Method of therapeutic treatment using a biocompatible ceramic composition

Abstract

The present invention pertains to injectable heat generating biocompatible ceramic compositions based on hydraulic calcium aluminate, which can be used for therapeutic treatment in vivo, such as tumour treatment, pain control, vascular treatment, drug activation etc, when curing in situ, and which form a biocompatible solid material that can be left in the body for prolonged periods of time without causing negative health effects. The present invention can also be used to restore the mechanical properties of the skeleton after cancerous diseases.

1 . A method of using a biocompatible ceramic composition for therapeutic treatment by the heat generated from said compositions when curing.  
   
   
       2 . A Method of generating heat in vivo in a patient's body for therapeutical purposes, comprising: 
 preparing a calcium aluminate mixture having (i) less than 50 vol. %, but greater than 0%, of CA 2 , (ii) more than 50 vol. % of CA and C 12 A 7 , and (iii) less than 10 vol. %, but greater than 0%, of C 3 A;    adding said calcium aluminate mixture to a biocompatible ceramic composition, said calcium aluminate mixture being at least 50 vol. % of all hydraulic ingredients of said biocompatible ceramic composition;    introducing said biocompatible ceramic composition into a patient's body at a specific location for therapeutic treatment; and    curing the composition in situ in said patient's body so as that said composition generates heat.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding at least one of calcium silicate and calcium sulfate to said biocompatible composition in an amount less than 50 vol. % of said hydraulic ingredients.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding non-hydraulic filler in an amount of less than 30 vol. % of said biocompatible ceramic composition.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding particles or powder of one or more biocompatible materials in an amount less than 30 vol. % of said biocompatible ceramic composition.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising reducing particles or powder of one or more biocompatible materials to a size of less than 20 microns; and 
 adding said particles or said powder in an amount less than 30 vol. % of said biocompatible ceramic composition.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising removing any residual water or organic contamination from said calcium aluminate mixture.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding at least one viscosity or workability controlling additive to said biocompatible ceramic composition selected from the group consisting of water reducing agents, expansion controlling additives, curing accelerators and retarder additives.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , treating said biocompatible ceramic composition with a curing agent.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said curing agent is a water-based solution or water vapor.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising mixing said biocompatible ceramic composition with a curing agent to form a slurry, prior to said introduction into a patient's body.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said curing agent is a water-based solution or water vapor.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said biocompatible ceramic composition generates temperatures of 30-150° C. when cured in said patient's body.  
   
   
       14 . A method of therapeutic treatment comprising the steps of: 
 introducing a biocompatible ceramic composition into a patient's body; and    curing said composition so as to generate heat.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said biocompatible ceramic composition comprises a calcium aluminate mixture of 
 (i) less than 50 vol. %, but greater than 0%, of CA 2      (ii) more than 50 vol. % of CA and C 12 A 7 , and    (iii) less than 10 vol. %, but greater than 0%, of C 3 A, and    said calcium aluminate mixture forms at least 50% of hydraulic ingredients.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said biocompatible ceramic composition generates temperatures of 30-150° C. when cured in said patient's body.