Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonic treatment of breast cancer

US7494466B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
5References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 21, 2003
Grant dateFeb 24, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 20, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2090/378
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of treatment, clinical treatment assembly, robotic manipulator and controlling arrangements for the treatment of cancers are described. The invention has particular application in the treatment of breast cancer. A robotic manipulator (18) carries a jig assembly (30). The jig assembly (30) includes an array of treatment probes (52, 54, 56) and a single identification/diagnostic probe (58). The probes can be moved by the robotic manipulator (18) in three directions (x, y, θ). A subject breast tissue is received in a tank (16) through an operating window (14), and the robotic manipulator (18) is to firstly determine the site of a tumor in the breast tissue. Once the tumor has been located by use of the identification/diagnostic probe (58), the treatment probes (52, 54, 56) are used to ablate the tumor by the superposition of ultrasonic waves at a focal region. A series of such lesions may be performed in sequence to traverse the full extent of the tumor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.