COMBINED CRYOTHERAPY AND BRACHYTHERAPY DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20100234670A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IceCure Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: IceCure Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Shai, Eyal, Berzak, Nir
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/7
• 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 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1015 Treatment of resected cavities created by surgery, e.g. lumpectomy

Abstract

Combined brachytherapy and ablation devices and methods. A combined brachytherapy and cryotherapy method, includes: inserting an ablation device into tissue of a subject; ablating tissue within an ablation zone of the device; detaching and removing a first part of the device while leaving a second part of the device in the tissue, the first part contacting the ablation zone; and inserting a brachytherapy rod into the second part of the device when the second part is detached from the first part, the brachytherapy rod connected to base at one end and retaining at least one radioactive seed at an opposing end, the brachytherapy rod configured and dimensioned so that when it is inserted into the device up to the base, the at least one radioactive seed is in the ablation zone.

Claims

1. A combined brachytherapy and ablation method, comprising:

inserting an ablation device into tissue of a subject;

ablating tissue within an ablation zone of the device;

detaching and removing a first part of the device while leaving a second part of the device in the tissue, the first part contacting the ablation zone; and

inserting a brachytherapy rod into the second part of the device when the second part is detached from the first part, the brachytherapy rod connected to base at one end and retaining at least one radioactive seed at an opposing end, the brachytherapy rod configured and dimensioned so that when it is inserted into the device up to the base, the at least one radioactive seed is in the ablation zone.

2. A combined cryotherapy and brachytherapy method, comprising:

inserting an ablation device into a tumor;

ablating a zone that engulfs the tumor;

detaching a part of the ablation device from the rest of the ablation device;

fixing the detached part at a specified location in contact with the ablation zone; and

placing at least one radioactive seed in a specified location in the detached part and in the ablation zone.

3. A combined cryotherapy and brachytherapy method, comprising:

ablating tissue in an ablation zone of a cryoprobe inserted into a tumor;

separating at least a portion of the cryprobe from a handle;

fixing a location of the at least a portion of the cryoprobe in the ablation zone; and

positioning at least one radioactive element in the at least a portion of the cryprobe, after the ablating.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the positioning comprises providing a rod that is adapted and configured to be removably insertable into the cryoprobe, and the at least one radioactive element is disposed at an end of the rod.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, in the positioning, the at least one radioactive element is a single seed that is positioned at a substantial center of the ablation zone.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein, in the positioning, the at least one radioactive source is a single radioactive element that extends along a portion of a length of the cryoprobe and that is positioned through at least a substantial center of the ablation zone.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the cryoprobe includes an inner tube usable for an inflow of cryogenic liquid or gas and wherein, in the positioning, the at least one radiation element is inserted into the cryoprobe through the inner tube.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the cryoprobe includes an outer shaft and, wherein, in the positioning, the at least one radiation element is inserted into the cryoprobe through the outer shaft.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one radioactive source is a plurality that is located at specified locations with respect to a distal end of a rod.

10. A device, comprising:

a handle;

a cryoprobe that is selectively detachable from the handle and has an ablation zone when activated;

a brachytherapy rod adapted and configured to be removably insertable into at least a portion of the cryoprobe when it is detached from the handle, the rod having at least one radioactive seed at an end;

wherein, when the brachytherapy rod is inserted into the cryoprobe, the at least one radioactive seed is disposed at a specified position in the ablation zone.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the rod includes a base opposite the end and the base is configured and dimensioned so as to limit travel of the rod into the cryoprobe.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the rod has a protrusion near a base opposite the end that limits travel of the cryoprobe into the cryoprobe.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the cryoprobe includes an inner tube usable for an inflow of cryogenic liquid or gas, and wherein the brachytherapy rod is inserted into the cryoprobe through the inner tube.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the cryoprobe includes an outer shaft, wherein only the outer shaft remains in the subject after the cryoprobe has been activated, and wherein the brachytherapy rod is inserted into the cryoprobe through the outer shaft.

15. A tumor treatment method, comprising;

encompassing a tumor in an ablation zone of an ablation device;

ablating tissue in the ablation zone; and

inserting a radiation source into the ablation zone via the ablation device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the ablation device includes a cryoprobe and wherein, in the ablating, the tumor is ablated by cryotherapy.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

detaching a handle from the cryoprobe; and

leaving the cryoprobe in the ablation zone, before the inserting.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

removing the radiation source from the ablation zone, via the cryoprobe; and

inserting another radiation source into the ablation zone, via the cryoprobe, after the removing.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

detaching an outer shaft of the cryoprobe; and

leaving the outer shaft in the ablation zone, before the inserting.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the inserting, a brachytherapy rod that retains the radiation source is inserted into the detached outer shaft.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein, in the inserting, a brachytherapy rod that retains the radiation source is inserted into the cryoprobe.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein, in the inserting, a brachytherapy rod that retains the radiation source is inserted into the ablation device.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

removing the radiation source from the ablation zone, via the ablation device; and

inserting another radiation source into the ablation zone, via the ablation device, after the removing.