EP0256524A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hyperthermia apparatus and method of operating the apparatus
Assignee: MA Com Inc
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Filing: 1987-08-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A system and associated method that combines microwave detection (radiometry) with microwave heating (hyperthermia) for the treatment of cancer with a microwave radiometric detector is operable during a receive mode of operation to establish signal path characteristics and a microwave transmitter is operable during a transmit mode of operation to carry out the hyperthermia treatment. There is provided an antenna array of a plurality antennae (12) disposed over the tumor site (10).These antennae are coupled to separate signal channels. During the receive mode of operation the separate channel signals are combined for coupling to the microwave radiometric detector to enable adjustment of the phase of the separate antenna signals so as to maximize the signal detected at the microwave radiometric detector. Thereafter, during the transmit mode of operation the microwave transmitter couples signals to the signal channels to provide beam focusing of the microwave energy on to the tumor site.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth L. Carr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for hyperthermia treatment of a cancerous tumor, comprising; an antenna array including a plurality of antennae disposed over the tumor site, means for combining the signals from the antennae to provide a combined signal and including means for separately adjusting the phase of each of the antennae signals to maximize said combined signal, transmitter means, and means for dividing the transmitter means signal for coupling via said means for separately adjusting the phase, after adjustment thereof, to said plurality of antennae, respectively.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A system for hyperthermia treatment of a cancerous tumor, comprising; an antenna array including a plurality of antennae disposed over the tumor site, means for combining the signals from the antennae to provide a combined signal and including means for separately adjusting the phase of each of the antennae signals to maximize said combined signal, transmitter means, and means for dividing the transmitter means signal for coupling via said means for separately adjusting the phase, after adjustment thereof, to said plurality of antennae, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for combining includes an N-way combiner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for separately adjusting includes separate phase shifters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as set forth in claim 3 including means for switching between transmit and receive modes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for dividing includes an N-way divider.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as set forth in claim 5 including a circulator coupling between the combiner, divider and phase shifter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as set forth in claim 6 including means coupling the transmitter means to the divider and means coupling the output of the divider to the circulator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as set forth in claim 7 including a radiometer for receiving said combined signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as set forth in claim 8 including means coupling the output of the combiner to the radiometer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means coupling the divider to the circulator includes an amplifier and switch coupled in series.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of hyperthermia treatment of a cancerous tumor comprising the steps of, providing an antenna array of a plurality of antennae disposed over the tumor site, combining the separate signals form the antennae to provide a combined signal representative of tumor site temperature, adjusting the phase of the separate antennae signals so as to maximize said combined signal and maintaining the thus-adjusted signals, providing a transmitter, and coupling the transmitter output separately to each antenna while maintaining the previously set coupling phase to provide beam focusing of the microwave energy onto the tumor site.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of hyperthermia treatment of a cancerous tumor comprising the steps of, providing an antenna array of a plurality of antennae disposed over the tumor site, combining the separate signals form the antennae to provide a combined signal representative of tumor site temperature, adjusting the phase of the separate antennae signals so as to maximize said combined signal and maintaining the thus-adjusted signals, providing a transmitter, and coupling the transmitter output separately to each antenna while maintaining the previously set coupling phase to provide beam focusing of the microwave energy onto the tumor site.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set fourth is claim 11 wherein the step of coupling the transmitter output to each antenna includes dividing the transmitter signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a system including a microwave radiometric detector operable during a receive mode of operation to establish signal path characteristics, and a microwave transmitter operable during a transmit mode of operation, a method of hyperthermia treatment of a cancerous tumor, comprising the steps of, providing an antenna array of a plurality of antennae disposed over the tumor site, providing separate bi-directional signal channels each coupled to an antenna, combining the separate channel signals for coupling to said microwave radiometric detector during the receive mode of operation, adjusting the phase of the separate antenna signals so as to maximize the signal detected at the microwave radiometric detector, and dividing the microwave transmitter signal for coupling to said signal channels during the transmit mode of operation to provide beam focusing of the microwave energy onto the tumor site.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a system including a microwave radiometric detector operable during a receive mode of operation to establish signal path characteristics, and a microwave transmitter operable during a transmit mode of operation, a method of hyperthermia treatment of a cancerous tumor, comprising the steps of, providing an antenna array of a plurality of antennae disposed over the tumor site, providing separate bi-directional signal channels each coupled to an antenna, combining the separate channel signals for coupling to said microwave radiometric detector during the receive mode of operation, adjusting the phase of the separate antenna signals so as to maximize the signal detected at the microwave radiometric detector, and dividing the microwave transmitter signal for coupling to said signal channels during the transmit mode of operation to provide beam focusing of the microwave energy onto the tumor site.
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