Selective conductive interstitial thermal therapy device

Abstract

An apparatus and method for thermally destroying tumors. A tip has a plurality of deployable thermal conductive elements whose temperatures are individually controllable. This allows the shape of the thermal field to be controlled and for specific areas to be protected from excessive heat by cooling those specific areas while ablating other areas. In another embodiment, the deployable thermal conductive elements are individually deployable to various lengths to further aid in shaping the thermal field. The temperatures and the shape of the thermal field may be monitored and controlled by a data processing device, such as a microprocessor. Further selectivity in defining the area of tissue to be treated may be achieved by introducing into the tissue thermal additives that alter the thermal properties of the tissue.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 028,157, filed Jan. 3, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 336,973 filed Jan. 6, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,203, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 228,482 filed Aug. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,177, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates to methods and devices for treating body tissues such as tumors or lesions with thermal energy, and in particular, to such methods and devices that deploy thermally conductive elements to treat a predetermined shape of tissue. [0005] 2. Brief Description of the Related Art [0006] Within the last ten years, interstitial thermal therapy of tumors ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention also destroys tumors thermally, but the heat is generated directly by heat, such as by electrical resistance heating, conducted to the tissue rather than through the absorption of non-ionized radiation by the tissue. A process of the present invention may involve digital imaging (x-ray, ultrasound) and / or computerized scanning (CAT, CT, PET, or MRI) to mathematically determine the location and shape of the tumor. The information derived from the scan allows a stereotactic frame or other technique such as ultrasound to be used to position a probe within the tumor.

[0024] Further selectivity in defining the area of tissue to be treated may be achieved by introducing into the tissue thermal additives that alter the thermal properties, such as thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, density or thermal conductivity, of the tissue. Such additives are known to those skilled in the art and may include carbon particles (from 1 nm to 5000 μm) and metal particles including gold nano-particles. Various chemicals are known in the art that bind selectively to tumor cells or that otherwise accumulate in tumors and that can alter the thermal properties of the tumor. It is also known that glucose will increase the thermal conductivity of a tumor into which it is introduced.

Problems solved by technology

However, as discussed above, in the LLIT and RFA processes, the temperature cannot be predicted or easily controlled due to the varying light and RF energy absorption properties of different types of tissue.

In addition, RFA will interfere with implants (such as pacemakers) and the patient with such implants cannot be treated with RFA.

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