US 7,549,424 B2 · Method and apparatus for tissue treatment with laser and electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

A method and apparatus wherein an application of energy is limited to a specific diseased portion of body tissue (target tissue) for the purpose of localizing the treatment to the target tissue and avoiding an adverse effect on surrounding tissue. In one embodiment, access to the target tissue is provided by inserting an energy transmission device through a needle for delivery of the energy into the target tissue. Guidance of the needle is alternatively enhanced through use of an image guidance device. Alternatively, in addition the localized treatment is further controlled by use of an energy-concentrating/enhancement agent and/or photosensitizing/photoselective agent, chromophore dye and viscous substance to cause selective interaction with a specific wavelength of an energy source. The treatment can be further controlled and localized by improving the accuracy and positioning of the delivery device into the target tissue using imaging guidance.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A method of treating a body part comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a hollow core needle into a target tissue in a body;
(b) injecting an energy enhancement substance for conduction of energy selected from the group consisting of electrical, radio frequency, microwave, and ultrasound energy and for converting said energy to heat into said target tissue through said needle;
(c) inserting a transmission device through said needle;
(d) transmitting energy to said target tissue through said transmission device to cause controlled necrosis of said target tissue;
and
(e) observing an area of target tissue for guiding energy delivery by:
(i) injecting a photosensitizing agent/chromophore/fluorophore dye having a florescence characteristic;
(ii) applying a selective light wavelength for activating said florescence;
and
(iii) observing said florescence with an infrared (IR) camera and imaging device.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/300,655Filed 19 Nov 2002 · continuation in part

Priority

26 Apr 1996

Published

US 2003/0130575 A110 Jul 2003

Granted

23 Jun 2009

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification46 codes

A61B 8/0841
Involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures: for locating instruments
A61B 17/00234
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: for minimally invasive surgery
A61B 17/3403
Trocars; Puncturing needles: needle locating or guiding means
A61B 17/3478
Trocars; Puncturing needles: endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion

Family

Application08/639,199Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Apr 1996

Application09/105,896Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Jun 1998

Application09/510,537Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Feb 2000

Application09/715,853Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Nov 2000

Application60/383,015Us provisional application · filed 23 May 2002

Application10/193,721Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Jul 2002

Application10/274,436Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Oct 2002

Application10/274,497Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Oct 2002

US 2003/0130575 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Jul 2003

US 6,461,296 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,231,591 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,861,002 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 2004/0002647 A1Published application

US 7,549,424 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Method and apparatus for tissue treatment with laser and electromagnetic radiation

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for tissue treatment with laser and electromagnetic radiation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims3