US5906636A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Heat treatment of inflamed tissue
Assignee: The University of Texas System
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Filing: 1997-09-19
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Granted: 1999-05-25
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Expires: 2017-09-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to methods for treating inflammation in body tissues. More specifically, certain disclosed methods relate to selectively inducing apoptosis in inflammatory immune cells. The methods are particularly suitable for treating inflamed atherosclerotic plaques. The techniques generally involve heating the cells with a catheter that is equipped to produce infrared radiation. The cells are heated for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to induce programmed cell death.
Inventors
- 👤 S. Ward Casscells, III
- 👤 James T. Willerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0601; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22001; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F2007/0088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
A method of treating inflammation in vivo comprising heating an inflamed tissue at a temperature in the range of about 38.5° C. to 44° C.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
25 words
A method of treating inflammation in vivo comprising heating an inflamed tissue at a temperature in the range of about 38.5° C. to 44° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said inflamed tissue comprises an atherosclerotic plaque.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating is accomplished by a heat source positioned within the lumen of a blood vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating is accomplished with a catheter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating comprises heating with infrared radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of treating inflammation of claim 1 wherein said heating is at a temperature in the range of 41° C. to 44° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating induces apoptosis in immune cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising treating said inflamed tissue with a chemical agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said treating further comprises treating said inflamed tissue with gamma-radiation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating step comprises treating said inflamed tissue with radiofrequency radiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said treating further comprises treating said inflamed tissue with ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating step comprises treating said inflamed tissue with microwave radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating step comprises treating said inflamed tissue with a heated liquid.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
21 words
A method for treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed tissue at a temperature in the range of 38.5° C. to 41° C.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
21 words
A method for treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed tissue at a temperature in the range of 38.5° C. to 41° C.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
23 words
A method for treating information comprising heating inflamed tissue for a period of time in the range of approximately 15 to 60 minutes.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
23 words
A method for treating information comprising heating inflamed tissue for a period of time in the range of approximately 15 to 60 minutes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said heating occurs for a period of time in the range of approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
25 words
A method for treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed tissue and treating said inflamed tissue with a chemical agent wherein said chemical agent is a cytokine.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
25 words
A method for treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed tissue and treating said inflamed tissue with a chemical agent wherein said chemical agent is a cytokine.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
26 words
A method for treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed tissue and treating said inflamed tissue with a chemical agent wherein said chemical agent is a growth factor.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
26 words
A method for treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed tissue and treating said inflamed tissue with a chemical agent wherein said chemical agent is a growth factor.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed tissue and treating said inflamed tissue with a chemical agent wherein said chemical agent is a growth factor selected from the group consisting of insulin-like growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed tissue and treating said inflamed tissue with a chemical agent wherein said chemical agent is a growth factor selected from the group consisting of insulin-like growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of treating an atherosclerotic plaque comprising an inflamed atherosclerotic plaque in the lumen of a blood vessel with a heat source having a temperature in the range of from about 38.5° C. to 44° C. for a period of time ranging from about 15 to 60 minutes and inducing apoptosis in a macrophage.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of treating an atherosclerotic plaque comprising an inflamed atherosclerotic plaque in the lumen of a blood vessel with a heat source having a temperature in the range of from about 38.5° C. to 44° C. for a period of time ranging from about 15 to 60 minutes and inducing apoptosis in a macrophage.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
34 words
A method for inducing quiescence or apoptosis in inflammatory cells comprising the step of heating inflammatory cells in a blood vessel at about 38.5° C. to 44° C. for about 15 to 60 minutes.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
34 words
A method for inducing quiescence or apoptosis in inflammatory cells comprising the step of heating inflammatory cells in a blood vessel at about 38.5° C. to 44° C. for about 15 to 60 minutes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of inducing apoptosis in inflammatory cells of claim 21 wherein said heating includes irradiating macrophages with infrared radiation whereby apoptosis is induced in said macrophages.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said heating comprises using a catheter to heat macrophages in a blood vessel.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
25 words
A method for inducing quiescence or apoptosis in inflammatory cells comprising the step of heating inflammatory cells in a blood vessel for fifteen (15) minutes.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
25 words
A method for inducing quiescence or apoptosis in inflammatory cells comprising the step of heating inflammatory cells in a blood vessel for fifteen (15) minutes.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
33 words
A method for inducing quiescence or apoptosis in inflammatory cells comprising the step of heating inflammatory cells in a blood vessel in at a temperature of between approximately 41° C. and 44° C.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
33 words
A method for inducing quiescence or apoptosis in inflammatory cells comprising the step of heating inflammatory cells in a blood vessel in at a temperature of between approximately 41° C. and 44° C.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
26 words
A method of treating an atherosclerotic plaque comprising the step of treating an atherosclerotic plaque with heat in the range of 38.5° C. to 44° C.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
26 words
A method of treating an atherosclerotic plaque comprising the step of treating an atherosclerotic plaque with heat in the range of 38.5° C. to 44° C.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
24 words
A method of treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed body tissue by heating a stent that is in thermal contact with the inflamed body tissue.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
24 words
A method of treating inflammation comprising heating inflamed body tissue by heating a stent that is in thermal contact with the inflamed body tissue.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of treating inflammation of claim 27 wherein the said stent is heated by microwave radiation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of treating inflammation of claim 27 wherein the said stent is heated by radiofrequency radiation.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of reducing the risk of death from myocardial infarction or stroke due to rupture of atherosclerotic plaque comprising treating an inflamed atherosclerotic plaque with heat in the range of 38° C. to 44° C.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of reducing the risk of death from myocardial infarction or stroke due to rupture of atherosclerotic plaque comprising treating an inflamed atherosclerotic plaque with heat in the range of 38° C. to 44° C.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said treating comprises heating an inflamed atherosclerotic plaque in the range of about 38° C. to 41° C. whereby inflammation is reduced and/or apoptosis of cells within said plaque is induced.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said treating comprises heating an inflamed atherosclerotic plaque in the range of 41° C. to 44° C.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said method further comprises treating said plaque with a chemical agent chosen from the group consisting of cytokines and growth factors.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
25 words
A method of decreasing or eliminating inflammation in a localized region of tissue comprising heating said region at about 38-44° C. for about 5-60 minutes.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
25 words
A method of decreasing or eliminating inflammation in a localized region of tissue comprising heating said region at about 38-44° C. for about 5-60 minutes.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said localized region is an inflamed atherosclerotic plaque.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said localized region of tissue is a cluster of inflammatory cells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4799479A
Cited
US5496271A
Cited
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