Apparatus and method for delivering ablative laser energy and determining the volume of tumor mass destroyed

• US 20050137467A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novian Health, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Novian Health, Inc.
• Inventors: Dowlatshahi, Kambiz
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2005 with beam delivery through an interstitially insertable device, e.g. needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/206 the laser light passing along a liquid-filled conduit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/063 for measuring volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0414 with compression means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body

Abstract

An apparatus and method for determining a volume of tumor mass destroyed. The present invention includes a temperature probe and a laser probe having a temperature sensor. The laser probe and temperature probe are inserted to measure a temperature of the tumor mass and a temperature of tissue mass surrounding the tumor mass. By determining the volume of tumor mass destroyed, a graphical representation of the volume of tumor mass destroyed is provided whereby real-time visual monitoring of the destruction of the tumor mass is achieved.

Claims

1. An apparatus displaying a volume of a tumor mass destroyed, the apparatus comprising:

means for measuring a temperature of at least part of the tumor mass; and

means for providing a graphical representation of the volume of the tumor mass destroyed based at least in part upon said temperature measurement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes means for determining a temperature at a point in proximity of the tumor mass.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the volume of the tumor mass destroyed is superimposed onto an image of the tumor mass to provide real-time visual monitoring of the destroyed tumor mass.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the graphical representation includes a geometrical symbol.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the real-time visual monitoring of the destroyed tumor mass is provided during interstitial laser therapy.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes means for conducting a blood circulation test employing a contrasting agent to determine the volume of the tumor mass destroyed.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the blood circulation test includes a contrast-enhanced color doppler ultrasound test.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the blood circulation test confirms that an entire amount of the tumor mass is effectively destroyed.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the blood circulation test is conducted before and after the tumor mass is destroyed.

10. An apparatus displaying a volume of a tumor mass destroyed, the apparatus comprising:

means for measuring at least a temperature at one point in proximity of the tumor mass; and

means for providing a graphical representation of the volume of the tumor mass destroyed based at least in part upon the temperature measurement.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the graphical representation of the volume of the tumor mass destroyed is superimposed onto an image of the tumor mass to provide real-time visual monitoring of the destroyed tumor mass.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the graphical representation includes a geometrical symbol.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the real-time visual monitoring of the destroyed tumor mass is provided during interstitial laser therapy.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, which includes means for conducting a blood circulation test that employs a contrasting agent to determine the volume of the tumor mass destroyed by the amount of laser energy.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the blood circulation test includes a contrast-enhanced color doppler ultrasound test.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the blood circulation test confirms that an entire amount of the tumor mass is effectively destroyed.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the blood circulation test is conducted before and after the tumor mass is destroyed.

18. An apparatus for determining a volume of tumor mass destroyed, the apparatus comprising:

a laser probe having a temperature sensor operable to measure a temperature of said tumor mass;

a computer control system electrically connected to the laser probe and operable to determine the volume of tumor mass destroyed based upon the tumor mass temperature and the tissue temperature;

a display connected to the computer control system and operable to display a graphical representation of the volume of tumor mass destroyed; and

means for conducting a blood circulation test employing a contrasting agent to determine the volume of the tumor mass destroyed by the amount of the laser energy.