Devices and methodologies useful in non invasive termination of pregnancy

• US 20050283097A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ultrastop Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ultrastop Ltd.
• Inventors: Weintraub, David
• Application Number:
  US10/872,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for termination of pregnancy, the method including imaging a gestational sac in a body and applying energy through non-gestational sac body tissue to the gestational sac, which is sufficient to effect termination of pregnancy and the apparatus including a radiant energy source and a gestational sac irradiator, adapted to be operative to irradiate a gestational sac through non-gestational sac body tissue with sufficient energy from the radiant energy source so as to cause termination of pregnancy.

Claims

1. A method for termination of pregnancy comprising:

imaging a gestational sac in a body; and

applying energy through non-gestational sac body tissue to the gestational sac, which is sufficient to effect termination of pregnancy.

2. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 wherein said imaging comprises ultrasound imaging.

3. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 wherein said imaging comprises MRI imaging.

4. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 wherein said imaging comprises CT imaging.

5. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 wherein said energy comprises ultrasound energy.

6. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 wherein said energy comprises electromagnetic energy.

7. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 wherein said applying produces a thermal effect on the gestational sac.

8. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 5 wherein said applying produces a cavitation effect on the gestational sac.

9. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 5 wherein said applying produces a micro-streaming effect on the gestational sac.

10. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 5 wherein said applying produces a jackhammer effect on the gestational sac.

11. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 where said imaging is operative to image results of said applying.

12. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 and also including directing said energy to a target volume at least partially including the gestational sac.

13. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 12 wherein said directing generally prevents pathological damage to tissue outside of said target volume.

14. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 12 wherein said directing generally focuses the energy on the gestational sac.

15. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 12 wherein said directing comprises positioning at least one transducer relative to the body.

16. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 12 wherein said directing comprises locating a focus of at least one transducer at said target volume.

17. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 12 wherein said directing comprises varying a location of a focus of at least one transducer at said target volume.

18. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 17 and wherein said varying a location of a focus changes a volume of said target volume.

19. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 1 and also comprising obtaining a feedback indication of said applying.

20. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said applying employs a transducer located outside of the body.

21. A method according to claim 5 and wherein said ultrasound energy has a frequency in a range of 100 KHz-5000 KHz.

22. A method according to claim 5 and wherein said ultrasound energy has a frequency in a range of 100 KHz-300 KHz.

23. A method according to claim 5 and wherein said ultrasound energy has a frequency in a range of 1000 KHz-3000 KHz.

24. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 12 including modulating said energy to effect termination of pregnancy while generally preventing pathological damage to non-gestational sac tissue within said target volume.

25. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 24 wherein said energy is ultrasound energy.

26. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 25 and wherein said modulating provides a duty cycle between 1:

2 and 1;

250.

27. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 25 and wherein said modulating provides a duty cycle between 1:

5 and 1;

100.

28. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 25 and wherein said modulating provides a duty cycle between 1:

10 and 1;

80.

29. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 25 and wherein said modulating provides between 2 and 1000 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold.

30. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 25 and wherein said modulating provides between 25 and 500 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold.

31. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 25 and wherein said modulating provides between 100 and 300 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold.

32. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 25 and wherein said modulating comprises modulating the amplitude of said ultrasound energy over time.

33. A method for termination of pregnancy according to claim 5 and wherein said applying employs ultrasound energy in a continuous mode.

34. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy comprising:

a radiant energy source; and

a gestational sac irradiator, adapted to be operative to irradiate a gestational sac through non-gestational sac body tissue with sufficient energy from said radiant energy source so as to cause termination of pregnancy.

35. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 34 and also comprising a gestational sac imager.

36. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 34 and also comprising a radiant energy modulator operative to modulate said radiant energy so as to have characteristics which enable termination of pregnancy without substantial pathological effects on non-gestational sac body tissue within an irradiated target volume containing said gestational sac.

37. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 34 were the radiant energy is focused energy.

38. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 35 wherein said imager provides ultrasound imaging.

39. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 35 wherein said imager provides MRI imaging.

40. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 35 wherein said imager provides CT imaging.

41. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 34 wherein said energy comprises ultrasound energy.

42. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 34 wherein said energy comprises electromagnetic energy.

43. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 34 wherein said gestational sac irradiator produces a thermal effect on the gestational sac.

44. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 41 wherein said gestational sac irradiator produces a cavitation effect on the gestational sac.

45. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 41 wherein said gestational sac irradiator produces a micro-streaming effect on the gestational sac.

46. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 41 wherein said gestational sac irradiator produces a jackhammer effect on the gestational sac.

47. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 35 where said imager is operative to image results of operation of said gestational sac irradiator.

48. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 34 and wherein said gestational sac irradiator includes an energy director operative to direct said energy to a target volume at least partially including the gestational sac.

49. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 48 wherein said director generally prevents pathological damage to tissue outside of said target volume.

50. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 48 wherein said director generally focuses the energy on the gestational sac.

51. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 48 wherein said director comprises at least one transducer selectably positionable relative to the body.

52. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 48 wherein said director focuses energy from at least one transducer at said target volume.

53. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 48 wherein said director is operative to vary a location of a focus of at least one transducer at said target volume.

54. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 53 and wherein said director, by varying said location of said focus, changes a volume of said target volume.

55. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 34 and also comprising an irradiation feedback indication functionality.

56. Apparatus according to claim 51 and wherein said transducer is adapted to be located outside of the body.

57. Apparatus according to claim 41 and wherein said ultrasound energy has a frequency in a range of 100 KHz-5000 KHz.

58. Apparatus according to claim 41 and wherein said ultrasound energy has a frequency in a range of 100 KHz-300 KHz.

59. Apparatus according to claim 41 and wherein said ultrasound energy has a frequency in a range of 1000 KHz-3000 KHz.

60. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 48 including an energy modulator to effect termination of pregnancy while generally preventing pathological damage to non-gestational sac tissue within said target volume.

61. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 60 wherein said energy is ultrasound energy.

62. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 61 and wherein said modulator provides a duty cycle between 1:

2 and 1;

250.

63. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 61 and wherein said modulator provides a duty cycle between 1:

5 and 1;

100.

64. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 61 and wherein said modulator provides a duty cycle between 1:

10 and 1;

80.

65. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 61 and wherein said modulator provides between 2 and 1000 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold.

66. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 61 and wherein said modulator provides between 25 and 500 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold.

67. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 61 and wherein said modulator provides between 100 and 300 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold.

68. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 61 and wherein said modulator modulates the amplitude of said ultrasound energy over time.

69. Apparatus for termination of pregnancy according to claim 41 and wherein said irradiator employs ultrasound energy in a continuous mode.