Patent ID: 8715150

Claim:
A system for treating a fluid obstruction through external magnetomotive manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles introduced within vasculature of a subject, the system comprising: a least one motor; a magnet having a magnetic field and a directed magnetic gradient that are configured to provide external magnetomotive manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles introduced within vasculature of a subject; and a controller that is configured to cause the at least one motor (a) to control a position, rotation plane and rotation frequency of the magnetic field of the magnet to create a potion, rotation plane and rotation frequency of the magnetic field of the magnet to create a rotating, time-varying magnetic field and (b) to control magnetic components of the magnetic gradient of the magnet, wherein the controller is configured to position and rotate the magnetic field and direct the magnetic gradient in a manner sufficient to cause magnetic nanoparticles introduced within vasculature to agglomerate into a plurality of magnetic nanoparticle rods, wherein the time-varying magnetic field and the directed magnetic gradient are configured to cause the magnetic nanoparticle rods to individually walk in an end over end motion to collectively generate a circulating fluid motion within a blood vessel proximal to a fluid obstruction, and wherein the circulating fluid motion facilitates contact of a therapeutic agent introduced within the blood vessel with the fluid obstruction.