US6690976B2 — Thermotherapy method for treatment and prevention…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 199 words

A method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of an organ by selective irradiation of the organ tissue with focused energy, the method comprising the steps of: a) Inserting an E-field probe sensor to an appropriate depth in the organ tissue; b) Monitoring temperatures of the skin surface adjacent the organ; c) Positioning two or more energy applicators around the organ; d) Setting the initial power level delivered to each energy applicator; e) Setting the initial relative phase delivered to each energy applicator to focus the energy at the E-field probe positioned in the organ tissue; f) Delivering energy to the two or more energy applicators to selectively irradiate the organ tissue with focused energy and treat at least one of cancerous and benign conditions of the organ; g) Adjusting the level of power to be delivered to each energy applicator during treatment based on the monitored skin temperatures; h) Monitoring the energy delivered to the energy applicators; i) Determining total energy delivered to the energy applicators and displaying the total energy in real time during the treatment; and j) Completing the treatment when the desired total energy dose has been delivered by the energy applicators to the organ.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 199 words

A method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of an organ by selective irradiation of the organ tissue with focused energy, the method comprising the steps of: a) Inserting an E-field probe sensor to an appropriate depth in the organ tissue; b) Monitoring temperatures of the skin surface adjacent the organ; c) Positioning two or more energy applicators around the organ; d) Setting the initial power level delivered to each energy applicator; e) Setting the initial relative phase delivered to each energy applicator to focus the energy at the E-field probe positioned in the organ tissue; f) Delivering energy to the two or more energy applicators to selectively irradiate the organ tissue with focused energy and treat at least one of cancerous and benign conditions of the organ; g) Adjusting the level of power to be delivered to each energy applicator during treatment based on the monitored skin temperatures; h) Monitoring the energy delivered to the energy applicators; i) Determining total energy delivered to the energy applicators and displaying the total energy in real time during the treatment; and j) Completing the treatment when the desired total energy dose has been delivered by the energy applicators to the organ.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the focused energy is at least one of electromagnetic, ultrasound, radio frequency, and laser waves.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired total energy dose delivered by the energy applicators to the organ is from approximately 25 kilojoules to approximately 500 kilojoules.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired total energy dose delivered by the energy applicators to the organ is from approximately 200 kilojoules to approximately 500 kilojoules.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein for a heat alone treatment the energy applicators produce equivalent thermal doses up to approximately 400 minutes with peak tumor temperatures up to approximately 55 degrees C.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of chemotherapy treatment and thermosensitive liposome treatment in combination with a heat treatment achieved by steps a)-j), wherein for combination heat and chemotherapy treatment or heat and thermosensitive liposome treatment, the energy applicators produce equivalent thermal doses of approximately 50 to 100 minutes with peak tumor temperatures up to approximately 46 degrees C.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the organ is the breast and the energy dose delivered to the breast is between approximately 200 and 400 kilojoules.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 136 words

A method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast by selective irradiation of the breast tissue with focused energy, the method comprising the steps of: a) Compressing the breast between two compression plates; b) Applying an E-field probe sensor to one of an appropriate depth in the breast tissue and on the breast skin surface; c) Monitoring temperatures of the breast skin surface; d) Positioning two or more energy applicators around the compressed breast thereby surrounding the breast in a ring; e) Delivering focused energy to the two or more energy applicators to selectively irradiate the breast tissue with focused energy and treat at least one of cancerous and benign conditions of the breast; and f) Adjusting the power to be delivered to each energy applicator during treatment based on the monitored skin temperatures.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 136 words

