Systems and methods for liquid biopsy and drug delivery

Abstract

Systems for liquid biopsy and/or drug delivery may include a capsule endoscope and a tether coupled to the capsule endoscope. The tether may include a flexible member with a lumen in fluidic communication with a port configured to permit passage of fluid, and the port may be, for example, on the capsule endoscope or the tether. In methods for liquid biopsy and/or drug delivery, the capsule endoscope may be advanced into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient, and navigated to a region of interest, where a patient sample may be withdrawn and/or a therapeutic substance may be administered through the lumen (e.g., through the port).

1 . A method comprising:
 advancing a capsule endoscope into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient, wherein the capsule endoscope is coupled to a tether, the tether comprising a clamp configured to engage the capsule endoscope and a flexible member comprising a lumen, wherein the clamp comprises a port in fluidic communication with the lumen and with an environment outside and around the clamp while the clamp is engaged with the capsule endoscope, and wherein the lumen terminates at the port of the clamp and is coaxial therewith;   positioning the capsule endoscope at a region of interest; and   withdrawing a patient sample from the region of interest via the port and the lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating the capsule endoscope from the clamp, wherein the patient sample is withdrawn from the region of interest via the port and the lumen after separating the capsule endoscope from the clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein separating the capsule endoscope from the clamp comprises applying positive pressure to the lumen in order to release the capsule endoscope from the clamp. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein withdrawing the patient sample from the region of interest comprises applying negative pressure to the lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising acquiring images of the gastrointestinal tract of the patient via an imaging system of the capsule endoscope. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the capsule endoscope is advanced and positioned based on the acquired images. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule endoscope is advanced and positioned by magnetically controlling movement of the capsule endoscope using an external magnetic control system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the movement of the capsule endo scope comprises one or more of translation and rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising submerging the port within a bodily fluid at the region of interest, the bodily fluid comprising the patient sample. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bodily fluid comprises gastric juices. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a center of gravity of the capsule endoscope is biased toward the port to aid the submerging the port within the bodily fluid. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising
 acquiring images from an imaging system of a capsule endoscope;   advancing the capsule endoscope into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient based on the acquired images, wherein the capsule endoscope is coupled to a tether, the tether comprising a clamp configured to engage the capsule endoscope and a flexible member comprising a lumen, wherein the clamp comprises a port in fluidic communication with the lumen and with an environment outside and around the clamp while the clamp is engaged with the capsule endoscope, and wherein the lumen terminates at the port of the clamp and is coaxial therewith;   positioning the capsule endoscope at a region of interest based on the acquired images; and   withdrawing a patient sample from the region of interest via the port and the lumen.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the imaging system comprises a lens on a proximal portion of the capsule endoscope and/or a lens on a distal portion of the capsule endoscope. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the port is in a field of view of the lens on the proximal portion of the capsule endoscope. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the port is in a field of view of the lens on the distal portion of the capsule endoscope. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising
 determining, based on the acquired images, whether sufficient bodily fluid for withdrawal is present at the region of interest.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising
 applying negative pressure to the lumen to withdraw the patient sample from the region of interest when it is determined that sufficient bodily fluid is present at the region of interest.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising
 determining, based on the acquired images, whether lesions or other diseased conditions are present at the region of interest.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the capsule endoscope is advanced and positioned by magnetically controlling movement of the capsule endoscope using an external magnetic control system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the movement of the capsule endoscope comprises one or more of translation and rotation.