System and method for controlling tissue treatment

• US 20080221409A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hoarau, Carine
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00061 spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for controlling a tissue treatment device using results from a spectroscopic tissue analyzer. One embodiment provides a system that uses a direct signal from a spectroscopic tissue analyzer to control the tissue treatment device. Alternatively, the system may provide an audible feedback signal to a user, allowing the user to choose how to adjust the tissue treatment device. A final embodiment provides a probe that has active sites for treating tissue, and an optical system to convey light to the active sites, allowing an analysis of the tissue parameter at the active sites.

Claims

1. A system for controlling tissue treatment, comprising:

a tissue treatment device; and

a spectroscopic tissue analyzer configured to analyze a parameter of a tissue and provide a feedback signal to control the tissue treatment device.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a probe configured to convey one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to a tissue adjacent to a tip of the probe, to return the electromagnetic radiation from the tissue adjacent to the tip of the probe, and to treat tissue or to remove substances adjacent to the tip of the probe.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the tissue treatment device comprises at least one of a heat based tissue sealing device, a suction device for the removal of substances, or a tissue cryoablation unit.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic tissue analyzer comprises a tissue hydration analysis unit.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameter comprises at least one of the water content of the tissue, the lipid content of the tissue, the protein arrangement in the tissue, or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the feedback signal comprises at least one of an alarm tone, a voice annunciation of the parameter, an automatic control signal sent to the tissue treatment device, or combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1 comprising a single unit comprising the tissue treatment device and the spectroscopic tissue analyzer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectroscopic tissue analyzer comprises a emitter, a detector, a control signal interface, an audible output, and control circuitry, wherein

the emitter is configured to emit one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation at a tissue;

the detector is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation returned from the tissue and convert the electromagnetic radiation into one or more electronic signals; and

wherein

the control circuitry is configured to;

receive the electronic signals from the detector;

convert the electronic signals into one or more numerical parameters representing the composition of the tissue;

convert the numeric parameters into one or more feedback signals; and

perform at least one of providing the feedback signals to the user through the audible output or sending the feedback signals to the tissue treatment device through the control signal interface.

9. A method for a medical procedure, comprising:

analyzing a parameter of a tissue using a spectroscopic tissue analyzer; and

controlling a tissue treatment device using a feedback signal from the spectroscopic tissue analyzer.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising manually adjusting the tissue treatment device based on the feedback signal.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the feedback signal automatically controls the tissue treatment device.

12. The method of claim 9 comprising using a probe configured to convey one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to a tissue adjacent to a tip of the probe, to return the electromagnetic radiation from the tissue adjacent to the tip of the probe, and to treat tissue or to remove substances adjacent to the tip of the probe.

13. The method of claim 9 comprising using at least two probes, wherein at least one first probe is configured to convey electromagnetic radiation to a tissue adjacent to a tip of the first probe and return electromagnetic radiation from the tissue adjacent to the tip of the first probe;

and at least one second probe is configured to treat tissue or to remove substances adjacent to the tip of the second probe.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the tissue treatment device comprises at least one of a heat based tissue sealing device, a suction device for the removal of substances, or a tissue cryoablation unit.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the parameter comprises at least one of the water content of the tissue, the lipid content of the tissue, the protein arrangement in the tissue, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the feedback signal comprises at least one of an alarm tone, a voice annunciation of the parameter, an automatic control signal sent to the tissue treatment device, or combinations thereof.

17. A probe for use in a medical procedure, comprising:

a first optical system configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation to a tissue;

a second optical system configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from a tissue; and

one or more active sites configured to treat tissue or to remove substances, wherein the active sites are disposed adjacent to the first and second optical systems.

18. The probe of claim 17 wherein the first and second optical systems comprise fiber optic lines.

19. The probe of claim 17 comprising at least one of a heat based tissue sealing device, a suction device, or a cryoablation probe.

20. The probe of claim 17 comprising a fiber optic cable for connection to a spectroscopic tissue analyzer.

21. The probe of claim 17 comprising at least one of a cable or tube for connection to one or more tissue treatment devices.

22. A method for making a system for tissue treatment, comprising:

making a system containing control circuitry, one or more emitters, one or more detectors, and one or more tissue treatment devices;

configuring the emitters to send one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to a tissue;

configuring the detectors to detect the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation returned from the tissue, and convert the detected electromagnetic radiation to one or more numerical parameters for the control circuitry;

programming the control circuitry to analyze a parameter of the tissue from the one or more numerical parameters returned from the detectors; and

programming the control circuitry to perform at least one of automatically adjusting the tissue treatment devices based on the parameter of the tissue, or sounding an audible alert to allow a user to adjust the tissue treatment device.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the tissue treatment device comprises at least one of a heat based tissue sealing device, a suction device for the removal of substances, or a tissue cryoablation unit

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the parameter comprises at least one of the water content of the tissue, the lipid content of the tissue, the protein arrangement in the tissue, or combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 22 comprising attaching a probe to the system, wherein the probe is configured to convey one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to a tissue adjacent to a tip of the probe, to return the electromagnetic radiation from the tissue adjacent to the tip of the probe, and to treat tissue or to remove substances adjacent to the tip of the probe.

26. The method of claim 22 comprising attaching two or more probes to the system wherein at least one first probe is configured to convey electromagnetic radiation to a tissue adjacent to a tip of the first probe and return electromagnetic radiation from the tissue adjacent to the tip of the first probe;

and at least one second probe is configured to treat tissue or to remove substances adjacent to the tip of the second probe.

27. A method for making a probe for treating tissue, comprising:

making a probe for delivering a tissue treatment to tissue adjacent to the tip of the probe; and

attaching an optical system to the probe, wherein the optical system is configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation to a tissue adjacent to the tip of the probe and capture electromagnetic radiation from the tissue adjacent to the tip of the probe.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein tissue treatment comprises at least one of heat sealing of tissue, suction to remove substances, or cryoablation.

29. The method of claim 27 comprising attaching a control switch and a control cable to the probe for activation of the tissue treatment.