A method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast by selective irradiation of the breast tissue with focused energy, the method comprising the steps of: a) Compressing the breast between two compression plates; b) Applying an E-field probe sensor to one of an appropriate depth in the breast tissue and on the breast skin surface; c) Monitoring temperatures of the breast skin surface; d) Positioning two or more energy applicators around the compressed breast thereby surrounding the breast in a ring; e) Delivering focused energy to the two or more energy applicators to selectively irradiate the breast tissue with focused energy and treat at least one of cancerous and benign conditions of the breast; and f) Adjusting the power to be delivered to each energy applicator during treatment based on the monitored skin temperatures.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , wherein the focused energy is microwave energy and further comprising the step of maintaining the compression of the breast following the application of microwave energy to the breast tissue in order to accumulate added thermal dose in the treated breast tissue while the breast skin surface temperature is cooled.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , wherein one of chemotherapy, gene therapy including gene based modifiers, thermosensitive liposomes containing chemotherapy, and radiation therapy is used in conjunction with selective irradiation of the breast tissue with focused energy.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of administering Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) and Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide) for four cycles, wherein steps a)-f) are conducted for up to three cycles within approximately 36 hours from the time a cycle of Adriamycin/Cytoxan is administered.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 11 , wherein approximately 60 mg/m 2 of Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) and approximately 600 mg/m 2 of Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide) is administered each cycle and approximately 21 days elapse between each cycle.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 96 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of administering up to four cycles of Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) at approximately 60 mg/m 2 and Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide) at approximately 600 mg/m 2 where each cycle is administered approximately every 21 days; and wherein steps a)-f) is one cycle of thermotherapy treatment and at least one thermotherapy treatment is administered after the first cycle of Adriamycin/Cytoxan is completed or approximately 21 days after the first cycle of Adriamycin/Cytoxan is infused into the blood stream of a patient.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , wherein steps a)-f) is one cycle of thermotherapy treatment and thermotherapy is used in combination with at least one of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and gene-based modifiers therapy following a lumpectomy to treat residual ductal carcinoma in-situ.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , wherein steps a)-f) is one cycle of thermotherapy treatment and the thermotherapy treatment is used following a lumpectomy to treat residual ductal carcinoma in-situ.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 89 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , wherein steps a)-f) is one cycle of thermotherapy treatment and a cycle of thermotherapy is applied prior to an incision to remove cancerous or benign conditions of the breast so that margins surrounding the cancerous or benign conditions that is to be removed surgically are treated pre-surgery to reduce the amount of at least one of cancerous cells, mutant cells and abnormal cells in the margins and thus the rate of additional incisions.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 16 , wherein thermosensitive liposome treatment is used in combination with the thermotherapy treatment to enhance the destruction of at least one of cancerous cells, mutant cells and abnormal cells in the margins.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of administering one of Doxorubicin and Docetaxel, and FAC (5-Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) in combination with up to four cycles of thermotherapy treatment, wherein steps a)-f) is one cycle of thermotherapy treatment.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of the breast according to claim 8 , wherein steps a)-f) is one cycle of thermotherapy treatment and the thermotherapy treatment alone is used as treatment for early stages of breast cancer.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 74 words

A method for preventing breast cancer by combining the thermotherapy treatment defined by steps a)-f) of claim 8 with a drug to block estrogen from binding with estrogen receptors, wherein the thermotherapy treatment is performed at approximate one-year intervals over 5 years in combination with a drug that blocks estrogen from binding with estrogen receptors of breast carcinomas, by one of blocking or modifying the estrogen receptors, and killing breast carcinomas directly with heat.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method for preventing breast cancer according to claim 20 , wherein the drug that blocks estrogen is Tamoxifen.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method for preventing breast cancer according to claim 21 , wherein the dose of Tamoxifen administered is approximately 20 mg per day for the five year period.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 189 words

A method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of an organ by selective irradiation of the organ tissue with energy, the method comprising the steps of: a) Injecting a substance that enhances heating to an appropriate depth in the organ tissue; b) Monitoring temperatures of the skin surface adjacent the organ; c) Positioning at least one energy applicator about the organ; d) Setting the initial power level delivered to each at least one energy applicator; e) Delivering energy to the at least one energy applicator to selectively irradiate the organ tissue with energy and treat at least one of cancerous and benign conditions of the organ; f) Adjusting the level of power to be delivered to each at least one energy applicator during treatment based on the monitored skin temperatures; g) Monitoring the energy delivered to the at least one energy applicator; h) Determining total energy delivered to the at least one energy applicator and displaying the total energy in real time during the treatment; and i) Completing the treatment when the desired total energy dose has been delivered by the at least one energy applicator to the organ.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 189 words

A method for treating cancerous or benign conditions of an organ by selective irradiation of the organ tissue with energy, the method comprising the steps of: a) Injecting a substance that enhances heating to an appropriate depth in the organ tissue; b) Monitoring temperatures of the skin surface adjacent the organ; c) Positioning at least one energy applicator about the organ; d) Setting the initial power level delivered to each at least one energy applicator; e) Delivering energy to the at least one energy applicator to selectively irradiate the organ tissue with energy and treat at least one of cancerous and benign conditions of the organ; f) Adjusting the level of power to be delivered to each at least one energy applicator during treatment based on the monitored skin temperatures; g) Monitoring the energy delivered to the at least one energy applicator; h) Determining total energy delivered to the at least one energy applicator and displaying the total energy in real time during the treatment; and i) Completing the treatment when the desired total energy dose has been delivered by the at least one energy applicator to the organ.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method according to claim 23 , wherein the substance is metal or one of saline water and water mixed with metal or other electrical conductor.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 23 , wherein the energy is at least one of electromagnetic, ultrasound, radio frequency, and laser waves.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-02-09	2007-08-11	2008-02-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-02-09	2011-08-11	2012-02-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-02-09	2015-08-11	2016-02-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Thermotherapy method for treatment and prevention of breast cancer and cancer in other organs

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag