Tissue protective system and method for thermoablative therapies
First Claim
1. A surgical method for moving a benign internal tissue area of a patient to be protected away from an adjacent targeted internal tissue area to be treated with thermoablative therapy by means of cooling or heating the targeted tissue area to a lethal temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming an access channel between the targeted internal tissue area to be treated and the adjacent benign internal tissue area to be protected;
locating within the access channel a balloon catheter having an uninflated balloon; and
inflating the balloon of the balloon catheter so as to spare the benign internal tissue area to be protected from the lethal temperature to which the targeted internal tissue area is cooled or heated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tissue protective system and method having particular application in thermoablative surgical therapies where heat or cold is used to create a kill zone for treating cancer cells as well as malignant or benign tumors in a targeted internal tissue area (e.g., the prostate) of a patient while sparing an adjacent benign internal tissue area (e.g., a neurovascular bundle). One of a hollow sheath or a balloon that is carried by a balloon catheter is located within an access opening that is made by a needle trocar inserted between the targeted tissue area in need of treatment and the benign tissue area to be protected in order to hold the protected tissue area off the targeted tissue area and away from the lethal temperature of the kill zone. The balloon of the balloon catheter is inflated in the access opening via a balloon channel which runs longitudinally through the catheter. At least one temperature sensor is mounted on the balloon and responsive to the temperature near the benign tissue area to be protected. Heat or cold is provided to the balloon from a heating wire or a circulating fluid, depending upon the temperature that is sensed by the temperature sensor.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A surgical method for moving a benign internal tissue area of a patient to be protected away from an adjacent targeted internal tissue area to be treated with thermoablative therapy by means of cooling or heating the targeted tissue area to a lethal temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming an access channel between the targeted internal tissue area to be treated and the adjacent benign internal tissue area to be protected;
locating within the access channel a balloon catheter having an uninflated balloon; and
inflating the balloon of the balloon catheter so as to spare the benign internal tissue area to be protected from the lethal temperature to which the targeted internal tissue area is cooled or heated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A surgical method for moving a benign internal tissue area of a patient to be protected away from an adjacent targeted internal tissue area to be treated with thermoablative therapy by means of cooling or heating the targeted tissue area to a lethal temperature, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming an access channel between the targeted internal tissue area to be treated and the adjacent benign internal tissue area to be protected; and
locating within the access channel a spacer by which to separate the internal tissue area to be protected from the targeted internal tissue area to be treated. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A balloon catheter to be located between a benign internal tissue area of a patient to be protected and an adjacent targeted internal tissue area to be treated with thermoablative therapy by means of cooling or heating the targeted tissue area to a lethal temperature, said balloon catheter comprising:
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an elongated shaft;
a balloon carried by said shaft;
a balloon channel extending through said shaft, one end of said balloon channel communicating with said balloon and the opposite end of said balloon channel communicating with a source of fluid by which fluid from said source is supplied to inflate said balloon; and
at least a first temperature sensor mounted on said balloon. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In combination;
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a balloon catheter to be located between a benign internal tissue area of a patient to be protected and an adjacent targeted internal tissue area to be treated with thermoablative therapy by means of cooling or heating the targeted tissue area to a lethal temperature, said balloon catheter comprising;
an elongated shaft, a balloon carried by said shaft, a balloon channel extending through said shaft, one end of said balloon channel communicating with said balloon and the opposite end of said balloon channel communicating with a source of fluid by which fluid from said source is supplied to inflate said balloon, a temperature sensor mounted on said balloon; and
temperature monitor and control means interconnected with said temperature sensor and adapted to cause a supply of heat or cold to be provided to said balloon depending upon the temperature being sensed by said temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification