Cryotherapy, thermal therapy, temperature modulation therapy, and probe apparatus therefor

Inventors

Grant, Mark A. • Tyc, Richard

Assignees

Monteris Medical Corp

Abstract

A variable length interstitial probe apparatus includes: a probe for effecting thermal therapy and/or cryotherapy to a tissue; a flexible umbilical sheath permanently affixed to the probe, including at least one interface for supplying energy, cooling fluid, cooling gas, heating fluid, and/or heating gas to the probe; and an adjustable depth stop configured to slide along a length of a shaft region of the probe, and lock to the shaft region at a selected position. The adjustable depth stop is configured to engage a probe driver and/or a skull mount apparatus to stabilize positioning of the probe and to control a depth of entry of the probe into a patient. The probe may be configured to effect temperature modulation therapy, where processing circuitry activates a modulation pattern of thermal therapy emission and cryogenic therapy emission for applying a thermal dose to the tissue.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a system for performing temperature modulation therapy to tissue with an interstitial probe that includes a shaft region, a tip region, at least one thermal therapy-generating element, and at least one cryotherapy-generating element. The thermal therapy element emits thermal therapy via the tip region, and the cryotherapy-generating element emits cryogenic therapy via the tip region.

The system determines a thermal dose for effecting thermal therapy treatment based on a present position of the interstitial probe. Based at least in part upon the thermal dose, it identifies a modulation pattern comprising at least one cycle of lower thermal output interspersed between two higher thermal outputs, enabling temperature modulation therapy by applying the identified modulation pattern while delivering the thermal dose.

During application of the thermal dose via modulation therapy, the system monitors at least one temperature of the tissue and identifies a difference between a goal temperature corresponding to the thermal dose and the at least one temperature of the tissue. Responsive to identifying the difference, the system alters the modulation pattern by altering at least one of a length of the first time interval, a length of the second time interval, and an emission level of the thermal therapy element and the cryotherapy element.

Claims Coverage

The partial content identifies one independent claim. The inventive features center on an interstitial probe with thermal and cryotherapy elements, dose-determined temperature modulation using interspersed higher and lower thermal outputs, temperature monitoring against a goal temperature, and closed-loop alteration of the modulation pattern by changing time intervals and emission levels.

Across the identified independent claim, the coverage is directed to temperature modulation therapy using an interstitial probe that alternates thermal and cryogenic outputs to apply a thermal dose determined from probe position, with tissue temperature monitored against a goal temperature and the modulation pattern altered by changing timing and emission levels responsive to the detected difference.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found