Apparatus and method for characterization and treatment of tumors
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for in situ diagnosis and treatment of biological tissue comprising:
- a probe comprising an elongate member including first and second electrodes, the probe having a first mode of operation in which a parameter indicative of a property of a biological tissue is sensed to enable differentiation among normal biological tissue, malignant tumorous biological tissue, and nonmalignant tumorous biological tissue, and a second mode of operation causing in situ necrosis of the biological tissue;
first circuitry coupled to the first electrode for sensing the parameter during the first mode of operation;
second circuitry coupled to the second electrode for inducing necrosis of the biological tissue during the second mode of operation; and
means for coupling the probe to the first and second circuitries.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for performing an in situ characterization of a tissue mass which may be normal, malignant, or benign, and, based on the measured characteristics of the tissue mass, therapeutically treating the tissue mass to cause necrosis of the tissue. In an illustrative preferred embodiment, the characterization of the tissue is accomplished by measuring an electrical property of the tissue, such as electrical impedance, while treatment is accomplished by supplying heat to the tissue to induce cauterization.
458 Citations
35 Claims
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1. Apparatus for in situ diagnosis and treatment of biological tissue comprising:
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a probe comprising an elongate member including first and second electrodes, the probe having a first mode of operation in which a parameter indicative of a property of a biological tissue is sensed to enable differentiation among normal biological tissue, malignant tumorous biological tissue, and nonmalignant tumorous biological tissue, and a second mode of operation causing in situ necrosis of the biological tissue; first circuitry coupled to the first electrode for sensing the parameter during the first mode of operation; second circuitry coupled to the second electrode for inducing necrosis of the biological tissue during the second mode of operation; and means for coupling the probe to the first and second circuitries. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A probe for use in situ diagnosis and treatment of biological tissue comprising:
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a handle; a support member removably connected to the handle; a plurality of electrodes, disposed on the support member, for sensing a parameter indicative of a property of a biological tissue to enable differentiation among normal biological tissue, benign tumorous biological tissue, and malignant tumorous biological tissue; and disposed from the support member, means for causing in situ necrosis of the biological tissue. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for in situ diagnosis and treatment of biological tissue comprising a series of steps of:
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positioning a probe relative to a biological tissue in situ; actuating the probe to sense a parameter indicative of a property of the biological tissue to enable differentiation among normal biological tissue, malignant tumorous biological tissue, and nonmalignant tumorous biological tissue; characterizing a region of the biological tissue based upon the sensed parameter; and selectively actuating the probe to cause necrosis of the region of biological tissue. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A probe for use in situ diagnosis and treatment of biological tissue comprising:
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a handle; a support member removably connected to the handle; at least one electrode, disposed on the support member, for sensing a parameter indicative of a property of a biological tissue to enable differentiation among normal biological tissue, benign tumorous biological tissue, and malignant tumorous biological tissue; and disposed from the support member, means for causing in situ necrosis of the biological tissue. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. Apparatus for in situ diagnosis and treatment of biological tissue comprising:
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a first probe comprising an elongate member including a first electrode and a second probe comprising an elongate member including a second electrode, the first and second probes having a first mode of concurrent operation in which a parameter indicative of a property of a biological tissue is sensed to enable differentiation among normal biological tissue, malignant tumorous biological tissue, and nonmalignant tumorous biological tissue, and a second mode of concurrent operation causing in situ necrosis of the biological tissue; first circuitry coupled to the first and second electrodes for sensing the parameter during the first mode of concurrent operation; second circuitry coupled to the first and second electrodes for inducing necrosis of the biological tissue during the second mode of concurrent operation; and means for coupling the first and second probes to the first and second circuitries. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification