Apparatus for detecting tumor cells

Abstract

Among others, the present invention provides apparatus for detecting circulating tumor cells, comprising a system delivery biological subject and a probing and detecting device, wherein the probing and detecting device includes a first micro-device and a first substrate supporting the first micro-device, the first micro-device contacts a biologic material to be detected and is capable of measuring at the microscopic level an electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, thermal, optical, acoustical, biological, chemical, electro-mechanical, electro-chemical, electro-optical, electro-thermal, electro-chemical-mechanical, bio-chemical, bio-mechanical, bio-optical, bio-thermal, bio-physical, bio-electro-mechanical, bio-electro chemical, bio-electro-optical, bio-electro-thermal, bio-mechanical-optical, bio-mechanical thermal, bio-thermal-optical, bio-electro-chemical-optical, bio-electro-mechanical-optical, bio electro-thermal-optical, bio-electro-chemical-mechanical, physical or mechanical property, or a combination thereof, of the biologic subject.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 61 / 482,900, filed on May 5, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue and can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Tumors, particularly cancerous tumors, are a serious threat to human well-being and their detection in early stage is critical in order to obtain effective treatment or cure. However, it is a huge challenge for conventional tumor detection methods to detect cancer earlier than symptomatically, or detect cancer at earlier stages of tumor metastasis. For example, conventional methods fail to identify about 40% of cancer patients who are in need of more or enhanced therapies. It is also important to detect any early signs of spread in cancer following cancer treatments to assess effectiveness of the treatment, as well as if and what follow-u...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a way to detect tumor cells in a person's body, including those that can spread to other parts of the body. This is done by using micro-devices that can analyze small samples of blood or other body fluids. The apparatus can detect cancer at an early stage with high sensitivity, specificity, speed, and affordability. The invention can be used for a variety of cancers, including prostate, lung, colon, breast, brain, kidney, leukemia, liver, ovarian, skin, testicular, thyroid, pancreatic, endometrial, esophageal, and uterine cancers.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is a huge challenge for conventional tumor detection methods to detect cancer earlier than symptomatically, or detect cancer at earlier stages of tumor metastasis.

For example, conventional methods fail to identify about 40% of cancer patients who are in need of more or enhanced therapies.

Conventional cancer detection techniques such as x-ray imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging fail to provide reliable information to the above critical applications.

Early detection and early systemic therapies will result in a declining death rate from cancer.

Metastasis, initiated by tumor cells transported through the circulation from the primary tumor to vital distant organs, is known to be the leading cause of cancer related deaths.

Present technique to separate and identify CTCs, on one hand, is quite labor intensive and expensive, and on the other hand lack accuracy and reliability.

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