Method and apparatus for treating uterine myoma

• US 20040153126A1
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takashi Okai
• Original Assignee: Takashi Okai
• Inventors: Okai, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US10/478,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153126A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22028 arrays, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/02 Stomatological preparations, e.g. drugs for caries, aphtae, periodontitis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/02 for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/06 Antiglaucoma agents or miotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/02 Non-specific cardiovascular stimulants, e.g. drugs for syncope, antihypotensives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis

Abstract

To perform a substantially noninvasive treatment by appropriately occluding a feeding artery of uterine myoma, the conditions of the feeding artery of uterine myoma are grasped by using ultrasonic three-dimensional visual display techniques and the irradiation sites of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) are indicated on the display to thereby occlude the feeding artery which feeds nutrition to the uterine myoma.

Claims

1. A method for treating uterine myoma, comprising the steps of laying a transducer capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasound to an exterior surface of the abdominal wall of a subject;

providing a display of the uterine myoma and a feeding artery of uterine myoma of the subject on a display screen by transmission and reception of ultrasound;

designating an occlusion point of the feeding artery of uterine myoma on the display screen;

allowing the transducer to apply focused ultrasound to the occlusion point of the feeding artery and to the vicinity thereof;

occluding the feeding artery at the occlusion point and in the vicinity thereof acutely or chronically to thereby degenerate and reduce the uterine myoma.

2. The method for treating uterine myoma according to claim 1, further comprising providing a display of the feeding artery in a color different from the other areas based on variations in ultrasonic signal caused by the blood flow in the feeding artery.

3. An apparatus for treating uterine myoma, comprising a transducer capable of being laid to an exterior surface of the abdominal wall of a subject, and transmitting and receiving ultrasound;

a display unit for providing a display of uterine myoma and a feeding artery of uterine myoma of the subject on a display screen by transmission and reception of the ultrasound;

means for designating an occlusion point of the feeding artery of uterine myoma on the display screen of the display unit;

means for degenerating the tissue of the feeding artery by allowing the transducer to apply focused ultrasound to the designated occlusion point of the feeding artery to occlude the feeding artery at the occlusion point and in the vicinity thereof acutely or chronically to thereby degenerate and reduce the uterine myoma; and

a control unit for controlling the transmission and receipt of the ultrasound by the transducer, the designation of the occlusion point of the feeding artery on the display screen, and the focusing of the ultrasound.

4. The apparatus for treating uterine myoma according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus is so configured as to provide a display of the feeding artery in a color different from other areas based on variations in ultrasonic signal caused by the blood flow in the feeding artery.