Train-like pharmaceutical configuration, apparatus for preparation and storage device thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a train-like pharmaceutical composition (configuration, or dosage form) comprising segments linearly arranged in series like cars of a train. When the pharmaceutical composition is administrated into a patient's body, some of the segments are “visible” to an instrument, but others are not. However, “invisible” segments can be estimated, deduced, calculated, or inferred from “visible” segments. The “invisible” segments can be used for neutralizing intratumoral lactic acidosis combined with glucose deprivation to control tumor, among other applications.

1 . A train-like pharmaceutical composition (configuration, or dosage form) comprising a head segment and a body segment linearly arranged in series like two adjacent cars of a train,
 wherein, when the pharmaceutical composition is administrated into a patient's body, the head segment's location can be observed by a human with aid of an instrument; the body segment's location cannot be observed by a human with the aid of said instrument, but it can be deduced from the observed head segment's location.   
     
     
         2 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tail segment that can be observed by a human with the aid of said instrument,
 wherein the body segment is sandwiched between the head segment and the tail segment,   wherein the head segment, the body segment and the tail segment are linearly arranged in series like three consecutive cars of a train, and   wherein the body segment's location can be deduced from the observed head segment's location and tail segment's location.   
     
     
         3 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the head segment and the body segment arrangement is repeated one or more times to form a (body-head) n  configuration, wherein n is an integer and n≥2, and 2n head/body segments arranged in series like 2n consecutive cars of a train. 
     
     
         4 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 3 , further comprising a tail segment that can be observed by a human with the aid of said instrument, to form a tail-(body-head) n  configuration, wherein n is an integer and n≥2, and 2n+1 head/body/tail segments arranged in series like 2n+1 consecutive cars of a train. 
     
     
         5 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , which is confined within a lumen of a tubular structure having an elongation direction (like a train is confined within a tunnel). 
     
     
         6 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the lumen has an internal diameter at a position of the lumen, and any segment (head, body, or optional tail) that is confined at said position has a diameter same as said internal diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the tubular structure is a blood vessel of a human or an animal, a catheter, or a combination thereof, wherein said combination is defined as the catheter is inserted into the blood vessel and their lumens are connected, joined, or combined. 
     
     
         8 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is an X-ray-based imaging apparatus, an ultrasound apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the X-ray-based imaging apparatus is used in computed tomography (CT), radiography, fluoroscopy, or any combination thereof, and the blood vessel is an arteriole, or the blood vessel is between an arteriole and its downstream capillaries supplying blood to target cells such as tumor cells. 
     
     
         10 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the body segment is a liquid; the head segment is gas such as carbon dioxide; rand an optional tail segment is a gas such as carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         11 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the liquid is an alcohol such as ethanol. 
     
     
         12 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 11 , wherein a therapeutic agent is dissolved, suspended, or dispersed in the alcohol such as ethanol. 
     
     
         13 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a basic substance. 
     
     
         14 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the basic substance comprises sodium ethoxide, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate, potassium hydroxide, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, aliphatic amine, aromatic amine, or any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the alcohol such as ethanol contains less than 0.1% by weigh of water, and has a volume of 0.0001˜1 milliliter. 
     
     
         16 . A medical apparatus for assembling and delivering the train-like pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1  into a blood vessel lumen, comprising
 a head segment material source, 
 a head material tube (such as a channel within a catheter) for delivering the head segment material from said head segment material source directly into the blood vessel lumen, 
 a body segment material source, and 
 a body material tube (such as a channel within a catheter) for delivering the body segment material from said body segment material source directly into the blood vessel lumen. 
 
     
     
         17 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a master catheter that can be inserted into the blood vessel lumen, wherein the head material tube is connected to the master catheter so that the head segment material from said head segment material source is delivered into the blood vessel lumen through the master catheter; and wherein the body material tube is connected to the master catheter so that the body segment material from said body segment material source is delivered into the blood vessel lumen through the master catheter. 
     
     
         18 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a controller that controls time and amount of the head and body segment materials delivered into said blood vessel lumen so that the head segment and the body segment are linearly arranged in series in the blood vessel lumen like two adjacent cars of a train. 
     
     
         19 . A medical storage device comprising a tube for storing the train-like pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . The medical storage device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a valve located between the head segment and the body segment and separating the head segment and the body segment from each other.