US4920978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for the endoscopic treatment of deep tumors using RF hyperthermia
Assignee: Triangle Research and Development Corp
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Filing: 1988-08-31
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Granted: 1990-05-01
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Expires: 2008-08-31
Abstract
Abstract An attachment for an endoscope for the treatment of deep tissue tumors using RF hyperthermia is disclosed. In one embodiment, electrodes are adapted to straddle or penetrate a tumor in order to confine the interstitial current heating and are detachably fitted to the distal end of the endoscope. The electrodes are electrically coupled to an RF generating power source by means of wires that extend along the outer surface of the tubular body of the endoscope and are detachably mounted thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Colvin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1402; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An RF hyperthermia attachment for adapting endoscopes having an elongated tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end for quickly treating deep body cancerous tumors by delivering RF energy generated by a control unit thereto, said RF hyperthermia attachment comprising: electrode means adapted to deliver electrical energy interstitially to the tumor, means connected to said electrode means for detachably mounting said electrode means to the distal end of the endoscope, means connected to said electrode means adapted to deliver electrical energy thereto and being adapted to be connected to the body of the endoscope, and wherein said means for delivering electrical energy to the electrode means is adapted to be detachably mounted to the external surface of the body of the endoscope.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An RF hyperthermia attachment for adapting endoscopes having an elongated tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end for quickly treating deep body cancerous tumors by delivering RF energy generated by a control unit thereto, said RF hyperthermia attachment comprising: electrode means adapted to deliver electrical energy interstitially to the tumor, means connected to said electrode means for detachably mounting said electrode means to the distal end of the endoscope, means connected to said electrode means adapted to deliver electrical energy thereto and being adapted to be connected to the body of the endoscope, and wherein said means for delivering electrical energy to the electrode means is adapted to be detachably mounted to the external surface of the body of the endoscope.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electrode means comprises a positive and a negative electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said positive and negative electrodes comprise a pair of spread apart dipole electrodes adapted to straddle a tumor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said electrode means comprises a collar adapted to be detachably fitted to the distal end of the endoscope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
129 words
An RF hyperthermia attachment for adapting endoscopes having an elongated tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end for quickly treating deep body cancerous tumors by delivering RF energy generated by a control unit thereto, said RF hyperthermia attachment comprising: a pair of dipole electrodes adapted to deliver electrical energy interstitially to the tumor; means connected to said dipole electrodes for detachably fitting said dipole electrodes to the external surface of the distal end of the endoscope; and means connected to the dipole electrodes adapted to deliver electrical energy thereto and being adapted to be connected to the body of the endoscope; and thermistor means for measuring the RF hyperthermia induced temperature proximate the tumor, whereby the temperature of the tumor can be carefully and closely controlled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
An RF hyperthermia attachment for adapting endoscopes having an elongated tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end for quickly treating deep body cancerous tumors by delivering RF energy generated by a control unit thereto, said RF hyperthermia attachment comprising: a pair of dipole electrodes adapted to deliver electrical energy interstitially to the tumor; means connected to said dipole electrodes for detachably fitting said dipole electrodes to the external surface of the distal end of the endoscope; and means connected to the dipole electrodes adapted to deliver electrical energy thereto and being adapted to be connected to the body of the endoscope; and thermistor means for measuring the RF hyperthermia induced temperature proximate the tumor, whereby the temperature of the tumor can be carefully and closely controlled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
An RF hyperthermia attachment for adapting endoscopes having an elongated tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end for quickly treating deep body cancerous tumors by delivering RF energy generated by a control unit thereto, said RF hyperthermia attachment comprising: electrode means adapted to deliver electrical energy interstitially to the tumor, means connected to said electrode means for detachably mounting said electrode means to the distal end of the endoscope, means connected to said electrode means adapted to deliver electrical energy thereto and being adapted to be connected to the body of the endoscope, and thermistor means for measuring the RF hyperthermia induced temperature proximate the tumor and for transmitting a signal representative of the temperature to a control unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
An RF hyperthermia attachment for adapting endoscopes having an elongated tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end for quickly treating deep body cancerous tumors by delivering RF energy generated by a control unit thereto, said RF hyperthermia attachment comprising: electrode means adapted to deliver electrical energy interstitially to the tumor, means connected to said electrode means for detachably mounting said electrode means to the distal end of the endoscope, means connected to said electrode means adapted to deliver electrical energy thereto and being adapted to be connected to the body of the endoscope, and thermistor means for measuring the RF hyperthermia induced temperature proximate the tumor and for transmitting a signal representative of the temperature to a control unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said electrode means comprises a positive and a negative electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said positive and negative electrodes comprise a pair of spaced apart dipole electrodes adapted to straddle a tumor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said attachment includes a closed loop feedback circuit that employs said signal representative of the temperature to precisely measure and control the temperature of said electrode means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of treating deep tissue tumors using RF hyperthermia administered with an endoscope of the type adapted to be inserted into a body cavity having an elongated tubular body, a proximal end and a distal end and wherein an electrode adapted to deliver electrical energy to the tumor is connected proximate the distal end of the endoscope and wherein wires connect the electrode to a power source and a control unit comprising the steps of: inserting the endoscope including the electrode and the wires into the body cavity, positioning the electrode in contacting relation with the tumor to be treated, transferring electrical energy from the electrode into the tumor for a predetermined period of time, measuring the temperature proximate the electrode during treatment.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of treating deep tissue tumors using RF hyperthermia administered with an endoscope of the type adapted to be inserted into a body cavity having an elongated tubular body, a proximal end and a distal end and wherein an electrode adapted to deliver electrical energy to the tumor is connected proximate the distal end of the endoscope and wherein wires connect the electrode to a power source and a control unit comprising the steps of: inserting the endoscope including the electrode and the wires into the body cavity, positioning the electrode in contacting relation with the tumor to be treated, transferring electrical energy from the electrode into the tumor for a predetermined period of time, measuring the temperature proximate the electrode during treatment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the tumor is heated to a temperature of approximately 48 degrees centigrade and is maintained at that temperature for approximately one minute.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the tumor is heated to a temperature of approximately 50 degrees centigrade and is maintained at that temperature for approximately 30 seconds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 10 further including the step of feeding back to the control unit a signal representative of the temperature of the electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 13 further including the step of utilizing the signal representative of the electrode temperature in a closed loop feedback circuit to precisely measure and control the electrode temperature.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-30 | 1993-10-30 | 1994-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-30 | 1997-10-30 | 1998-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-30 | 2001-10-30 | 2002-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |