Non-invasive apparatus and method for providing RF energy-induced localized hyperthermia

• US 20040230263A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke University
• Original Assignee: Duke University
• Inventors: Samulski, Thaddeus V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,904,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

An apparatus for providing hyperthermia treatment for enhancing cancer therapy includes an applicator body and a plurality of antennas operatively associated with the applicator body. The applicator body has a concave profile extending from an aperture and defines an open cavity for receiving RF standing waves. The antennas are arrayed for transmitting RF standing waves at respective selected amplitudes and relative phases into the cavity and generally toward a tumor-containing tissue disposed in operative alignment with the antennas. In use, the tissue such as a breast or chest wall is immersed in the cavity or supported on a pillow mounted to the cavity. The cavity contains a fluid such as deionized water through which the RF energy is transmitted to heat the tissue. The hyperthermia treatment can be used to enhance the effects of a cancer-related therapy such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing hyperthermia treatment for enhancing cancer therapy, comprising:

(a) an applicator body having a concave profile extending from an aperture and defining an open cavity for receiving RF standing waves; and

(b) a plurality of antennas operatively associated with the applicator body and arrayed for transmitting RF standing waves at respective selected amplitudes and relative phases into the cavity and generally toward a tumor-containing tissue disposed in operative alignment with the antennas.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the body comprises a plurality of body sections, and the plurality of antennas are mounted to one or more of the body sections.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the body comprises six body sections, the plurality of antennas comprise four antennas, and each antenna is mounted to one of the six body sections.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the six body sections comprise four side sections defining the aperture and two bottom sections, two of the side sections are disposed in opposing spaced relation and are generally perpendicular to the aperture, and the other two side sections are disposed in opposing spaced relation and are angled relative to the aperture.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each antenna is mounted to a respective one of the two angled side sections and two bottom sections.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 comprising an additional two antennas, each of the additional two antennas mounted to a respective perpendicular side section.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the body comprises five body sections, the plurality of antennas comprises five antennas, and each antenna is mounted to a corresponding body section.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the five body sections comprise four side sections defining the aperture and one bottom section, two of the side sections are spaced in opposing spaced relation and are generally perpendicular to the aperture, and the two other side sections are disposed in opposing spaced relation and are angled relative to the aperture.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each antenna comprises a generally symmetrical arrangement of two antenna elements.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each antenna element is generally C-shaped and opens away from the other antenna element.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each antenna is bowtie-shaped.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a tissue support mounted at the aperture for supporting tissue in operative alignment with the antennas.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the tissue support comprises a temperature-sensing device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the temperature-sensing device is a magnetic coil mounted to the tissue support for communicating with an MRI device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the tissue support comprises an open container extending into the cavity for supporting tissue therein.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the tissue support comprises a fluid-filled pillow for supporting tissue thereon.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a patient support suitable for supporting a patient during hyperthermia treatment, wherein the applicator body is mounted to the patient support.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a temperature regulation device communicating with the cavity for circulating a temperature regulated fluid therethrough.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the body includes an inlet and an outlet fluidly communicating with the cavity for circulating a fluid therethrough.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising an RF signal generator communicating with the antennas.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 comprising a variable attenuator interconnected between the RF signal generator and the antennas for controlling respective amplitudes of RF signals received by one or more of the antennas.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 comprising a variable phase shifter interconnected between the RF signal generator and the antennas for controlling respective phases of RF signals received by one or more of the antennas.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20 comprising a power divider interconnected between the RF signal generator and the antennas for dividing an RF signal generated by the RF signal generator into a plurality of channels corresponding to the array of antennas.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 comprising a device selectively communicating by one or more of the channels for measuring an amplitude and/or phase of a channel signal carried in a selected channel.

25. A method for providing hyperthermia treatment for enhancing cancer therapy, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a tumor-containing tissue in operative alignment with a phased array of antennas operatively associated with a body defining a cavity containing a fluid; and

(b) transmitting RF energy from the antennas through the fluid and to the tissue to heat the tissue.

26. The method according to claim 25 comprising the step of monitoring a temperature of the tissue.

27. The method according to claim 0.26 wherein monitoring comprises inserting a temperature-sensing device into the tissue.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein monitoring comprises inserting a catheter into the tissue and inserting the temperature-sensing device into the catheter.

29. The method according to claim 26 wherein monitoring comprises using a magnetic coil surrounding the tissue and coupled to an MRI device.

30. The method according to claim 25 wherein the fluid contained in the cavity is deionized water.

31. The method according to claim 25 wherein placing in operative alignment comprises supporting the tissue with a fluid-containing support mounted at the cavity.

32. The method according to claim 31 comprising the steps of selecting a type of the support based on the type of tissue to be treated, and mounting the selected support at the cavity.

33. The method according to claim 31 wherein placing in operative alignment comprises immersing the tissue in a fluid-filled container extending into the cavity.

34. The method according to claim 33 comprising the steps of selecting a size of the container based on the size of the tissue to be treated, and mounting the selected container to the cavity.

35. The method according to claim 31 wherein supporting comprises positioning the tissue on a fluid-filled pillow.

36. The method according to claim 25 comprising transmitting RF signals to each of the antennas at a desired frequency.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein the frequency ranges from approximately 130 to approximately 160 MHz.

38. The method according to claim 25 comprising controlling respective amplitudes of RF signals outputted to one or more of the antennas.

39. The method according to claim 25 comprising controlling respective phases of RF signals outputted to one or more of the antennas.

40. The method according to claim 25 wherein the tissue is a tumor-containing breast of a patient.

41. The method according to claim 25 wherein the tissue is a tumor-containing chest wall of a patient.

42. A method for providing hyperthermia treatment to enhance tumor-related therapy, comprising the steps of:

(a) treating a tumor-containing tissue by performing a tumor-related therapeutical procedure;

(b) placing the tissue in a operative alignment with a phased array of antennas operatively associated with a body defining a cavity containing a fluid; and

(c) transmitting RF energy from the antennas, through the fluid and into the tissue to heat the tissue.

43. The method according to claim 42 wherein placing in operative alignment comprises supporting the tissue with a fluid-containing support mounted at the cavity.

44. The method according to claim 43 wherein supporting comprises immersing the tissue in a fluid-filled container extending into the cavity.

45. The method according to claim 43 wherein supporting comprises positioning the tissue on a fluid-filled pillow.

46. The method according to claim 42 wherein the tissue is a tumor-containing breast of a patient.

47. The method according to claim 42 wherein the tissue is a tumor-containing chest wall of a patient.

48. The method according to claim 42 wherein treating the tissue comprises providing chemotherapy.

49. The method according to claim 48 wherein providing chemotherapy comprising administering liposomes containing the chemotherapy.

50. The method according to claim 42 wherein treating the tissue comprises providing radiotherapy.