Method of controlling thermal therapy
US6122551A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00547
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thermal therapy method includes inserting a microwave antenna-containing applicator into a body cavity such as a urethra adjacent a targeted tissue region such as a prostate, energizing the microwave antenna, and circulating coolant between the microwave antenna and a wall of the body cavity. The therapy is controlled by decreasing a temperature of the coolant and continually adjusting coolant temperature based on other parameters. The applicator is maintained at a predetermined temperature set point by adjusting a power level provided to the microwave antenna. In one embodiment involving treatment of the prostate, rectal temperature is monitored and, upon sensing a rectal temperature that exceeds a predetermined threshold, the temperature of the coolant is increased to force a reduction in power provided to the microwave antenna to maintain the applicator at the predetermined temperature set point.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.