US5861175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Use of fluorocarbons for diagnosis and treatment of articular disorders
Assignee: Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp
•
Filing: 1996-03-15
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Granted: 1999-01-19
•
Expires: 2016-03-15
Abstract
Abstract Methods for the diagnosis and treatment of articular disorders comprising the use of fluorocarbons are disclosed. The methods provide for the introduction of a fluorocarbon into an articular region to replace or augment natural synovial fluid. The introduced fluorocarbons, which may be in various forms including liquids, gels or emulsions, provide articular lubrication and cushioning which is effective for the treatment of disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, the methods of the present invention may be used to provide high resolution articular images, reduce articular inflammation and introduce bioactive agents to the articular region.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Walters
- 👤 Ronald M. Hopkins
- 👤 David H. Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/0012; A61K9/0019; A61K9/0026; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/902; Y10S977/904; Y10S977/927; Y10S977/929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
A method for cushioning or lubricating a joint in a patient in need thereof comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective cushioning or lubricating amount of a fluorocarbon to at least one articular region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
35 words
A method for cushioning or lubricating a joint in a patient in need thereof comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective cushioning or lubricating amount of a fluorocarbon to at least one articular region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the administered fluorocarbon is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquids, solids, foams, micelles, gels, sols, slurries, dispersions, suspensions, emulsions, microemulsions, reverse emulsions and combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a suspension and said fluorocarbon suspension comprises a liquid fluorocarbon continuous phase having suspended therein a plurality of particulates selected from the group consisting of solid fluorocarbon particulates and polymeric drug delivery vehicles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said patient is suffering from an articular disorder selected from the group consisting of osteoarthritis rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, chondromalacia patellae, infectious arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, fibrositis, fibromyositis and polymyositis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said articular region comprises a joint selected from the group consisting of knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, tarsal, carpal, interphalangeal and intervertebral.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said articular region comprises a synovial cavity and said flurocarbon is introduced into said synovial cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated alkanes, fluorinated cyclic compounds, halogenated fluorocarbons, fluorinated alkenes, fluorinated ethers, fluorinated polyethers, fluorinated amines, fluorinated hydrides and derivatives thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluorocarbon further comprises a bioactive agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, antineoplastics, anesthetics, enzymes, active principals, nucleic acids, genetic material, viral vectors, immunoactive agents, imaging agents, immunosuppressive agents, peptides, proteins, physiological gases and combinations thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said bioactive agent is associated with a polymeric drug delivery vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said bioactive agent comprises a radioactive compound.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a liquid fluorocarbon and said liquid fluorocarbon is administered by intra-articular injection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said articular region comprises a prosthetic joint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of imaging at least a portion of the articular region following administration of said fluorocarbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said imaging step comprises a imaging technique selected from the group consisting of magnetic resonance imaging, conventional radiography, computed tomography and ultrasound.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the fluorocarbon is administered into at least one synovial cavity.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
33 words
A method for reducing articular inflammation in a joint comprising the step of introducing a therapeutically effective inflammation reducing amount of a fluorocarbon into at least one synovial cavity associated with said joint.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
33 words
A method for reducing articular inflammation in a joint comprising the step of introducing a therapeutically effective inflammation reducing amount of a fluorocarbon into at least one synovial cavity associated with said joint.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fluorocarbon is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquids, solids, foams, micelles, gels, sols, slurries, dispersions, suspensions, emulsions, microemulsions, reverse emulsions and combinations thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the articular inflammation is the result of an articular disorder selected from the group consisting of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, chondromalacia patellae, infectious arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, fibrositis fibromyositis and polymyositis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said joint is selected from the group consisting of knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, tarsal, carpal, interphalangeal and intervertebral.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated alkanes, fluorinated cyclic compounds, halogenated fluorocarbons, fluorinated alkenes, fluorinated ethers, fluorinated polyethers, fluorinated amines, fluorinated hydrides and derivatives thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fluorocarbon further comprises a bioactive agent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, anti-neoplastics, anesthetics, enzymes, active principals, nucleic acids, genetic material, viral vectors, immunoactive agents, imaging agents, immunosuppressive agents, peptides, proteins, physiological gases and combinations thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a liquid fluorocarbon and said liquid fluorocarbon is administered by intra-articular injection.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of imaging at least a portion of said joint following administration of said fluorocarbon.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for replacing or augmenting synovial fluid in a joint in a patient in need thereof comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective lubricating amount of a fluorocarbon to at least one synovial cavity wherein said fluorocarbon cushions or lubricates said joint.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for replacing or augmenting synovial fluid in a joint in a patient in need thereof comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective lubricating amount of a fluorocarbon to at least one synovial cavity wherein said fluorocarbon cushions or lubricates said joint.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the administered flurocarbon is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquids, solids, foams, micelles, gels, sols, slurries, dispersions, suspensions, emulsions, microemulsions, reverse emulsions and combinations thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a suspension and said fluorocarbon suspension comprises a liquid fluorocarbon continuous phase having suspended therein a plurality of particulates selected from the group consisting of solid fluorocarbon particulates and polymeric drug delivery vehicles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said patient is affected by an articular disorder selected from the group consisting of osteorthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, chondromalacia patellae, infectious, arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, fibrositis, fibromyositis and polymyositis.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said synovial cavity is associated with a joint selected from the group consisting of knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, tarsal, carpal, interphalangeal and intervertebral.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said fluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated alkanes, fluorinated cyclic compounds, halogenated fluorocarbons, fluorinated alkenes, fluorinated ethers, fluorinated polyethers, fluorinated amines, fluorinated hydrides and derivatives thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said fluorocarbon further comprises a bioactive agent.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, antineoplastics, anesthetics, enzymes, active principals, nucleic acids, genetic material, viral vectors, immunoactive agents, imaging agents, immunosuppressive agents, peptides, proteins, physiological gases and combinations thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said bioactive agent is associated with a polymeric drug delivery vehicle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said bioactive agent comprises a radioactive compound.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
47 words
A method for reducing the rate of tissue degeneration in an articular region comprising: introducing an effective lubricating amount of a composition comprising at least one fluorocarbon into at least one synovial cavity in said articular region whereby the rate of degeneration of said tissue is retarded.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
47 words
A method for reducing the rate of tissue degeneration in an articular region comprising: introducing an effective lubricating amount of a composition comprising at least one fluorocarbon into at least one synovial cavity in said articular region whereby the rate of degeneration of said tissue is retarded.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the administered fluorocarbon is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquids, solids, foams, micelles, gels, sols, slurries, dispersions, suspensions, emulsions, microemulsions, reverse emulsions and combinations thereof.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a suspension and said fluorocarbon suspension comprises a liquid fluorocarbon continuous phase having suspended therein a plurality of particulates selected from the group consisting of solid fluorocarbon particulates and polymeric drug delivery vehicles.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said tissue degeneration is associated with an articular disorder selected from the group consisting of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, chondromalacia patellae, infectious arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, fibrositis, fibromyositis and polymyositis.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said articular region comprises a joint selected from the group consisting of knee, hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, tarsal, carpal, interphalangeal and intervertebral.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said fluorocarbon is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated alkanes, fluorinated cyclic compounds, halogenated fluorocarbons, fluorinated alkenes, fluorinated ethers, fluorinated polyethers, fluorinated amines, fluorinated hydrides and derivatives thereof.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said fluorocarbon further comprises a bioactive agent.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for imaging an articular region comprising the steps of: administering an effective contrast enhancing amount of a neat fluorocarbon liquid to at least one synovial cavity; and imaging at least a portion of said synovial cavity.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for imaging an articular region comprising the steps of: administering an effective contrast enhancing amount of a neat fluorocarbon liquid to at least one synovial cavity; and imaging at least a portion of said synovial cavity.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said bioactive agent is associated with a polymeric drug delivery vehicle.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said bioactive agent comprises a radioactive compound.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a liquid fluorocarbon and said liquid fluorocarbon is administered by intra-articular injection.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of imaging at least a portion of the articular region following administration of said fluorocarbon.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 47 wherein said imaging step comprises a imaging technique selected from the group consisting of magnetic resonance imaging, conventional radiography, computed tomography and ultrasound.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |