Neurosurgical device for thermal therapy including spiral element

• US 6,652,566 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seacoast Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seacoast Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sachs, Dan, Larnard, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, III, Henry M.
• Application Number:
  US09/971,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 607/105, 607/110, 607/112, 607/113, 607/96, 607/104
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/101 for cooling organs in the body before or during surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element

Abstract

A device for thermally affecting tissue having a thermally transmissive contact member being in thermal communication with a thermal member and a surface area expansion element configured for contacting a tissue. The contact member and thermal member are disposed within a housing and the surface area expansion element is coupleable to the housing. The housing is configured to fit within an opening in a skull.

Claims

1. A device for thermally affecting tissue, comprising:

a contact member, the contact member being thermally transmissive;

a thermal member having a thermal input side and a thermal output side, the thermal input side being in thermal communication with the contact member;

a first thermal fluid circulation member, the a first thermal fluid circulation member provided to circulate thermal fluid across the thermal output side of the thermal member;

a housing, the housing having an interior surface for mounting the contact member, the first thermal member and the thermal fluid circulation member and the housing being configured to fit within a burr hole in a skull; and

a surface area expansion element, the surface area expansion element, having an interior volume filled with a thermally-transmissive fluid, the thermally-transmissive fluid being in thermal communication with the contact member.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the surface area expansion element has a spiral shape.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the surface area expansion element has a spider-like shape.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the surface area expansion element, has a width measured at a widest part of the outside periphery of the spiral and a height measured from a top to a tissue contact surface area, the width being at least twice the height.

5. The device according to claim 4, further comprising a fluid circulation circuit including a second circulation member and at least one injection member.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the second circulation member is a pump.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the contact member defines an access port.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the access port contains a pressure sensor.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the access port contains a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor being configured to detect the temperature of a tissue to be treated.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the thermal member removes heat energy from the contact member via the thermal input side and radiates heat energy via the thermal output side.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the thermal member is a thermocooler.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a thermal sink, the thermal sink being in thermal communication with the thermal output side of the thermal member and being operable to radiate heat energy.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal fluid circulation member is a fan and the thermal fluid is air, wherein the fan circulates air across a thermal sink to dissipate heat energy.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first thermal fluid circulation member is a pump and the thermal fluid is a liquid.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical in shape.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein a portion of the cylindrical shape of the housing is threaded.

17. A device for thermally affecting tissue, comprising:

a thermal cartridge having;

a contact member, the contact member being thermally transmissive;

a thermal member having a thermal input side and a thermal output side, the thermal input side being in thermal communication with the contact member;

a thermal fluid circulation member, the thermal fluid circulation member provided to circulate thermal fluid across the thermal output side of the thermal member;

to a housing, the housing having an interior surface for mounting the contact member, the thermal member and the thermal fluid circulation member and the housing being configured to fit within a burr hole in a skull; and

a surface area expansion element, the surface area expansion element, having an interior volume filled with a thermally-transmissive fluid, the thermally-transmissive fluid being in thermal communication with the contact member.