US Patent 7537012 - Blood flow control with magnetic nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7537012.html

This patent from Vasmo, Inc. teaches a way to block the flow of blood during a surgical procedure by magnetically controlling nanoparticles administered into blood vessels. Claim 1 reads:

1. A medical, surgical, or operating kit for occluding or controlling blood flow comprised of:

(a) magnetic microparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, or magnetic colloids which can be administered in the form of a dispersion or suspension into a blood vessel that flows through the vessel in the bloodstream, and

(b) an external magnetic field source which is adapted to be placed or held at the desired site near or above the path of the bloodstream to form a plug or blockade within said blood vessel that occludes or controls blood flow through the vessel.