409 results about "Hyperthermia" patented technology

Systems and methods are disclosed to control the temperature of an RF hyperthermia system with minimum overshoot and to improve safety by, among other things, detecting a defective temperature sensor. Temperature overshoot may be minimized by compensating for the short-term temperature difference between the area being treated and the applicator delivering the RF energy. The RF energy may heat the tissue and then the tissue may transfer heat to the applicator sensor. The system may also adapt to various applicator sizes and shapes by modifying control loop coefficients based on initial probe response.

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.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the blood vessel, heat may be transferred to or from blood flowing within the vessel and the patient's body temperature may thereby be increased or decreased as desired. The invention will find use in treating undesirable conditions of hypothermia and hyperthermia, or for inducing a condition of artificial hypothermia when desired.

A radiofrequency thermal balloon catheter uniformly heats tissues in contact with the balloon to achieve thermotherapy such as ablation or hyperthermia safely and properly for a diseased part. The radiofrequency thermal balloon catheter includes a catheter (4) having an outer shaft (2) and an inner shaft 3 extended through the outer shaft so as to be slidable relative to the outer shaft, an inflatable balloon (6) capable of being inflated so as to be in contact with a target lesion (18) and provided between respective front end parts of the outer and the inner shaft, and a radiofrequency electrode (8) extended in a wall of the balloon or inside the balloon to be used for radiofrequency energy supply in combination with a counter electrode (53). The counter electrode is disposed at a predetermined position, for example, inside the balloon, in the wall of the balloon, in a position neighboring the balloon or on the patient's body surface. A lead wire (10) electrically connects to the radiofrequency electrode. A temperature sensor (12) is capable of sensing temperature of a liquid contained in the balloon. A temperature distribution uniformizing device (14) uniformizes the temperature distribution in the liquid contained in the balloon.

A method and apparatus is provided for determining an effective thermal mass of a patient. The effective thermal mass is employed to determine a gain factor used in a feedback control system controlling patient temperature. The method begins by inducing hypothermia or hyperthermia in at least a selected portion of the patient with a device having a heat transfer surface. Next, power is transferred between the device and the patient. A change in temperature over time, which arises in the selected portion of the patient, is measured while performing the step of inducing hypothermia or hyperthermia. Finally, an effective thermal mass is calculated based on the measured power and the measured temperature change over time.

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 combination of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR-guided subcutaneous core biopsy can be used as a robust approach for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. MRI provides the means to accurately position and monitor interventional procedures such as biopsy, removal of tissue or other transcanular procedures. MRI may also be used in this invention to position and monitor the progress of breast conserving therapies (BCT), such as laser photo-ablation, cryoablation and localized hyperthermia. The general practice of this invention is to provide a remotely controlled apparatus for MR-guided interventional procedures in the breast. The apparatus allows the practice of a method that provides flexibility in conditioning the breast, i.e. orientation and degree of compression, and in setting the trajectory of the intervention. To that end, a robust conditioning/positioning device, fitted with the appropriate degrees of freedom, enhances the efficacy and efficiency of breast interventions by providing the flexibility in planning and executing an appropriate procedure strategy that better suits interventional procedures, either those in current use or yet to be developed. The novelty and potential commercial success of the device originates from its high maneuverability to set and perform the procedure strategy and its adaptability to accommodate an array of interventional probes. Remote control of this device can allow planning the operation and performing the relevant tasks in a short period, for example, within the contrast window provided by a single injection of a contrast agent, and this feature can be operator-independent.

A device for directly applying thermotherapeutic liquid to an area upon the surface of an afflicted patient, and methods of use thereof, are described. In particular a device for applying water-based liquid at a therapeutic temperature directly to an afflicted area in order to create a localized hyperthermia, is presented. The afflicted area may be either on the skin of the patient, or subcutaneous. The device is also effective for disinfection, irrigation, lavage, and the like, when employing a suitable solution. The liquid may also have a mild oxidizing effect, which, if greater upon afflicted than upon non-afflicted cells, would enhance the therapeutic effect in conjunction with the therapy herein described.

The present invention relates to minimally invasive surgery techniques. It provides a method for manufacturing an antenna for percutaneous acute hyperthermia microwave applications of the monopole or dipole co-axial type provided with trap, commonly called choke, for blocking the propagation of the backwards reflecting wave towards the generator. The miniaturisation of the device allows a use minimally invasive for interstitial hyperthermia in medicine and surgery, in particular for oncology. The method of manufacturing the antenna provides a metal needle (1) for the introduction of the antenna (2, 3, 4) in the target tissue. On the external conductor (4) of the antenna (2) a metal collar (6) is connected in a predetermined position; a plastics sheath (5) is applied in order to cover the external conductor (2) in the portion between the feed (7) and the collar (6); the inner wall of the metal needle (1) wherein the antenna is inserted is then used for containing and guiding the collar (6) and the sheath (5); in particular, the collar (6) being in electrical contact with the inner wall of the metal needle (1). An antenna is thus obtained with choke of variable length and with miniaturized diameter. A thermocouple can be introduced through the choke that protrudes the directly in the "feed" zone.

The present invention concerns the use of oxygen antagonists and other active compounds for inducing stasis or pre-stasis in cells, tissues, and/or organs in vivo or in an organism overall, in addition to enhancing their survivability. It includes compositions, methods, articles of manufacture and apparatuses for enhancing survivability and for achieving stasis or pre-stasis in any of these biological materials, so as to preserve and/or protect them. In specific embodiments, there are also therapeutic methods and apparatuses for organ transplantation, hyperthermia, wound healing, hemorrhagic shock, cardioplegia for bypass surgery, neurodegeneration, hypothermia, and cancer using the active compounds described.

The invention provides a medical device having a thermister for temperature measurement, irrigation/aspiration ports for fluid exchange and application of therapeutic modalities, a pressure manometer for pressure measurement, and an external system for control of temperature, pressure, and flow rate. When applied to the eye and orbit, this device can be used in hypothermia or hyperthermia applications, the control of intraocular pressure (IOP), and the application of treatment modalities. Methods of using the device in treating patients suffering from central retinal artery occlusion, anterior optic nerve disease, pathology of the choroid and retina including the macula, inflammation of the eye including the vitreous and anterior segment, glaucoma, inflammation and/or infections of the anterior and/or posterior segment of the eye, treatment before/during/after surgery of the eye, and the application of treatment modalities through a semi-permeable membrane are described.

The Body Cavity Cancer Treatment Apparatus generates the magnetic field for use in a combined “Low Temperature Hyperthermia” and ionizing radiation and/or chemotherapy cancer treatment protocol. Unlike other competing systems, the Body Cavity Cancer Treatment Apparatus does not directly kill or ablate the cancer cells with killing temperatures rather, the Body Cavity Cancer Treatment Apparatus stresses the cancer and cancer stem cells by keeping them at a nominal 42° Celsius for some period of time via the heating of nano-particles that have been infused into the bladder, using the generated magnetic field.

An animal condition monitor. The animal condition monitor measures diagnostic parameters from the animal and determines whether the parameters indicate that the animal is at risk of a specified condition, such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, or hyperthermia. The condition assessment is considered in light of a profile containing information about the age/health of the animal. When warranted, the animal condition monitor provides notification of the condition of interest.

The present invention relates to a first conformable material having a three-dimensional shape and a first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device. This invention is used as a pad for sleeping, lying down, or sitting, to maintain a desired temperature to the contacting surface of a body to the pad.

This invention describes a system for generating multiple simultaneous tunable electron and photon beams and monochromatic x-rays for all field simultaneous radiation therapy (AFSRT), tumor specific AFSRT and screening for concealed elements worn on to the body or contained in a container. Inverse Compton scattering renders variable energy spent electron and tunable monochromatic x-rays. It's spent electron beam is reused for radiation with electron beam or to generate photon beam. Tumor specific radiation with Auger transformation radiation is facilitated by exposing high affinity tumor bound heavy elements with external monochromatic x-rays. Heavy elements like directly iodinated steroid molecule that has high affinity binding to estrogen receptor in breast cancer and to iodinated testosterone in prostate cancer or with directly implanted nanoparticles into the tumor are exposed with tuned external monochromatic x-rays for tumor specific radiation therapy. Likewise, screening element's atom's k, l, m, n shell specific Auger transformation radiation generated by its exposure to external monochromatic x-rays is used to screen for concealed objects. Multiple beam segments from a beam storage ring or from octagonal beam lines are simultaneously switched on for simultaneous radiation with multiple beams. The beam on time to expose a tumor or an object is only a few seconds. It also facilitates breathing synchronized radiation therapy. The intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and intensity modulated screening for concealed objects (IMSFCO) is rendered by varying beam intensities of multiple simultaneous beams. The isocentric additive high dose rate from simultaneously converging multiple beams, the concomitant hyperthermia and chemotherapy and tumor specific radiation therapy and the AFSRT's very low radiation to the normal tissue all are used to treat a tumor with lower radiation dose and to treat a radioresistant and multiple times recurrent tumors that heave no other alternative treatments.

