Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Thermal applicators
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-03
2001-02-06
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Thermal applicators
C600S437000, C604S022000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183502
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of blocking blood flow toward a target tissue such as cancerous tissue and a warming apparatus suitable for conducting the method, and more particularly, the invention relates to a blood flow blocking method and a warming apparatus for injecting into a blood flow system of a living body microballoons each having a shell made of a thermoplastic material and having a pressurized gas encapsulated within the shell, expanding the microballoons by increasing the temperature of the localized target tissue, and selectively blocking the blood flow of the body by choking capillary vessels with the expanded microballoons.
Examples of non-invasive therapy of cancer include a procedure wherein blood flow in blood vessels through which cancerous cells are nourished are blocked to necrotize the cancerous cells within a relatively short term.
A variety of techniques for blocking blood flow exist. Although these techniques are preferred rather than a technique which momentarily cauterizes the cancerous cells or a technique which slowly inhibits regeneration of the cancerous cells such as hyperthermia, a need is felt for an intermediate technique, like the techniques for blocking blood flow, which, in addition, allows a physician to instantly ascertain the result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a blood flow blocking method and a warming apparatus which meet the above need.
In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a blood flow blocking method which comprises the steps of: injecting microballoons into a blood flow system of a living body; expanding the microballoons by warming a predefined region of the body to increase the temperature of the region; and choking capillary vessels of the body with the expanded microballoons.
In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention provides a warming apparatus comprising means for warming a predefined region of a living body at which microballoons are injected into its blood flow system, the warming apparatus expanding the microballoons by increasing the temperature of the region.
In accordance with a third aspect, the present invention provides a warming apparatus comprising means for injecting microballoons into a blood flow system of a living body and means for warming a predefined region of the body, the warming apparatus expanding the microballoons by increasing the temperature of the region.
It is preferred that the microballoons as described regarding the above invention each have a shell made of a thermoplastic material within which a pressurized gas is encapsulated. The microballoons may be made solely of a biodegradable material or be made of a blend of a biodegradable material and a non-biodegradable material. Moreover, the microballoons may be made of a material blended with a heavy material, such as ferrite and magnetite, in order to enhance the warming effect.
In accordance with a fourth aspect, the present invention provides the blood flow blocking method of the first aspect, or the warming apparatus of the second or third aspect, wherein the softening point temperature of a material of the shell constituting the microballoon is higher than ordinary temperature of the body and is lower than the burn temperature of the body.
The softening point temperature is preferably slightly higher than the ordinary temperature of the body and is slightly lower than the burn temperature of the body, and is typically about 42° C.
In accordance with a fifth aspect, the present invention provides the blood flow blocking method of the first aspect, or the warming apparatus of the second, third or fourth aspect, wherein the warming means increases the temperature of the predefined region by transmitting a focused ultrasound toward the predefined region.
It is preferred that the transmission of the focused ultrasound be performed by an ultrasonic imaging system.
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Dvorak Linda C. M.
GE Yokogawa Medical Systems Limited
Gibson Roy
Kojima Moonray
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