Apparatus arranged for radiation heat treatment of prostate tissue

Abstract

The invention describes a device arranged for radiation heat treatment of prostate tissue, the device utilizing a software unit arranged for performing a method comprising the steps of:-determining a radiation energy radiated by a radiation source at a given point in time during a set time range; -calculating the energy point at each point in time as a value of radiation energy / time, one energy point being equal to a level of radiation effect / processing time, for example equal to 10 watts, the processing time being 1 minute; calculating a cumulative energy point value for each point in time; -comparing the cumulative energy point value with a given maximum energy point value for a particular prostate size; -stopping the radiation heat treatment when the cumulative energy point value is greater than or equal to a given maximum value of a specific prostate size.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus arranged for radiothermally treating prostate tissue, and the apparatus relates to a software unit arranged to execute a method for ensuring that the radiothermally treatment is stopped at an appropriate time. Background Art

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus including a software unit that ensures that the apparatus stops radiothermally treating prostate tissue at an appropriate time, i.e., sets a so-called end point of the radiothermally treatment.

[0003] As will be understood from the following, the apparatus according to the present invention can utilize multiple end points to determine the "actual" end point based on different types of methods. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for setting the actual end point of the radiothermally treatment of prostate tissue, regardless of whether one or more end point techniques are used. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The above object is achieved by an apparatus arranged for radiothermally treating prostate tissue, the apparatus utilizing a software unit arranged to execute a method including the following steps:

[0005] - Determine the radiation energy radiated by a radiation source at a given time point during a set time range;

[0006] - Calculate an energy point for each time point as a value of radiation energy / time, where 1 energy point is equal to a level of radiation effect / processing time, for example, equal to 10 watts and the processing time is 1 minute;

[0007] - Calculate the cumulative energy point value for each time point;

[0008] - Compare the cumulative energy point value with a given maximum energy point value for a specific prostate size;

[0009] - When the cumulative energy point value is greater than or equal to the given maximum value for a specific prostate size, stop the radiothermally treatment. It should be understood that the method according to the present invention involves calculating the cumulative energy point value based on a specific prostate size and comparing the cumulative energy point value with the maximum energy point value set based on the prostate size and the radiation energy / time based on the set treatment procedure.

[0010] In addition, the energy point can be set such that, for example, 1 energy point is equal to 10 watts and the processing time is 1 minute.

[0011] The interaction between the user and the device can be carried out as follows. A specific prostate size (e.g., the volume based on the set height, length, and width of the prostate) is the input provided in the user interface of the user device. Then, the device provides a suitable radiation treatment program (radiation energy and time during the treatment). Then, this is also the input for performing the following steps: i) determining the radiation energy at a given time point during the set time range; and ii) calculating the energy point at each time point as the value of radiation energy / time. Based on this, the software calculates the so-called energy points at each time point during the treatment and thus calculates the cumulative energy point value. This value is compared with the set maximum energy point value, and once this value is at the same level as the maximum energy point value, if it reaches the same level (which will be discussed further below), the treatment is stopped or at least paused.

[0012] If and when the cumulative energy point value reaches the set maximum value, the device ensures that the radiation treatment is stopped. The user may ignore this to continue with a shorter-duration radiation treatment, but the standard is that such an event stops the entire radiation treatment.

[0013] Regarding the above, it should be noted that the given maximum energy point value for a specific prostate size can be set based on programming curves for different prostate volume sizes, which are software data as part of the platform inside the software unit in the device according to the present invention.

[0014] Specific embodiments of the present invention

[0015] Some specific embodiments of the present invention are provided below.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the software unit also acts as the adjustment unit of the device and sets the radiation energy to be provided from the device at the given time point based on the specific prostate size. As described above, this can be set through the programming relationship between different prostate sizes and suitable radiation treatment programs. As an example consistent with this, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the given maximum energy point value for a specific prostate size is given according to a set maximum curve based on the function of the cumulative energy point value relative to the prostate size.

[0017] Furthermore, according to yet another embodiment, the software unit is arranged to also perform the following steps:

[0018] - calculating the cell kill rate of the prostate tissue and comparing the calculated cell kill value with a given maximum cell kill value; and

[0019] - stopping the radiation heat treatment when the calculated cell kill value is greater than or equal to the given maximum cell kill value.

