System method and apparatus for localized heating of tissue
First Claim
1. A method for thermally treating a target tissue volume within the body of a patient comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining temperature value and treatment interval therapy data for carrying out said treatment of said target tissue volume;
(b) providing an untethered implant with a ferrite component formulated with oxides of Fe, Mn and Zn to exhibit a Curie point temperature corresponding with said temperature value and exhibiting a permeability attribute at temperatures below said Curie point temperature;
(c) providing an alternating current field based heating assembly having an on-state and an off-state and controllable for the generation of heat at said target tissue volume from an application component located externally of said body;
(d) providing a detector assembly having a magnetometer-based pick-up component positionable externally of said body and, when enabled, having a first detector output in the presence of magnetic flux lines of a magnetic field encountering said implant when exhibiting said permeability attribute and a second detector output in the absence of said permeability attribute;
(e) locating said untethered implant at an intra-body location effective for response to temperatures at the location of said target tissue;
(f) positioning said detector assembly pick-up at a location externally of said body effective for monitoring magnetic flux lines of said magnetic field encountering said implant;
(g) monitoring said detector assembly for the presence of said first and second detector outputs;
(h) controlling said heating assembly to have said on-state in response to said first detector output and to have said off-state in response to said second detector output; and
(i) controlling said heating assembly to terminate said generation of heat at said target tissue at the expiration of said determined treatment interval.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System method and apparatus for accurately carrying out the in situ heating of a targeted tissue. Small implants are employed with the targeted tissue which exhibit an abrupt change of magnetic permeability at an elected Curie temperature. The permeability state of the implant is monitored utilizing a magnetometer. The implants may be formed as a setpoint temperature determining component combined with a non-magnetic heater component to enhance the tissue heating control of the system. With the system, a very accurate quantum of heat energy can be supplied to a neoplastic lesion or tissue carrying infectious disease so as to maximize the induction of heat shock proteins. The system also may be utilized in conjunction with non-magnetic arterially implanted stents for the hyperthermia therapy treatment of restenosis and in conjunction with the mending of boney tissue.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for thermally treating a target tissue volume within the body of a patient comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining temperature value and treatment interval therapy data for carrying out said treatment of said target tissue volume;
(b) providing an untethered implant with a ferrite component formulated with oxides of Fe, Mn and Zn to exhibit a Curie point temperature corresponding with said temperature value and exhibiting a permeability attribute at temperatures below said Curie point temperature;
(c) providing an alternating current field based heating assembly having an on-state and an off-state and controllable for the generation of heat at said target tissue volume from an application component located externally of said body;
(d) providing a detector assembly having a magnetometer-based pick-up component positionable externally of said body and, when enabled, having a first detector output in the presence of magnetic flux lines of a magnetic field encountering said implant when exhibiting said permeability attribute and a second detector output in the absence of said permeability attribute;
(e) locating said untethered implant at an intra-body location effective for response to temperatures at the location of said target tissue;
(f) positioning said detector assembly pick-up at a location externally of said body effective for monitoring magnetic flux lines of said magnetic field encountering said implant;
(g) monitoring said detector assembly for the presence of said first and second detector outputs;
(h) controlling said heating assembly to have said on-state in response to said first detector output and to have said off-state in response to said second detector output; and
(i) controlling said heating assembly to terminate said generation of heat at said target tissue at the expiration of said determined treatment interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for thermally treating a target tissue within the body of a patient comprising:
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a tetherless implant located internally within said patient, positioned in thermally responsive relationship with said target tissue, having a ferrite component formulated with oxides of Fe, Mn and Zn to exhibit a Curie point temperature selected for carrying out said thermal treatment at a target temperature level, said ferrite component exhibiting a permeability of value perturbing the flux lines of a magnetic field at temperatures below said Curie point temperature;
a heating assembly actuable to apply alternating field based heat-inducing energy to said target tissue to an extent effective to elevate the temperature of said target tissue toward said target temperature level and de-actuable to terminate said application of thermal energy;
an implant monitor comprising a magnetometer with a pick-up located externally of said body in general adjacency with said target tissue, and, when enabled, having a first monitor condition in response to the perturbation of magnetic flux lines encountering said ferrite component when exhibiting said permeability at said value and having a second monitor condition in the substantial absence of said permeability at said value; and
a control assembly responsive to said first and second monitor conditions to actuate said heating assembly in a manner effective in a manner effective to attain said target temperature level at said target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification