Systems and methods for thermal therapy

摘要

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for thermal therapy, especially to detection-guided, -controlled, and temperature-modulated interstitial thermal therapy. Thermal therapy may be used to treat the tissues of a patient. In the case of interstitial thermal therapy, energy is applied to generate heating of the tissue to affect treatment, such as, for example, thermally inducing tissue damage (e.g. thermally-induced tissue necrosis), which may be useful in treating tumors and/or other diseased tissues. Since targets for thermal therapy are internal to the patient, the use of detection guidance may be useful in locating and monitoring treatment of a target tissue.

主权项

1. A system for thermal therapy comprising:
at least one detection device for generating data on the thermal energy characteristics of a target area; at least one treatment device for transferring a preselected amount of energy between it and at least a portion of said target area, the at least one treatment device having,
a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis,a circulation chamber at the distal end of the housing,a tubular dividing structure concentric to the longitudinal axis defining a first annular channel and a second annular channel that extend from the proximal end to the circulation chamber,a first access port at the proximal end and in fluid communication with the first annular channel,a second access port at the proximal end and in fluid communication with the second annular channel, the first and second annular channels in fluid communication at the circulation chamber at the distal end of the housing; at least one treatment device guide comprising a plurality of channels in a guide body, an extension plate adjustably coupled to said guide body at a plurality of adjustable angles between the extension plate and the treatment device guide, where the extension plate is configured to mount or position the treatment device guide, at least one fiducial marker on the guide, and at least one fiducial marker on the extension plate, each of said plurality of channels is adapted for retaining the at least one treatment device; and at least one control system adapted for communicating with said at least one detection device and said at least one treatment device, said control system determining said preselected amount of energy based at least in part on said data; wherein said control system receives the data from said at least one detection device and communicates with said at least one treatment device to transfer the preselected amount of thermal energy between the treatment device and at least a portion of the target area to substantially affect a predetermined change in the thermal characteristics of said at least a portion of said target area to an extent determined by said detection device.