Method and apparatus for volumetric interstitial conductive hyperthermia
First Claim
1. A method of producing volumetric, thermally conductive hyperthermia for the treatment of a cancerous tumor in a patient, comprising the steps:
- determining the location and volume of the tumor with an imaging system;
interstitially implanting a plurality of heat-emitting sources in the tumor in a predetermined pattern for volumetric, thermally conductive heating of said tumor; and
controllably energizing said heat-emitting sources to produce volumetric, thermally conductive heating of said tumor and a predetermined temperature distribution in said tumor.
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Abstract
A system and method for producing volumetric conductive hyperthermia for the treatment of a cancerous tumor in a patient. The location and volume of the tumor are determined with the aid of a CT scanning system, and an array of probes each containing a heat-emitting element is formed by interstitial implantation in the tumor in a predetermined pattern for volumetric heating using a template for guiding the probes into parallel alignment in the tumor. The template is affixed with respect to the patient'"'"'s body and with respect to the imaging plane of the CT scanning system. After implantation, the probes are connected to a manifold connector which is in turn connected to an external control system capable of independently controlling the probes while monitoring various analog and digital values representative of system performance.
374 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of producing volumetric, thermally conductive hyperthermia for the treatment of a cancerous tumor in a patient, comprising the steps:
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determining the location and volume of the tumor with an imaging system; interstitially implanting a plurality of heat-emitting sources in the tumor in a predetermined pattern for volumetric, thermally conductive heating of said tumor; and controllably energizing said heat-emitting sources to produce volumetric, thermally conductive heating of said tumor and a predetermined temperature distribution in said tumor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for producing volumetric, thermally conductive hyperthermia for the treatment of a cancerous tumor in a patient, comprising:
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imaging means for determining the location and volume of the tumor, said imaging means including means for establishing an imaging plane through the patient'"'"'s body; a heat-emitting source including a plurality of implantable probes each containing a heat-emitting element; means for interstitially implanting said probes in the tumor in a predetermined pattern for volumetric, thermally conductive heating of said tumor, said implanting means including template means for guiding said probes into parallel alignment in the tumor, and means for affixing said template means with respect to the patient'"'"'s body and with respect to said imaging plane; and means for controllably energizing said heat-emitting sources to produce volumetric, thermally conductive heating of the tumor and a predetermined temperature distribution in the tumor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of treating tumors with volumetric, thermally conductive hyperthermia, comprising the steps:
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surgically inserting a plurality of heat-emitting elements and temperature sensors into a tumor with the aid of an imaging system; energizing said heat-emitting elements with an electrical current to produce volumetric, thermally conductive heating of said tumor; measuring the temperature of said heat-emitting elements with said temperature sensors; and automatically controlling the application of electrical energy to said heat-emitting elements according to the difference between the measured temperature and a predetermined temperature selected for each of said heat-emitting elements to produce a predetermined temperature distribution in said tumor.
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Specification