Urethral inserted applicator prostate hyperthermia
First Claim
1. An energy radiation applicator apparatus for treatment of benign hyperplasia, comprising:
- a catheter means for insertion into and through a urethra of a body needing treatment so an end of the catheter means extends into the bladder of the body, said catheter means including a urine drainage passage extending through the catheter means for draining urine from the bladder;
applicator means carried by the catheter means, said applicator means including an applicator and a connector means for connecting the applicator to a source of energy sufficient to elevate the temperature of tissue to be treated to a preselected temperature and for maintaining the preselected temperature during treatment;
fluid receiving means surrounding the applicator so as to be positioned between the applicator and the tissue to be heated;
a cooling fluid inlet passage extending through the catheter means to communicate with the fluid receiving means through a fluid inlet;
a cooling fluid outlet passage opening into the urine drainage passage and communicating with the fluid receiving means through a fluid outlet, both the fluid inlet passage and the urine drainage passage opening from the catheter means outside the body when the catheter means is inserted into the urethra;
means for supplying cooling fluid to the fluid inlet passage during heating of the tissue; and
positioning means for positioning and maintaining the positioning of the catheter means in the urethra so that the applicator means attached to the catheter means is and remains positioned adjacent to prostate tissue to be treated for as long as desired by the user.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for the treatment of the prostate gland which heats the tissues which would otherwise be surgically removed with a trans-urethral resection of the prostate. This method is accomplished by combining a radiating energy device integrated with a urinary drainage Foley type catheter, which is modified to provide cooling along the urethra surfaces. The radiating device also serves as a means to measure the tissue radiated thermal energy for the control or monitoring of temperature of the prostate tissues being heated. A urethral inserted applicator for prostate hyperthermia includes a multi-tube, balloon type catheter. The catheter includes a fluid dry tube for an energy radiator antenna applicator which also serves as a radiometric temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the prostate tissue, and an open fluid receiving tube. An electromagnetic energy generator supplies electromagnetic energy to the applicator. A comparator is connected to the temperature output of the radiometer, and a temperature reference potentiometer for comparing the actual tissue temperature level with a desired temperature level and outputting control signals to the electromagnetic generator for controlling the output to the applicator. The microwave operated applicator is preferably an elongated coil having the tip end connected to the center conductor of a coaxial cable and the opposite end connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable. A sheet or sheath of insulation material covers the microwave coil antenna for insulating the coil from the tissue and the thickness of the sheet may be varied to provide uniform tissue heating along the length of the coil. The ultrasound operated applicator is preferably one or more ultrasound crystal cylinders to radiate energy into the tissue and convert tissue thermal ultrasonic energy into electrical energy for measurement by a radiometer, The balloon of the catheter engages the body'"'"'s bladder to position the applicator properly during the treatment.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An energy radiation applicator apparatus for treatment of benign hyperplasia, comprising:
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a catheter means for insertion into and through a urethra of a body needing treatment so an end of the catheter means extends into the bladder of the body, said catheter means including a urine drainage passage extending through the catheter means for draining urine from the bladder; applicator means carried by the catheter means, said applicator means including an applicator and a connector means for connecting the applicator to a source of energy sufficient to elevate the temperature of tissue to be treated to a preselected temperature and for maintaining the preselected temperature during treatment; fluid receiving means surrounding the applicator so as to be positioned between the applicator and the tissue to be heated; a cooling fluid inlet passage extending through the catheter means to communicate with the fluid receiving means through a fluid inlet; a cooling fluid outlet passage opening into the urine drainage passage and communicating with the fluid receiving means through a fluid outlet, both the fluid inlet passage and the urine drainage passage opening from the catheter means outside the body when the catheter means is inserted into the urethra; means for supplying cooling fluid to the fluid inlet passage during heating of the tissue; and positioning means for positioning and maintaining the positioning of the catheter means in the urethra so that the applicator means attached to the catheter means is and remains positioned adjacent to prostate tissue to be treated for as long as desired by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14)
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11. An energy radiation applicator apparatus for treatment of benign hyperplasia, comprising:
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a catheter means for insertion into a urethra of a body needing treatment; applicator means carried by the catheter means, said applicator means including an applicator and a connector means for connecting the applicator to a source of energy sufficient to elevate the temperature of tissue to be treated to a preselected temperature and for maintaining the preselected temperature during treatment; fluid receiving means surrounding the applicator so as to be positioned between the applicator and the tissue to be heated; means for circulating cooling fluid through the fluid receiving means during heating of the tissue; positioning means for positioning and maintaining the positioning of the catheter means in the urethra so that the applicator means attached to the catheter means is and remains positioned adjacent to prostate tissue to be treated for as long as desired by the user; means for measuring the temperature of cooling fluid prior to being circulated through the fluid receiving means; and means for measuring the temperature of the cooling fluid after being circulated through the fluid receiving means, the difference in temperature being a function of the temperature of the tissue being heated. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An energy radiation applicator apparatus for treatment of benign hyperplasia, comprising:
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a catheter means for insertion into a urethra of a body needing treatment; applicator means carried by the catheter means, said applicator means including an applicator and a connector means extending through the catheter means to outside the body for connecting the applicator to a source of energy sufficient to elevate the temperature of tissue to be treated to a preselected temperature and for maintaining the preselected temperature during treatment; fluid receiving means surrounding the applicator so as to be positioned between the applicator and the tissue to be heated; means for circulating cooling fluid through the fluid receiving means during heating of a tissue; and means for measuring properties of the cooling fluid indicative of the temperature of the tissue being heated to thereby obtain an estimate of the temperature of the tissue being heated. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification