1054results about "Microwave therapy" patented technology

The invention provides an apparatus and system for ablation of body structures or tissue in the region of the rectum. A catheter is inserted into the rectum, and an electrode is disposed thereon for emitting energy. The environment for an ablation region is isolated or otherwise controlled by blocking gas or fluid using a pair of inflatable balloons at upstream and downstream locations. Inflatable balloons also serve to anchor the catheter in place. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on the catheter and at least one such electrode is selected and advanced out of the catheter to penetrate and ablate selected tissue inside the body in the region of the rectum. The electrodes are coupled to sensors to determine control parameters of the body structure or tissue, and which are used by feedback technique to control delivery of energy for ablation or fluids for cooling or hydration. The catheter includes an optical path disposed for coupling to an external view piece, so as to allow medical personnel to view or control positioning of the catheter and operation of the electrodes. The catheter is disposed to deliver flowable substances for aiding in ablation, or for aiding in repair of tissue, such as collagen or another substance for covering lesions or for filling fissures. The flowable substances are delivered using at least one lumen in the catheter, either from at least one hole in the catheter, from an area of the catheter covered by a microporous membrane, or from microporous balloons.

An apparatus for cooling a skin surface includes a support structure coupled to an electromagnetic energy delivery device. The electromagnetic energy delivery device is configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic energy source. A cooling member is coupled to the electromagnetic energy delivery device and is configured to create a reverse thermal gradient through a skin surface. A memory is coupled to the electromagnetic energy delivery device and is positioned at the support structure or the electromagnetic energy delivery device. The memory is configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the cooling member, and the electromagnetic energy source. Resources are coupled to the cooling member to permit different levels of cooling at different times of treatment.

A method and apparatus for producing hair growth stimulation using light energy, topical compositions, and combinations thereof. By using photomodulation resulting from cellular responses to exposure to specific wavelengths of light, optionally in conjunction with topical compositions and procedures for enhancing the penetration of such compositions, hair follicles are activated to produce hair growth.

Disclosed are compositions, systems and methods for treating a subject's body, body part, tissue, body fluid cells, pathogens, or other undesirable matter involving the administration of a targeted thermotherapy that comprises a bioprobe (energy susceptive materials that are attached to a target-specific ligand). Such targeted therapy methods can be combined with at least one other therapy technique. Other therapies include hyperthermia, direct antibody therapy, radiation, chemo- or pharmaceutical therapy, photodynamic therapy, surgical or interventional therapy, bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, and medical imaging, such as MRI, PET, SPECT, and bioimpedance. The disclosed therapies may be useful in the treatment of a variety of indications, including but not limited to, cancer of any type, such as bone marrow, lung, vascular, neuro, colon, ovarian, breast and prostate cancer, epitheleoid sarcomas, AIDS, adverse angiogenesis, restenosis, amyloidosis, tuberculosis, cardiovascular plaque, vascular plaque, obesity, malaria, and illnesses due to viruses, such as HIV.

A handpiece has a handpiece assembly and includes a handpiece housing. An insert is detachably coupled to the handpiece housing. The insert includes an RF electrode with a conductive portion and a dielectric.

A flexible microwave applicator and method of use thereof. The applicator includes a flexible, dielectric-containing compartment (e.g. temperature regulated water or oil) having a variable contour, tissue-engaging surface and an opposite non-tissue-engaging surface and an antenna array adjacent to a non-tissue-engaging surface. The antenna array includes at least one flexible printed circuit board having a front metal surface, a dielectric substrate, a back metal surface, a connection structure for connecting the antenna array to at least one external microwave device, at least one dual concentric conductor aperture on the front surface, and at least one microstrip feedline in communication with the dual concentric conductor aperture and the connection structure. The microwave applicator also includes flexible attachment material for placement over the antenna array and dielectric compartment to allow the microwave applicator to be attached to a subject like a garment which closely conforms to the anatomy portion to be heated. The flexible attachment material may be configured such that the microwave applicator is configured as an appropriately-shaped type of garment, for example, a vest, jacket, cap, hood, blanket, custom shaped conformal wrap, sleeve, or as a pair of shorts.