A method for determining the relative body temperature of a warm-bodied animal is described. The method, in part, involves an article of manufacture that provides a manifestation, or visually observable indication on an exterior surface, of a relative state of the warm-bodied animal's body temperature, either being too cold or too hot, as a measure against relative levels of hypothermia or hyperthermia, or poor circulation.

The invention relates generally to methods of treating cancer and other diseases by modulating body temperature. Heat may directed to the hypothalamus of a warm-blooded animal to cool the animal, utilizing the physiological mechanisms that regulate body temperature to effect a compensatory cooling response, thereby lowering body temperature (hypothermia), and rendering other methods of lowering body temperature more effective. Heat may be withdrawn from the hypothalamus of an animal, cooling the hypothalamus, inducing a compensatory increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), and rendering other methods of raising body temperature more effective. Body temperature may be directly modulated by heat-exchange catheter positioned within a blood vessel of a patient. The invention relates generally to methods of treating cancer by inducing hypothermia by directing heat to the hypothalamus, optionally maintaining cancerous tissue at or near to normal body temperature, and optionally applying another cancer treatment. This other cancer treatment may be radiation therapy, chemotherapy, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, or some other cancer treatment. The invention relates generally to methods of treating diseases including cancer, viral infections, and other diseases, comprising inducing hyperthermia by cooling the hypothalamus, and optionally applying another treatment, for example radiation, chemotherapy, antiviral therapy, or a combination of therapies.

The invention provides a medical device having a thermister for temperature measurement, irrigation/aspiration ports for fluid exchange and application of therapeutic modalities, a pressure manometer for pressure measurement, and an external system for control of temperature, pressure, and flow rate. When applied to the eye, eyelid and orbit, this device can be used in hypothermia or hyperthermia applications, the control of intraocular pressure (IOP), and the application of treatment modalities. Methods of using the device in treating patients suffering from central retinal artery occlusion, anterior optic nerve disease, pathology of the choroid and retina including the macula, inflammation of the eye including the vitreous and anterior segment, glaucoma, inflammation and/or infections of the anterior and/or posterior segment of the eye, treatment before/during/after surgery of the eye, and the application of treatment modalities including iontophoresis through a semi-permeable membrane are described.

The invention provides a microwave heating method and apparatus for evenly heating an object, such as a person's body. The methods and apparatus involve use of microwave source (or sources) that outputs multiple microwaves that are non-correlated with each other in phase; an array of antennas that radiate substantially plane microwaves to form a pseudo uniform microwave electromagnetic field, where the microwaves are not phase-correlated, in order to eliminate non-uniform heating caused by interference. Each of the antenna array consists of multiple antenna units, each antenna unit consists of at least one microwave radiator and at least one converter that converts the spherical microwave to plane microwave. A computer based control system and a temperature monitoring subsystem can be used to adjust the output of each antenna, in order to enhance the uniform heating effect. The apparatus and method can be used to perform whole-body hyperthermia or regional hyperthermia.

The present invention concerns the use of oxygen antagonists for inducing stasis in cells, tissues, and/or organs in vivo or in an organism overall. It includes methods and apparatuses for achieving stasis in any of these biological materials, so as to preserve and/or protect them. In specific embodiments, therapeutic methods and apparatuses for organ transplantation, hyperthermia, wound healing, hemorrhagic shock, cardioplegia for bypass surgery, neurodegeneration, hypothermia, and cancer is provided.