EP0236285A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for the hyperthermal treatment of tumours
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-01-27
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2007-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and device for hyperthermic treatment of tumors. At least two electrodes connected to an RF source of energy are brought into contact with the patient's body for transmission of RF energy to the tumor area. One of the electrodes constitutes a treatment electrode system, shaped with an external surface the same size as the tumor area and intended to be applied therein, and the other electrode constitutes an indifferent electrode, considerably larger in area, intended to be in external contact with the skin of the body. The treatment device comprises a generator with low impedance, low generator voltage and greatest possible output.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Olof Theodor Wiksell
- 👤 Gert Jörgen Boethius
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A device for hyperthermic treatment of a tumor and comprising at least two electrodes adapted to be brought into contact with a patient's body for transmission of RF energy to the tumor area, at least one of said electrodes being a treatment electrode having an external surface area the same size as the tumor area and adapted to be brought into contact therewith, and at least one other electrode being an indifferent electrode, larger in area than said treatment electrode and adapted to be in external contact with the skin of the body, and an RF energy source connected to said at least two electrodes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A device for hyperthermic treatment of a tumor and comprising at least two electrodes adapted to be brought into contact with a patient's body for transmission of RF energy to the tumor area, at least one of said electrodes being a treatment electrode having an external surface area the same size as the tumor area and adapted to be brought into contact therewith, and at least one other electrode being an indifferent electrode, larger in area than said treatment electrode and adapted to be in external contact with the skin of the body, and an RF energy source connected to said at least two electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the treatment electrode comprises coated metal pellets or grains, surrounded by a sleeve or pocket of net material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein the coated metal pellets are gold-plated aluminum pellets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the treatment electrode comprises a flexible conductor adapted for insertion into a recess in the tumor area to form a ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein the flexible conductor is a metal wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the wire is about 80 units in length, 50-60 units being wound up to form the ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the treatment electrode comprises a metal ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the treatment electrode comprises a metal cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the treatment electrode comprises an inflatable balloon having an external surface coated with a conductive metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the indifferent electrode comprises a metal foil adapted to be placed against the skin over a part of the patient's trunk or in contact with the skin on the patient's head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the indifferent electrode comprises two metal foils, one of which is intended.to be brought into contact with the skin of the patient's trunk and the other with the skin of the patient's head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the indifferent electrode comprises a plurality of contact plates or foils having variable resistance to earth to permit control of the current distribution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the indifferent electrode is a liquid electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensor arranged in the tumor area for temperature monitoring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a temperature-sensitive platinum wire Z-wound onto a chip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein a direct voltage source is arranged to measure the temperature-sensitive wire and a voltmeter with high input impedance is arranged to measure the voltage across the wire in order to effect temperature measurement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the temperature sensor is in the form of a ball applied in a sleeve or pocket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said electrode further comprises a silicone tube extending outwardly from the surface of the metal ball, said tube containing three temperature sensors spaced from each other to determine the temperature distribution over an area outside the ball.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 14, further comprising control equipment adapted to control the output from the RF energy source depending on the temperature sensed, in order to maintain the temperature in the tumor area at a predetermined value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the RF energy source lies within the range of 10 kHz - 100 MHz.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for controlled hyperthermic treatment of a tumor comprising contacting a tumor having a central cavity with a treatment electrode having an external surface area substantially equal to the area of the tumor defined by the cavity and supplying RF energy to the tumor through the treatment electrode at a low output impedance such that controlled heating is generated in the tumor using the tissue of the tumor as a heating element.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for controlled hyperthermic treatment of a tumor comprising contacting a tumor having a central cavity with a treatment electrode having an external surface area substantially equal to the area of the tumor defined by the cavity and supplying RF energy to the tumor through the treatment electrode at a low output impedance such that controlled heating is generated in the tumor using the tissue of the tumor as a heating element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the treatment electrode is an expandable electrode that is inserted into the central cavity of the tumor and thereafter expanded to assume the shape of the cavity.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for controlled hyperthermic treatment of a tumor comprising contacting a tumor with a treatment electrode and providing RF energy to the tumor through the treatment electrode, the treatment electrode having a sufficiently large external surface area to provide a forced RF current distribution in the tissue surrounding the treatment electrode.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
52 words
A method for controlled hyperthermic treatment of a tumor comprising contacting a tumor with a treatment electrode and providing RF energy to the tumor through the treatment electrode, the treatment electrode having a sufficiently large external surface area to provide a forced RF current distribution in the tissue surrounding the treatment electrode.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for controlled hyperthermic treatment of a tumor comprising contacting a tumor with a treatment electrode having an external surface area that is adjustable according to the area to be treated of the tumor and supplying RF energy to the tumor so that the entire treatment area is given a controlled temperature for a predetermined time.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for controlled hyperthermic treatment of a tumor comprising contacting a tumor with a treatment electrode having an external surface area that is adjustable according to the area to be treated of the tumor and supplying RF energy to the tumor so that the entire treatment area is given a controlled temperature for a predetermined time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.