Multi-purpose temperature sensing probe for hyperthermia therapy
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorPadmakar P. Lele
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-function probe for use in hyperthermia therapy employs at least one pair of temperature sensors, which may be thermocouples or thermistors. One sensor of the pair includes an exposed electrode which directly measures tissue temperature. The other sensor includes an electrode covered by a material having a known ultrasound absorption coefficient, for measuring the local intensity of ultrasonic energy. By comparing these two measurements, an ultrasound or other hyperthermia energy absorption coefficient of the tissue in the target region can be determined. A plurality of these paired sensors can be utilized to yield a measurement of thermal diffusion. The probe can also include one or more piezoelectric receiver elements, for providing accurate source-to-target registration.
Claims9
A probe for use in a hyperthermia system, the probe comprising
- a probe body adapted for insertion into a target region of tissue within a subject during hyperthermic treatment, said probe body including a region of a selected standard material having a known energy absorption characteristic, and
- at least one pair of thermal sensors carried by the probe body and disposed in proximity to each other, the paired sensors comprising
- a first thermal sensor for measuring the temperature of the tissue and
- a second thermal sensor, disposed within said standard material, for measuring the temperature of said standard material,
- whereby measurements from said first and second sensors can be compared to derive an energy absorption characteristic of tissue within the target region.
A method for measuring ultrasonic energy absorption within a target region of a hyperthermia system, the method comprising the steps of
- adapting a probe body for insertion into a target region of tissue within a subject during hyperthermic treatment,
- providing in said probe body a region of a selected standard material having a known energy absorption characteristic,
- disposing at least one pair of thermal sensors on the probe body in proximity to each other, so that at least one of said thermal sensors is disposed in said standard material,
- a measuring with a first thermal sensor the temperature of the tissue,
- measuring with a second thermal sensor disposed in said standard material the temperature of said standard material, and
- comparing measurements from said first and second sensors to derive an energy absorption characteristic of tissue within the target region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.