Apparatus for heat treatment of tissue

• US 5,964,791 A
• Filed: 11/14/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ProstaLund Operations AB (ProstaLund AB)
• Original Assignee: ProstaLund Operations AB (ProstaLund AB)
• Inventors: Bolmsjo, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US08/952,260
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 607/100-102, 607/122, 606/5, 606/15, 606/41, 606/49, 606/45
• US Class Current: 607/100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 Radiators for near-field treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/045 specially adapted for treatment inside the body

Abstract

A device for heat treatment of body tissue, including heating means (10) for local heating of the body tissue, and temperature sensing means (11) for sensing the tissue temperature, said heating means being enclosed in a catheter (12). A first temperature sensing means (11) is connected to a first carrier (13), which is made to be advanced through a first opening in catheter (12), and said first carrier (13) is equipped with a pointed tip for insertion into such body tissue that is to be heat-treated.

Claims

1. A device for heat treatment of prostate tissue comprising:

heating means for local heating of the prostate tissue;

a urological catheter enclosing said heating means; and

a first temperature sensing means connected to a first carrier, said first carrier for sensing the temperature of the prostate tissue being movable through radially and out a wall of said catheter and said first carrier having a first end forming a first pointed tip,

wherein said first pointed tip being adapted for insertion into the prostate tissue that is to be heat treated and that is located radially of said urological catheter.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second temperature sensing means connected to a second carrier, said second carrier being movable through and out of said catheter and said second carrier having a first end formed with a second pointed tip,

wherein said second tip being adapted for insertion into prostate tissue which is to be excluded from said heat treatment.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first carrier is contained in cavities in said catheter.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said first carrier is contained in a tubing located on said catheter.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said tubing debouches into an end piece, said end piece having an inclined portion for angulation of said first carrier.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein said end piece is provided externally on said catheter and said end piece is made of a material that is more rigid than said catheter so as to avoid undesired kinking of said catheter.

7. The device according to claim 5 wherein said end piece is provided internally in said catheter.

8. The device according to claim 7 further comprising:

at least one stiffening member positioned internally in said catheter.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises at least one microwave antenna for delivery of energy to the body tissue.

10. The device according to claim 9 further comprising:

at least one heat-absorbing means in the vicinity of said microwave antenna for dissipation of heat from prostate tissue closest to said antenna.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein said at least one heat-absorbing means comprises channels which extend through said catheter and a cooling medium being distributed through said channels.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein stiffening means is positioned in said channels in said catheter.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein at least one heat-absorbing means is provided for dissipation of heat from the prostate tissue closes to a supply lead connected to said heating means.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein said temperature sensing means is connected to a control unit, said control unit controlling the power of said heating means.

15. A method for heat treatment of prostate tissue, comprising the steps of:

local heating of the prostate tissue with at least one heating means, said heating means being enclosed in a catheter;

continuously sensing of the prostate tissue temperature with a temperature sensing means; and

advancing said temperature sensing means which is connected with a first carrier through and radially out of said catheter and into the prostate tissue which is to be treated and is located radially external to said catheter for continuous control of the tissue temperature.