A method for treating a tissue site couples an energy delivery surface of an electromagnetic energy delivery device with a skin surface. An underlying tissue area beneath the skin surface is created. The cooling creates a reverse thermal gradient, where a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the underlying tissue area. Energy is delivered from the energy delivery device to the underlying tissue area. The energy delivery modifies the underlying tissue area and decreases irregularities of the skin surface.

An RF device has a support structure. An RF electrode, coupled to the support structure, includes conductive and dielectric portions. A cooling member, coupled to the support structure, is configured to cool a back surface of the RF electrode. The cooling member is distanced from the back surface of the RF electrode.

A device for treating a tissue region is supplied with a separate usage key card. The usage key card comprises a storage medium, which is formatted to contain an identification code unique to the usage key card. The usage key card is adapted to be read by a remote reader, to download the identification code for processing by a controller for the device. Processing of the identification code by the controller either enables or disables operation of the device according to prescribed criteria. A viewable image is generated on a display screen that changes in response to processing of the identification code.

A therapeutic system comprising a therapeutic applicator for treating living tissues and an observation unit for determining the position of the applicator. The therapeutic energy applied from the applicator to the living tissues is controlled in accordance with data representing the position of the applicator, determined by the observation unit. It is therefore easy to operate the system even if the applicator and the observation unit (e.g., an MRI apparatus) are used at the same time. The image of the living tissues remains clear during the use of the therapeutic applicator.

An apparatus for treatment of tissue within a body requiring thermotherapy includes a catheter to be inserted into a bodily conduit, an energy-emitting source disposed within the catheter, a compression balloon surrounding the energy-emitting source where the compression balloon has an inflated diameter that is greater than that of the bodily conduit in a relaxed state and an outside surface of the balloon is coated with one of gene modifiers and drug or medication, and means for activating the energy-emitting source to radiate energy to heat the drug-coated compression balloon and tissue to be treated whereby the heated drug-coated compression balloon effectively delivers the one of the gene modifiers and drug or medication to a target area of the diseased tissue. In addition, methods for using the above apparatus to treat diseased tissue are disclosed.

High-strength microwave antenna assemblies and methods of use are described herein. The microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. The antenna is a dipole antenna with the distal end of the radiating portion being tapered and terminating at a tip to allow for direct insertion into tissue. The antenna can be used individually or in combination with multiple antennas to create a combined ablation field. When multiple antennas are used, microwave energy can be applied simultaneously to all the antennas or sequentially between the antennas. Furthermore, to facilitate positioning the antennas in or near the tissue to be treated, RF energy may be applied at the tip of the antenna to assist in cutting through the tissue.

The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously treating a tumor or cancerous growth with both hyperthermia and X-ray radiation using brachytherapy. The device includes a needle-like introducer serving as a microwave antenna. Microwaves are emitted from the introducer to increase the temperature of cancerous body tissue. The introducer is an inner conductor of a coaxial cable. The introducer contains a hollow core which houses an X-ray emitter. The X-ray emitter is connected to a high voltage miniature cable which extends from the X-ray emitter to a high voltage power source. The X-ray emitter emits ionizing radiation to irradiate cancerous tissue. A cooling system is included to control the temperature of the introducer. Temperature sensors placed around the periphery of the tumor monitor the temperature of the treated tissue.

The invention provides a method and system for treating disorders in parts of the body. A particular treatment can include on or more of, or some combination of: ablation, nerve modulation, three-dimensional tissue shaping, drug delivery, mapping stimulating, shrinking and reducing strain on structures by altering the geometry thereof and providing bulk to particularly defined regions. The particular body structures or tissues can include one or more of or some combination of region, including: the bladder, esophagus, vagina, penis, larynx, pharynx, aortic arch, abdominal aorta, thoracic, aorta, large intestine, sinus, auditory canal, uterus, vas deferens, trachea, and all associated sphincters. Types of energy that can be applied include radiofrequency, laser, microwave, infrared waves, ultrasound, or some combination thereof. Types of substances that can be applied include pharmaceutical agents such as analgesics, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs, bulking agents such as biologically non-reactive particles, cooling fluids, or dessicants such as liquid nitrogen for use in cryo-based treatments.