METHOD AND APPARATUS TREATING TISSUE ADJACENT A BODILY CONDUIT WITH THERMOCOMPRESSION AND DRUGS

摘要

A method and apparatus of treating tissue adjacent a bodily conduit using thermotherapy, while preventing obstructions of the bodily conduit due to edema, includes injection of a drug-encapsulated within a heat-sensitive carrier, such as a liposome, within the region of tissue to be treated. The heat produced by the energy-emitting source heats a portion of the tissue surrounding the bodily conduit to a temperature of approximately 43 DEG C for a time sufficient to destroy the heated portion of the tissue. In addition, the heat produced by the energy-emitting source activates the heat-sensitive carrier to activate the release of the encapsulated drug and the drug targets the tissue to be heated. The focused energy of the energy- emitting source together with the compression acting on the target area can assist in delivering drugs to the target area so that the natural stent has a long term efficacy.