Method of treating tumors using selective application of heat and radiation

• US 4,763,671 A
• Filed: 04/25/1986
• Issued: 08/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanford University
• Original Assignee: Stanford University
• Inventors: Goffinet, Don R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US06/858,891
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1.1, 128/1.2, 128/303.1, 128/303.13, 128/303.14, 128/303.17, 128/784, 128/786, 128/804
• US Class Current: 600/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy

Abstract

A catheter for use in treating tumors is flexible and relatively small in diameter so that it can be inserted interstitially into the tumor mass. A conductor is provided along the length of the catheter and is electrically insulated except for a small length thereof which is adapted to be received within the tumor volume. By placing at least a pair of such catheters within the tumor mass and by connecting the conductors to a high frequency power source a heat producing current can be generated through the tumor tissue between the exposed portions of the catheter to damage the tumor cells. In addition, each catheter includes an axial passage permitting radioactive seeds or other tumor treating materials to be inserted within the tumor mass to cause further damage to and ultimately necrosis of the tumor without significantly affecting the adjacent healthy tissue of the body.

Claims

1. A method of treating a tumor in an animal, such as a human, comprising the steps of inserting a plurality of flexible catheters each containing an external electrode into a volume of the body of the patient in which the tumor is located, passing an electrical current from one catheter electrode to another electrode and defining an electrical current path through the tumor to thereby create selective heating of the tumor, inserting radioactive material in at least one of said catheters while said catheter remains in the body of the patient with the material being inserted at a location adjacent said tumor, and maintaining said current and said radioactive material in place for sufficient times to cause necrosis of said tumor without significantly affecting the adjacent healthy tissue of said body.

2. A method of treating a tumor according to claim 1 wherein said electrical current is applied first immediately before the insertion of the radioactive material and wherein the electrical current is applied again immediately after the removal of the radioactive material.

3. A method of treating a tumor in an animal, such as a human, comprising the steps of inserting a plurality of flexible catheters each containing an external electrode into a volume of the body of the patient in which the tumor is located, passing an electrical current from one catheter electrode to another electrode and defining an electrical current path through the tumor to thereby selectively heat the tumor for a period of time sufficient to sensitize the tumor cells and hinder any subsequent repair, immediately thereafter inserting radioactive material into at least one of said catheters while the catheter remains in the body of the patient with the material being inserted at a location adjacent said tumor, leaving the radioactive material in the catheter for a period of time sufficient to cause necrosis of said tumor cells, removing the radioactive material from the catheter, and immediately thereafter reapplying the electrical current through the tumor for a period of time sufficient to hinder any repair of the radioactively damaged tumor cells.

4. A method of treating a tumor according to claim 3 wherein said electrical current is passed through the tumor for periods of time of from about 30 minutes to about 60 minutes before and after the radioactive treatment, and wherein the radioactive material is in said catheter for a period of time of from about 48 to about 120 hours.

5. A method of treating a tumor according to claim 3 wherein the electrical current treatment periods are about 45 minutes each and wherein the radioactive material treatment period is about 60 hours.