Systems and methods for evaluating the urethra and the periurethral tissues
First Claim
1. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
- an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna;
an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit;
an endourethral therapeutic system comprising an endourethral delivery device to deliver a mode of therapy transurethrally to an area of the anatomic region imaged by the endourethral imaging system, the mode of therapy comprising electromagnetic radiation including at least one of light energy, light energy produced by a laser, microwave energy, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation; and
a housing enveloping the antenna and the endourethral therapeutic system, the housing comprising an elongate member insertable into a urethra of a patient and temporarily retainable in said urethra.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for the evaluation of the urethra and periurethral tissues using an MRI coil adapted for insertion into the male, female or pediatric urethra. The MRI coil may be in electrical communication with an interface circuit made up of a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit. The interface circuit may also be in electrical communication with a MRI machine. In certain practices, the present invention provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the urethra and periurethral tissues, including disorders of the female pelvic floor, conditions of the prostate and anomalies of the pediatric pelvis.
-
Citations
62 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
-
an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna;
an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit;
an endourethral therapeutic system comprising an endourethral delivery device to deliver a mode of therapy transurethrally to an area of the anatomic region imaged by the endourethral imaging system, the mode of therapy comprising electromagnetic radiation including at least one of light energy, light energy produced by a laser, microwave energy, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation; and
a housing enveloping the antenna and the endourethral therapeutic system, the housing comprising an elongate member insertable into a urethra of a patient and temporarily retainable in said urethra. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
-
-
12. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
-
an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging coil system, comprising a first antenna and a second antenna, wherein said second antenna is oriented at a preselected position with respect to said first antenna;
an interface system interposed between a MRI machine and said first and second antennas, said interface system being in electrical communication with said MRI machine and with each of said first antenna and said second antenna, said interface system comprising a tuning-matching system, a decoupling system and a balun system; and
a housing enveloping at least one of said first antenna and said second antenna;
wherein said electrical communication between said interface system and said MRI machine comprises a wireless connection. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
59. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
-
an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna;
an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit, a balun circuit, and a DC regulating circuit; and
a housing enveloping the antenna;
wherein at least one of the tuning-matching circuit, the decoupling circuit, the balun circuit, and the DC regulating circuit is enclosed within an interface box connected to the antenna by a wireless connection.
-
-
60. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
-
an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna;
an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit; and
a housing enveloping the antenna;
wherein the electrical communication between said interface circuit and said MRI machine comprises a wireless connection.
-
-
61. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
-
an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna;
an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit;
an endourethral therapeutic system comprising an endourethral delivery device to deliver a mode of therapy transurethrally to an area of the anatomic region imaged by the endourethral imaging system; and
a housing enveloping the antenna and the endourethral therapeutic system, the housing comprising an elongate member insertable into a urethra of a patient and temporarily retainable in said urethra;
wherein at least one of said tuning-matching circuit, said decoupling circuit and said balun is enclosed within an interface box connected to the antenna with a wireless connection.
-
-
62. An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an anatomic region of a human pelvis, comprising:
-
an endourethral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil comprising an antenna;
an interface circuit interposed between the antenna and a MRI machine, said interface circuit being in electrical communication with the antenna and being in electrical communication with the MRI machine, said interface circuit comprising a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit;
an endourethral therapeutic system comprising an endourethral delivery device to deliver a mode of therapy transurethrally to an area of the anatomic region imaged by the endourethral imaging system; and
a housing enveloping the antenna and the endourethral therapeutic system, the housing comprising an elongate member insertable into a urethra of a patient and temporarily retainable in said urethra;
wherein the electrical communication between said interface circuit and said MRI machine comprises a wireless connection.
-
Specification