Urethral inserted applicator for prostate hyperthermia

An electromagnetic capacitive coupling applicator apparatus for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia comprising:

• catheter means for insertion into the urethra including a fluid free tube, a temperature sensor supporting tube, and an applicator support portion adjacent to a first end of the fluid free tube;
• applicator means including electrical conductor means mounted in the fluid free tube and an applicator connected to the electrical conductor means and mounted on the applicator support portion, said applicator forming a first electrode for applying electromagnetic energy into tissue adjacent to the applicator;
• temperature sensor means including a temperature sensor inserted in the temperature sensor supporting tube for monitoring the temperature of tissue adjacent to the applicator;
• electromagnetic energy generating means connected to the applicator means for supplying electromagnetic energy thereto;
• second electrode means adapted to be positioned with respect to the applicator so as to be capacitively coupled thereto and connected to the electromagnetic energy generating means so that electromagnetic energy supplied by the electromagnetic energy generating means will flow between the applicator and the second electrode means to heat the tissue adjacent the applicator;
• control means including a temperature reference means for setting a selected reference temperature to which the tissue is to be heated and a comparator connected to the temperature sensor means and temperature reference means for producing control signals;
• and
• said electromagnetic energy generating means being connected to the control means and responsive to the control signals for supplying electromagnetic energy to the applicator means sufficient for elevating the tissue temperature to the selected reference temperature and maintaining the tissue at the selected temperature during treatment.

A urethral inserted applicator for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment by heating the prostate tissue surrounding the urethra using electromagnetic energy, comprising:

• a multi-tube urinary catheter, said catheter having an insertion tip end for insertion into the urethra, a fluid dry tube closed at the insertion tip end, and an isolated open ended tube for urine drainage;
• applicator means carried by the catheter, said applicator means including an applicator forming a first electrode adapted to interact with second electrode means placed with respect to the applicator so as to be capacitively coupled thereto so that heating current supplied by a source of electromagnetic energy will flow between the applicator and the second electrode means for heating tissue adjacent the applicator, and electrical conductor means enclosed by the fluid dry tube connected to the applicator and adapted to be connected to a source of electromagnetic energy;
• and
• dielectric insulation means covering the applicator for preventing direct contact of the applicator with adjacent tissue.

A system for controlling hyperthermia for benign prostatic hyperplasia comprising:

• a flexible urethral catheter for insertion into the urethra, said catheter having an applicator means thereon for applying electromagnetic energy to tissues of a prostate gland surrounding the urethra to thereby cause heating of said tissues, and an electromagnetic field compatible temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heated tissues, said applicator means including an applicator forming a first electrode;
• a second electrode;
• an electromagnetic energy generating means for producing electromagnetic energy having a preselected frequency, said electromagnetic energy generating means being connected to the applicator and to the second electrode, said second electrode adapted to be positioned with respect to the applicator so as to be capacitively coupled thereto so that electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy generating means will flow between the applicator and the second electrode;
• and
• a comparator means interconnecting the electromagnetic generating means and electromagnetic field compatible temperature sensor for comparing the measured temperature level to a preselected reference temperature level and to produce control signals for the electromagnetic energy generating means for controlling the supply of electromagnetic energy to the applicator means to control the tissue temperature.