SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THERMAL THERAPY

• US 20090198309A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visualase, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Visualase, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gowda, Ashok, McNichols, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 9,403,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2261 with scattering, diffusion or dispersion of light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for thermal therapy, especially to detection-guided, -controlled, and temperature-modulated interstitial thermal therapy. Thermal therapy may be used to treat the tissues of a patient. In the case of interstitial thermal therapy, energy is applied to generate heating of the tissue to affect treatment, such as, for example, thermally inducing tissue damage (e.g. thermally-induced tissue necrosis), which may be useful in treating tumors and/or other diseased tissues. Since targets for thermal therapy are internal to the patient, the use of detection guidance may be useful in locating and monitoring treatment of a target tissue.

Claims

1. A system for thermal therapy comprising:

at least one detection device for generating data on the thermal energy characteristics of a target area;

at least one treatment device for transferring a preselected amount of energy between it and at least a portion of said target area; and

at least one control system adapted for communicating with said at least one detection device and said at least one treatment device, said control system determining said preselected amount of energy based at least in part on said data;

wherein said control system receives the data from said at least one detection device and communicates with said at least one treatment device to transfer the preselected amount of thermal energy between the device and at least a portion of the target area to substantially affect a predetermined change in the thermal characteristics of said at least a portion to an extent determined by said detection device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory module for storing at least a previous preselected amount of thermal energy determined by the control system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said control system determines said preselected amount of energy based at least in part on said data and said previous preselected amount of energy stored in said memory module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one treatment device comprises capabilities of delivering energy to and removing energy from at least a portion of said target area.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one treatment device comprises multiple devices for simultaneous transferring of energy between said devices and at least a portion of said target area.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one treatment device comprises:

a housing having a distal end;

a coupling assembly coupled to the housing opposite the distal end, the coupling assembly comprising an opening for positioning said treatment device, a first fluid access port in fluid communication with a first annulus and a second fluid access port in fluid communication with a second annulus; and

a tubular structure located within the housing, forming the first annulus between the tubular structure and the housing and the second annulus between the tubular structure and the treatment device, the first annulus and the second annulus being in fluid communication with each other proximate to the distal end of the housing.

7. A system for detection guided therapy of a target area comprising:

at least one detection device;

at least one treatment device;

at least one treatment device guide comprising a plurality of channels and at least one fiducial marker, each of said plurality of channels is adapted for retaining one of said treatment device; and

at least one control system in communication with said at least one detection device and said at least one treatment device;

wherein said at least one fudicial marker is detectable by said detection device and said control system resolves at least a location and orientation of said guide relative to at least a portion of said target area at least partially based on the detection of said at least one fiducial marker.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of channels is adapted for guiding said at least one treatment device to a preselected portion of the target area at least partially based on the location and orientation of said guide relative to the target area.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one treatment device is selected from the group of an energy transfer device, a biopsy device, an injection device and a target access device.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising resolving the orientation and position of said at least one fiducial marker relative to at least a portion of said target, wherein the resolved orientation of said at least one fiducial marker is indicative of the orientation of said guide.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one fiducial marker comprises a form with at least a semi-unique cross-sectional shape detectable by said detection device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of channels defines a trajectory determined by said control system using at least in part the location and orientation of said guide relative to said target.

13. A method for thermal therapy comprising:

a) receiving spatially resolvable temperature sensitive data from at least one detection device at a control system, said detection device interrogating a target with radiation to generate said data;

b) determining at least one energy delivery characteristic of at least one treatment device based at least in part on said data using said control system;

c) modulating said at least one treatment device using at least said energy delivery characteristic; and

repeating steps a-c to substantially affect a preselected characteristic of said target.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising utilizing a predictive model of the preselected characteristic response of the target for delivering energy at least partially based on said model.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising modifying said predictive model using said data from said detection device during said therapy.

16. A method of delivering energy to a target area comprising:

locating a plurality of integrated apparatuses proximate to the target area at substantially predetermined locations;

providing a transfer fluid to each of said plurality of integrated apparatuses for circulation therein to at least exchange heat with an energy delivery component of each of said plurality of integrated apparatuses and at least a portion of the target area ; and

providing energy to the at least a portion of the target area via energy delivery components located in said plurality of integrated apparatuses;

wherein the locations of the plurality of integrated apparatuses, the locations of the energy delivery components therein, and the energy and transfer fluid provided to said integrated apparatuses are independently controlled to substantially apply a predetermined thermal profile to at least a portion of said target area to affect a temperature-induced change in a portion of said target area.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising scattering or diffusing the energy delivered via at least one of said energy delivery components.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said transfer fluid is provided prior to and during said providing of energy.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

locating said plurality of integrated apparatuses through a guide comprising;

at least a configuration of a plurality of channels, each of said plurality of channels defining a trajectory; and

at least one fiducial marker detectable by a detection device; and

retaining said integrated apparatuses in said channels.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising orienting said guide relative to the target to substantially align the trajectory of at least one of said channels to at least a portion of said target area.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising independently controlling the location of each integrated apparatus and the energy delivery components therein prior to and during the delivery of energy.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising altering the temperature of at least a portion of said target area prior to delivering energy via said integrated apparatuses.