US5089384A — Method and apparatus for selective cell destructi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

Apparatus for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising: a source of fluorescing and tagging chemical group for tagging the cell, wherein said chemical group fluoresces to produce fluorescent electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength when illuminated by electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength; means for illuminating the tagged cell with illuminating electromagnetic energy at said second wavelength; means for receiving a portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelengthh produced by the tagged cell; means for amplifying said received fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength; and means for directing said amplified fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength back onto the tagged cell with sufficient intensity to alter the cell.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 121 words

Apparatus for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising: a source of fluorescing and tagging chemical group for tagging the cell, wherein said chemical group fluoresces to produce fluorescent electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength when illuminated by electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength; means for illuminating the tagged cell with illuminating electromagnetic energy at said second wavelength; means for receiving a portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelengthh produced by the tagged cell; means for amplifying said received fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength; and means for directing said amplified fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength back onto the tagged cell with sufficient intensity to alter the cell.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chemical group emits light energy and said means for illuminating illuminates light energy.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chemical group comprises an antibody.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chemical group comprises a monoclonal antibody.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a gain medium constructed so as to amplify said received portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 102 words

Apparatus for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising: a source of fluorescing and tagging chemical group for tagging the cell, wherein said chemical group fluoresces to produce fluorescent electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength when illuminated by electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength; means for illuminating the tagged cell with illuminating electromagnetic energy at said second wavelength; and an optical cavity constructed and arranged so as to receive, amplify, and direct a portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength back onto the tagged cell with sufficient intensity to alter the cell.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 102 words

Apparatus for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising: a source of fluorescing and tagging chemical group for tagging the cell, wherein said chemical group fluoresces to produce fluorescent electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength when illuminated by electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength; means for illuminating the tagged cell with illuminating electromagnetic energy at said second wavelength; and an optical cavity constructed and arranged so as to receive, amplify, and direct a portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength back onto the tagged cell with sufficient intensity to alter the cell.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 73 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said optical cavity comprises: a receiving optical element constructed and arranged so as to receive said portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength; optical means for amplifying said received portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength; and a directing optical element constructed and arranged so as to direct said amplified fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength onto the tagged cell.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said optical means comprises a gain medium.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said gain medium is constructed so as to amplify said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength in two consecutive passes through said gain medium, said consecutive passes being in opposite directions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said optical means further comprises a reflecting optical element constructed and arranged so as to reflect said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength toward said gain medium after a first of said two consecutive passes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said reflecting optical element is a phase conjugate mirror.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said receiving optical element is constructed so as to direct said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength onto said gain medium and said directing optical element is constructed so as to receive said amplified fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said receiving optical element and said directing optical element are separate pairs of concentric mirrors.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 124 words

Apparatus for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising: a source of fluorescing and tagging chemical group for tagging the cell, wherein said chemical group fluoresces to produce fluorescent light at a first wavelength when illuminated by light at a second wavelength; means for causing the tagged cell to pass through an illuminatin area; means for illuminating said illumination area with illuminating light at said second wavelenth, thereby causing the tagged cell to fluoresce when it is in said illumination area; a linear resonant optical cavity constructed and arranged so as to amplify a portion of said fluorescent light; and means for directing said amplified fluorescent light onto the cell with sufficient intensity to alter the cell.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 124 words

Apparatus for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising: a source of fluorescing and tagging chemical group for tagging the cell, wherein said chemical group fluoresces to produce fluorescent light at a first wavelength when illuminated by light at a second wavelength; means for causing the tagged cell to pass through an illuminatin area; means for illuminating said illumination area with illuminating light at said second wavelenth, thereby causing the tagged cell to fluoresce when it is in said illumination area; a linear resonant optical cavity constructed and arranged so as to amplify a portion of said fluorescent light; and means for directing said amplified fluorescent light onto the cell with sufficient intensity to alter the cell.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said linear resonant optical cavity comprises a phase conjugate mirror.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said chemical group is a fluorescent monoclonal antibody.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 122 words

