Methods and systems for treating breast tissue
AssigneeCytyc Health Corporation
InventorsDavid Hung, Chris Ken, Julian Nikolchev, Susan Love, Shawn O'Leary
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and kits for treating breast tissue rely on transferring energy to or from cells lining an individual breast duct. Energy can be introduced into the breast duct, e.g., by filling the duct with an electrically conductive medium and applying radiofrequency energy to the medium. Other energy forms could also be used, such as light, ultrasound, radiation, microwave energy, heat, cold, direct current, and the like. By treating individual breast ducts, cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions originating in the duct can be effectively treated.
Claims18
A method for treating a breast duct of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
- systemically introducing an agent into a patient targeted for treatment, said agent being sensitive to at least one form of energy;
- introducing a tool into said breast duct through a ductal opening and
- transferring said at least one form of energy from said tool within said breast duct to the agent in the duct in an amount sufficient to disrupt the agent whereupon the agent acts on target cells lining the breast duct.
A method for treating a breast duct of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
- systemically introducing an agent into a patient targeted for treatment, said agent being sensitive to at least one form of energy;
- introducing an energy delivering tool into the breast duct;
- and
- transferring said at least one form of energy from said tool to said agent in the duct in an amount sufficient to disrupt the agent whereupon the agent acts on target cells lining the breast duct, said target cells including benign cells and at least one of the following types of cells:
- cancerous and precancerous cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.