[0020] When combining the above two alternative solutions, the method according to the invention uses multiple endpoints based on different calculation methods and methodologies to determine when the treatment should be stopped.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the given maximum cell kill value is 20%. According to yet another embodiment, the cell kill rate is calculated based on the Henriques damage integral. The Jung's compartment model can also be used alone or in combination with the Henriques damage integral.

[0022] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the radiation heat treatment is microwave thermotherapy treatment.

[0023] Furthermore, according to yet another embodiment, the radiation heat treatment is stopped when any one or both of the following are satisfied:

[0024] - The cumulative energy point value is greater than or equal to the given maximum value for a specific prostate size; and

[0025] - The calculated cell kill value is greater than or equal to the given maximum cell kill value.

[0026] This embodiment means using a primary endpoint and a secondary endpoint to determine when the treatment should be stopped.

[0027] The invention also provides a method for performing a radiation heat treatment process on a patient's prostate, the method comprising the steps of:

[0028] - Providing the prostate size value of the patient to the device according to the invention,

[0029] - Performing a radiation heat treatment on the patient's prostate until the device stops the radiation heat treatment, wherein the software unit of the device executes the steps according to the invention; and

[0030] - Then evaluating the situation and ending the radiation heat treatment process or initiating an additional radiation heat treatment process.

[0031] Using the cumulative energy point value according to the invention brings advantages during the radiation heat treatment of the prostate. The premise of only using the above cell kill value is to perfectly place the used IP sensor and use adrenaline for perfect anesthesia during the treatment. By also using the cumulative energy point value according to the invention, these perfect placements and anesthesia with adrenaline are not crucial. Therefore, the device according to the invention provides a safe way to ensure the optimal radiation heat treatment of the prostate, with the risk of too short or too long treatment time minimized. Detailed Description

[0032] In Figure 1Therein, a graph is shown visualizing a possible relationship between a suitable limit value of the cumulative energy point (EP) value and the prostate size of the prostate to be treated. This graph can serve as a relationship and be part of the software of the device according to the invention.

[0033] In addition, in Figure 2 therein, a visualization of the general functionality of the software of a device according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. In this case and in this embodiment, it is shown that the device provides two set limit values, namely one for the energy point value and one for the cell kill value, the latter typically being 20%. Then, the software operates by calculating the actual values of these two values during the radiative heat treatment of the prostate tissue. When one of the limit values is reached, this triggers the device to stop the treatment.

Claims

1. An apparatus arranged for the radiative thermal treatment of prostate tissue, the apparatus utilizing a software unit arranged to perform a method comprising the steps of: - determining the radiative energy radiated by a radiation source at a given time point during a set time range; - calculating an energy point for each time point as a value of radiative energy / time, where, One energy point is equal to the level of radiation effect / processing time; - Calculate the cumulative energy point value at each time point; - Compare the cumulative energy point value with the given maximum energy point value for a specific prostate size; - When the cumulative energy point value is greater than or equal to the given maximum value for a specific prostate size, stop the radiation heat treatment.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The software unit also acts as a regulating unit of the device and sets the radiation energy to be provided by the device at the given time point based on the specific prostate size.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The given maximum energy point value for a specific prostate size is given according to a set maximum curve based on the function of the cumulative energy point value relative to the prostate size.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The software unit is arranged to further perform the following steps: - Calculate the cell kill rate of the prostate tissue and compare the calculated cell kill value with the given maximum cell kill value; and - When the calculated cell kill value is greater than or equal to the given maximum cell kill value, stop the radiation heat treatment.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, The given maximum cell kill value is 20%.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, The cell kill rate is calculated based on the Henriques damage integral.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The radiation heat treatment is microwave thermotherapy treatment.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein, Stop the radiation heat treatment when any one or both of the following are satisfied: - The cumulative energy point value is greater than or equal to the given maximum value for a specific prostate size; and - The calculated cell kill value is greater than or equal to the given maximum cell kill value.

9. A method for a radiative thermal treatment process of a patient's prostate, the method comprising the steps of: - Provide the prostate size value of the patient to the device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, - Perform radiation heat treatment on the prostate of the patient until the device stops the radiation heat treatment, wherein the software unit of the device performs the steps according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and - Then evaluate the situation and end the radiation heat treatment process or initiate an additional radiation heat treatment process.

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