System and method for thermally and chemically treating cells at sites of interest in the body to impede cell proliferation

A system for treating cells at a site in an eye, comprising:

• an energy emitting device including a fluid container which is adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, said energy emitting device being adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said fluid container is adapted to expand when receiving said fluid therein.

A system for treating cells at a site in an eye, comprising:

• an energy emitting device including a fluid container which is adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, said energy emitting device being adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said fluid container comprises a permeable membrane, which is adapted to release at least some of said fluid contained in said fluid container.

A system for treating cells at a site in an eye, comprising:

• an energy emitting device including a fluid container which is adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, said energy emitting device being adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells, and said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• wherein said unitary device comprises a fluid container, adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy;
• and
• said fluid includes said material, and said fluid container is further adapted to release therefrom at least some of said fluid containing said material, to enable said material to contact said cells.

A system for treating cells at a site in an eye, comprising:

• an energy emitting device including a fluid container which is adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, said energy emitting device being adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• wherein said material includes a photosensitive material;
• and
• said system further comprises a light emitting device, adapted to emit light energy which activates said photosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.

A method for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• positioning an energy emitting device having a container with a permeable membrane, at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule;
• providing a fluid into said container, such that at least some of said fluid contained in said container exits said container through said permeable membrane, said fluid emitting said energy as thermal energy;
• and
• causing said energy emitting device to emit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells.

A method for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising the steps of:

• emitting energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• delivering a material, including a photosensitive material, to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• and
• emitting light energy which activates said photosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.

An apparatus for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising:

• an energy emitting device having a container adapted to receive and contain therein fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy, said container comprising a wall having at least one opening therein, which is adapted to release therethrough at least some of said fluid contained in said container;
• and
• a positioning device, adapted to position said energy emitting device at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule, such that energy emitted from said energy emitting device heats said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• wherein said container is adapted to expand when receiving said fluid therein.

An apparatus for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising:

• an energy emitting device having a container adapted to receive and contain therein fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy, said container comprising a wall having at least one opening therein, which is adapted to release therethrough at least some of said fluid contained in said container;
• and
• a positioning device, adapted to position said energy emitting device at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule, such that energy emitted from said energy emitting device heats said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• wherein said container comprises a permeable membrane, which is adapted to release at least some of said fluid contained in said container.

An apparatus for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising:

• an energy emitting device having a container adapted to receive and contain therein fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy, said container comprising a wall having at least one opening therein, which is adapted to release therethrough at least some of said fluid contained in said container;
• and
• a positioning device, adapted to position said energy emitting device at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule, such that energy emitted from said energy emitting device heats said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• An apparatus for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising:
• wherein said fluid includes a photosensitive material, and said container is adapted to release said photosensitive material therefrom to enable said photosensitive material to come in contact with said cells;
• and
• said apparatus further comprises a light emitting device, adapted to emit light energy which activates said photosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.

An apparatus for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising:

• an energy emitting device having a container adapted to receive and contain therein fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy, said fluid includes a photosensitive material, and said container is adapted to release said photosensitive material therefrom to enable said photosensitive material to come in contact with said cells;
• a positioning device, adapted to position said energy emitting device at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule, such that energy emitted from said energy emitting device heats said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a light emitting device, adapted to emit light energy which activates said photosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.

A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:

• an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device comprises a fluid container which is adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, and said fluid container is adapted to expand when receiving said fluid therein.

A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:

• an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• said energy emitting device comprises a fluid container which is adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, and said fluid container comprises a permeable membrane, which is adapted to release at least some of said fluid contained in said fluid container.

A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:

• an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• said energy emitting device comprises a fluid container which is adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, and said fluid container comprises a wall having at least one opening therein, which is adapted to release therethrough at least some of said fluid contained in said fluid container.

A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:

• an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• said unitary device comprises a fluid container, adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy;
• and
• said fluid includes said material, and said fluid container is further adapted to release therefrom at least some of said fluid containing said material, to enable said material to contact said cells.

A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:

• an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• wherein said material includes a photosensitive material;
• and
• said system further comprises a light emitting device, adapted to emit light energy which activates said photosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.

A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:

• an energy emitting device adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device includes a microwave emitting device, adapted to emit said energy as microwave energy.

A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:

• an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• and
• a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells;
• wherein said energy emitting device and said material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;
• and
• said energy emitting device includes a laser emitting device, adapted to emit said energy as laser radiation.

A method for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• positioning an energy emitting device having a container at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule;
• and
• causing said energy emitting device to emit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• providing into said container a fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy, said fluid including a cell treating material;
• and
• releasing from said container at least a portion of said fluid containing said cell treating material to enable said cell treating material to alter said physical characteristic of said cells.

A method for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• positioning an energy emitting device having a container at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule;
• and causing said energy emitting device to emit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells;
• providing into said container a fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy, said fluid including a photosensitive material;
• releasing from said container at least a portion of fluid containing said photosensitive material to enable said photosensitive material to come in contact with said cells;
• and
• emitting light energy which activates said photosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.