Apparatus for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising: a source of fluorescing and tagging chemical group for tagging the cell, wherein said chemical group fluoresces to produce fluorescent light at a first wavelength when illuminated by light at a second wavelength; means for causing the tagged cell to pass through an illumination area; means for illuminating said illumination area with illuminating light at said second wavelength, thereby causing the tagged cell to fluoresce while in said illumination area; a ring resonant optical cavity constructed and arranged so as to amplify a portion of said fluorescent light; and means for directing said amplified fluorescent light onto the cell with sufficient intensity to alter the cell.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 122 words

Apparatus for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising: a source of fluorescing and tagging chemical group for tagging the cell, wherein said chemical group fluoresces to produce fluorescent light at a first wavelength when illuminated by light at a second wavelength; means for causing the tagged cell to pass through an illumination area; means for illuminating said illumination area with illuminating light at said second wavelength, thereby causing the tagged cell to fluoresce while in said illumination area; a ring resonant optical cavity constructed and arranged so as to amplify a portion of said fluorescent light; and means for directing said amplified fluorescent light onto the cell with sufficient intensity to alter the cell.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said ring resonant optical cavity comprises a gain medium.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said ring resonant optical cavity further comprises first and second pairs of concentric mirrors, said concentric mirrors having a common center located approximately at the mid point of the straight line between the illumination area and the gain medium.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of said pairs of concentric mirrors comprises a larger radius mirror and a smaller radius mirror, said larger radius mirror being reflective on its concave surface and said smaller radius mirror being reflective on its convex surface.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said gain medium is made from titanium-doped sapphire.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said gain medium is made from organic laser dye.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said gain medium is made from an optically pumped atomic gas.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 112 words

A method for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising the steps of: (A) tagging said cell with a chemical group that fluoresces to produce fluorescent electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength when illuminated by electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength; (B) illuminating said tagged cell with illuminating electromagnetic energy at said second wavelength; (C) receiving a portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength produced by said tagged cell; (D) amplifying said received fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength; and (E) directing said amplified fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength onto said cell with sufficient intensity to alter said cell.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 112 words

A method for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising the steps of: (A) tagging said cell with a chemical group that fluoresces to produce fluorescent electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength when illuminated by electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength; (B) illuminating said tagged cell with illuminating electromagnetic energy at said second wavelength; (C) receiving a portion of said fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength produced by said tagged cell; (D) amplifying said received fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength; and (E) directing said amplified fluorescent electromagnetic energy at said first wavelength onto said cell with sufficient intensity to alter said cell.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 111 words

A method for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising the steps of: (A) tagging said cell with a chemical group that fluoresces to produce fluorescent light at a first wavelength when illuminated by light at a second wavelength; (B) causing said tagged cell to pass through an illumination area; (C) illuminating said illumination area with light containing said second wavelength, thereby causing said tagged cell to fluoresce while in said illumination area; (D) amplifying a portion of said fluorescent light in a linear resonant optical cavity; and (E) directing said amplified fluorescent light onto said cell with sufficient intensity to alter said cell.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 111 words

A method for altering a cell belonging to a predesignated cell class in a bodily fluid, comprising the steps of: (A) tagging said cell with a chemical group that fluoresces to produce fluorescent light at a first wavelength when illuminated by light at a second wavelength; (B) causing said tagged cell to pass through an illumination area; (C) illuminating said illumination area with light containing said second wavelength, thereby causing said tagged cell to fluoresce while in said illumination area; (D) amplifying a portion of said fluorescent light in a linear resonant optical cavity; and (E) directing said amplified fluorescent light onto said cell with sufficient intensity to alter said cell.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-02-17	1995-08-19	1996-02-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-02-17	1999-08-19	2000-02-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-02-17	2003-08-19	2004-02-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for selective cell destruction using amplified immunofluorescence

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