device 10.
[0055] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an insertion site 20 of a human body 2 for the medical device 10. The heart 1 is connected to a bloodstream. The blood stream comprises different types of blood vessels 6 such as aorta 3, veins 4 and capillaries 5. The medical device 10 is inserted into the blood vessel 6 at the insertion site 20. Therefore the blood vessel 6 is perforated by a catheter 22 at the insertion site 20. The medical device 10 is inserted into a blood stream B. The blood stream B is carrying the medical device 10 through the blood vessel until the medical device reaches a site of interaction 25 (FIG. 5). At any time the medical device 10 is connected to the recapture line 13 and can be pulled back to the site of insertion 20.
[0056] FIG. 3 shows the medical device 10 with the recapture line 13 in a blood vessel 6. The medical device 10 has a drive 15 and a control member 16, to control the drive. The drive 15 actively moves the medical device 10 in a direction. The control member 16 modifies the action of the drive 15. The control member 16 can invert the rotation direction of the drive 15 or adjust its speed.
[0057] FIG. 4 shows the medical device 10 with the recapture line 13 in a blood vessel 6. The medical device 10 has a positioning means 17. The positioning means 17 emits a signal 19, which is received by a receiver 18. Based on the signal 19, the receiver 18 calculates the position of the medical device 10.
[0058] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the blood vessel 6 with the medical device 10. The medical device 10 is transported by the blood stream B and attached to the recapture line 13. A magnetic field generator 23 is generating a magnetic field 21 at the application site 25. The body part 11 of the medical device 10 has a magnetic part 14, which is attracted by the magnetic field 21. At the application site 25 the medical device 10 stays in place, held by the magnetic field 21 against force of the blood stream B. After performing any kind of action the magnetic field generator 23 is switched off and the magnetic field 21 collapses. The medical device is removed against the force of the blood stream B by pulling at the recapture line 13.
[0059] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the medical device 10. The recapture line 13 comprises an energy transmission cable 30 and a data transmission cable 31. The energy transmission cable 30 transmits energy to sensors 40 and a compartment 41. The sensors send data through the data transmission cable 31. As an alternative the energy transmission cable 30 and the data transmission cable 31 can be integrated into the same cable. This cable is used to transport energy to and data to and from the medical device through the recapture line 13.
[0060] FIG. 7a-d shows a schematic view of the medical device 10 with attachable functional units 51. In FIG. 7a the functional unit 51 is a propeller to move the medical device 10 in a forward or reverse direction along a longitudinal axis through the device. FIG. 7b shows a medical device 10 where the functional unit 51 is a caterpillar. The caterpillar is used to move the medical device 10 onto a tissue site. In FIG. 7c the functional unit 51 of the medical device 10 is a drill. The drill can be used to perforate a tissue and creating an opening to move across physical barriers. In FIG. 7d the functional unit 51 of the medical device 10 is a hook. The hook can be used to hold the medical device 10 in place or to drag an object or material, when the medical device 10 is recaptured.
[0061] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a tumor site 63. The tumor cells 61 have a bigger size and a faster replication cycle than the normal cells 60. The medical device 10 is guided to the tumor site and carries tumor specific antibodies 62 in the compartment 41. At the tumor site 63 the medical device 10 releases the tumor specific antibodies 62. The antibodies bind to the tumor cells and induce an immunotherapeutic process. After releasing the antibodies 62 the medical device 10 is removed from the tumor site 63 by pulling on the recapture line 13.
