Device and method for comminution of circulating tumor cell clusters

Abstract

Device and method for comminution or inactivation of circulating tumor cells (CTC) or tumor cell clusters (CTCC) from a tumor-affected organ or organ part, wherein it is proposed that in the venous drain of the tumor-affected organ or organ part a pump (2) with a pressure-increasing section and a pressure-reducing throttle (13) is arranged and is operated at the output side in its design point given by volumetric flow (Q) and pumping pressure (p) according to the volumetric flow and the blood pressure of the venous drain of the tumor-affected organ or organ part. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) and tumor cell clusters (CTCC) are thus comminuted and inactivated to thus reduce the risk of metastasis formation in cancerous diseases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for comminution or inactivation of circulating tumor cells (CTC) or tumor cell clusters (CTCC) from a tumor-affected organ or organ part, comprising: a pump arranged inside an outer jacket tube, which has a pressure-increasing section and a pressure-reducing throttle arranged at the pump outlet, and corresponds on the output side in its design point given by volumetric flow and pumping pressure to the volumetric flow and the blood pressure of the venous drain of the tumor-affected organ or organ part, wherein the pump comprises a micro-axial pump with a sequence of pressure-increasing blades arranged along a screw shaft of the micro-axial pump, and the throttle comprises a flow resistance projecting radially from the screw shaft of the micro-axial pump, which flow resistance has a cylindrical section which forms a circular-cylindrical annular gap with the outer jacket tube enclosing the throttle. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the volumetric flow of the pump in the design point is 0.1-1.5 liters/minute. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pumping pressure of the pump is 4-20 hPa in the design point. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein before the pump and after the throttle a respective pressure sensor is provided, and a control unit, which controls the pressure difference of the pressure values measured by the two pressure sensors to a predetermined setpoint value by varying the speed of the screw shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the setpoint value predetermined for the pressure difference is 0. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a coaxial, inner jacket tube which is fixed to the blades of the micro-axial pump is provided within the outer jacket tube. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the pumping pressure of the pump is 4-20 hPa in the design point. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein before the pump and after the throttle a respective pressure sensor is provided, and a control unit, which controls the pressure difference of the pressure values measured by the two pressure sensors to a predetermined setpoint value by varying the speed of the screw shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein before the pump and after the throttle a respective pressure sensor is provided, and a control unit, which controls the pressure difference of the pressure values measured by the two pressure sensors to a predetermined setpoint value by varying the speed of the screw shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein a coaxial, inner jacket tube which is fixed to the blades of the micro-axial pump is provided within the outer jacket tube. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein a coaxial, inner jacket tube which is fixed to the blades of the micro-axial pump is provided within the outer jacket tube. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein a coaxial, inner jacket tube which is fixed to the blades of the micro-axial pump is provided within the outer jacket tube. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein a coaxial, inner jacket tube which is fixed to the blades of the micro-axial pump is provided within the outer jacket tube.