Non-invasive and minimally invasive and tightly targeted minimally invasive therapy methods and devices for parathyroid treatment

Abstract

Systems and method for treating organic tissue of a patient's body in precisely controlled regions of the body such as the parathyroid glands. The systems and methods include introducing an energy or substance into contact with target tissue to control functionality of the target tissue and preventing the energy or substance from contacting surrounding non-target tissues sufficiently that functionality of critical non-target tissues is substantially not affected.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 538,708 filed on Sep. 23, 2011, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.COPYRIGHT NOTICE[0002]A portion of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner does not object to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates generally to medical devices, methods and systems, and in particular for the treatment of parathyroid glands and parathyroid-based diseases, such as hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism and hypercalcemiaBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]In the human body there are four small parathyroid glands. Each gland typically weighs about thirty 30 to forty 40 mg and is located near the thyroid. The ce...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent proposes a method for treating hyperparathyroidism and parathyroid gland dysfunction using a technique called MIT. The goal is to ablate abnormal parathyroid tissue or modulate its function in a controlled manner that preserves the local tissue and organs nearby. The treatment is designed to be highly precise, allowing for the targeted ablation of abnormal tissue while preserving the normal tissue. The method is less forgiving than traditional treatments for thyroid gland dysfunction and offers a better margin of error. The patent also discusses the unique blood supply of the parathyroid gland and the potential to target and manipulate it without damaging other glands or tissues. The patent also mentions that the parathyroid glands are relatively unique compared to other peptide or hormone-secreting organs and offers an opportunity to control function.

Problems solved by technology

Primary hyperparathyroidism exists when a disorder of parathyroid tissue itself, or a “primary defect,” results in the release of excessive amounts of Parathyroid hormone.

Untreated hyperparathyroidism can result in loss of bone mass due to hypercalcemia resulting from excessive levels of circulating Parathyroid.

A high level of Parathyroid causes unbalanced osteoclastic bone reabsorption that can lead to multiple foci of bone destruction, osteitis fibrosa cystica, or von Recklinghausen's disease of bone.

Despite this, many parathyroidectomies fail due to failure to localize the parathyroid on diagnositic examinations or because of surgical failure to identify and remove the dysfunctional parathyroid gland.

Other complications and attendant risks of surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism include excessive removal of parathyroid glands tissue, hematoma, vocal cord paralysis, hypocalcemia, and persistent hypercalcemia.

Moreover, conventional surgical techniques typically do not allow for the accurate partial removal of abnormal parathyroid glands, thus, even when single glandular disease is involved, a multiple glandular prathryoidectomy is performed.

However, Parathyroid hormone replacement therapy is costly and most clinicians lack clinical experience with this treatment.

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