Method of manufacture of a transurethral ultrasound applicator for prostate gland thermal therapy

• US 6,537,306 B1
• Filed: 05/19/1997
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dornier MedTech America Incorporated (Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd. (Investment Management)), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Dornier Medical Systems, Inc. (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Diederich, Chris J., Burdette, Everette C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/858,912
• Time in Patent Office: 2,136 Days
• Field of Search: 600/439, 600/459, 600/462, 600/471, 601/3, 607/96, 607/100, 607/104, 607/113, 607/115, 607/116, 607/138
• US Class Current: 607/96
• 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 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• 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 2017/22065 Functions of balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00017 with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0472 against ultrasound energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0481 against EM radiation, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/049 against light, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/04 Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 Radiators for near-field treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 : intracavitary

Abstract

An apparatus for applying thermal energy to a prostate gland. The apparatus to apply therapeutic treatment to the prostate includes a tube with a longitudinal passageway and wall having radial apertures, power leads threaded through the tube and out the radial apertures in the wall of the tube. Ultrasound crystals are disposed over the tube and the power leads are coupled through the apertures to the ultrasound crystals and a sealant is disposed adjacent and coupled acoustically to the ultrasound crystals. The apparatus is particularly useful to shape the ultrasound treatment fields and minimize application of energy to rectal tissue and the like.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying thermal therapy to a prostate gland, comprising:

a support tube having a longitudinal central passageway defined by a wall and further including a radial aperture in the wall of said support tube;

a power lead threaded through said longitudinal central passageway of said support tube and also threaded through said radial aperture;

an ultrasound crystal having a generally cylindrical shape disposed over at least a portion of said support tube and having an electrode portion coupled from said ultrasound crystal to said power lead, said ultrasound crvstal energized to generate ultrasound energy to provide the thermal therapy for the prostate by power applied through said power lead to said ultrasound crystal, and said ultrasound crystal, and said ultrasound crystal including a first portion for generating ultrasound energy and a second portion physically coupled to said first portion and rendered incapable of producing any substantial ultrasound energy using generally longitudinal cuts in said electrode portion; and

an outer covering disposed over said support tube, said outer covering comprising a shrink wrap material.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ultrasound crystal is modified such that said second portion protects a patient'"'"'s rectal wall during said application of thermal therapy.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said ultrasound crystal comprises cylindrical sections concentrically disposed about said support tube.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said ultrasound crystal comprises a cylindrical shape concentrically disposed about said support tube.

5. An apparatus for applying thermal therapy to a prostate gland, comprising:

a support tube having a longitudinal central passageway defined by a wall and further including a radial aperture in the wall of said support tube;

a power lead threaded through said longitudinal central passageway of said support tube and also threaded through said radial aperture;

an ultrasound crystal having a generally cylindrical shape disposed over at least a portion of said support tube and having an electrode portion coupled from said ultrasound crvstal to said power lead, said ultrasound crvstal energized to generate ultrasound energy to provide the thermal therapy for the prostate by power applied through said power lead to said ultrasound crystal, and said ultrasound crystal, and said ultrasound crystal including a first portion for generating ultrasound energy and a second portion physically coupled to said first portion and rendered incapable of producing any substantial ultrasound energy using generally longitudinal cuts in said electrode portion; and

a sealant in contact with said ultrasound crystal while allowing vibration necessary for efficient ultrasound radiation for the thermal therapy.

6. An apparatus for applying thermal therapy to a prostate gland, comprising:

a support tube having a longitudinal central passageway and a wall and including an aperture in said wall of said tube;

a power lead threaded through said longitudinal central passageway of said support tube and said aperture in said wall of said support tube; and

a plurality of ultrasound crystals disposed around at least part of said support tube and said ultrasound crystals being coupled to said power lead with said ultrasound crystals receiving power through said power lead to generate ultrasound energy for thermal therapy for the prostate gland, each of said ultrasound crystals including a first portion for generating ultrasound energy and a second portion physically coupled to said first portion and rendered incapable of producing any substantial ultrasound energy using generally longitudinal cuts in said electrode portion; and

an outer covering disposed over said support tube, said outer covering comprising a shrink wrap material.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said ultrasound crystals are modified such that said second portion protects a patient'"'"'s rectal wall during said application of thermal therapy.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said ultrasound crystals comprise cylindrical sections concentrically disposed about said support tube.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said ultrasound crystals comprise a cylindrical shape concentrically disposed about said support tube.

10. An apparatus for applying thermal therapy to a prostate gland, comprising:

a support tube having a longitudinal central passageway and a wall and including an aperture in said wall of said tube;

a power lead threaded through said longitudinal central passageway of said support tube and said aperture in said wall of said support tube; and

a plurality of ultrasound crystals disposed around at least part of said support tube and said ultrasound crystals being coupled to said power lead with said ultrasound crystals receiving power through said power lead to generate ultrasound energy for thermal therapy for the prostate gland, each of said ultrasound crystals including a first portion for generating ultrasound energy and a second portion physically coupled to said first portion and rendered incapable of producing any substantial ultrasound energy using generally longitudinal cuts in said electrode portion; and

a sealant in contact with said ultrasound crystals while allowing vibration necessary for efficient ultrasound energy radiation for the thermal therapy.