Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Thermal applicators
Patent
1996-04-29
2000-02-15
Graham, Mark S.
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Thermal applicators
606 33, 600 2, A61N 502
Patent
active
060263318
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for the treatment of a body by means of microwave electromagnetic energy. The body is preferably biological tissue and, in particular, it relates to apparatus for use in the treatment of menorrhagia. However, the apparatus may have other uses for the application of microwave electromagnetic energy to appropriate loads. The invention also includes a method of treatment using the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Menorrhaaia is a common condition in women over the age of forty and manifests itself as excessive bleeding from the endometrium which constitutes the inner wall of the uterus. The result is exceptionally long and heavy periods which can be severely debilitating because the blood loss leads to iron deficiency anaemia in addition to the general distress and inconvenience which it causes. The most common form of treatment is to carry out a hysterectomy in which the entire uterus is removed. However, not only is major surgery expensive but the patient also has to endure the distress and long period of convalescence. It is for these reasons that alternative treatments have been sought. The lining of the uterus which is shed at each menstrual cycle develops from the endometrium which is about 5 millimeters thick and covers the whole of the inner wall of the uterus. Menorrhagia can be cured, or at least alleviated, if the endometrium is wholly or partially destroyed without surgery. This destruction can either be achieved by physical means or by heating the tissue or a combination of both. In common with most body tissue, a temperature of around 60.degree. C. maintained in the endometrium for up to 5 minutes will destroy its cells. Because it will no longer be possible for the endometrium to regenerate the lining the condition will be cured.
The current known alternative techniques to hysterectomies work with varying degrees of success but all have disadvantages. The uterus is a very delicate V-shaped pouch-like structure and the opposite walls are normally separated by a thin film of fluid or may be partly in contact. Therefore it is difficult to gain access to the endometrium for the purpose of direct physical treatment or for heating it. It is particularly difficult to treat the tissue immediately surrounding the entrance as heating must be confined to the endometrium itself and not extend to the main body of the uterus and beyond it.
The easiest and least complicated alternative method uses a steel ball about 5 mm in diameter heated by a monopolar connection to a power supple. The ball is rolled around in the uterus under the control of the surgeon to destroy the endometrium. However, the method is time consuming and requires highly specialised surgical experience. Even in skilled hands localised burning can occur or other areas are not fully treated.
It is also known to use certain forms of electromagnetic energy, for example, cell destruction has been achieved by laser ablation where light waves are used. However, laser treatment requires expensive laser equipment and the treatment has to be carried out using highly specialised surgical skills.
From European Patent Publication 0407057 it is known to use radio frequency electromagnetic energy. For example, the method disclosed in that patent involves placing a radio frequency probe in the uterus and setting up a radio frequency field between it and a steel belt around the patients waist. The treatment takes up to 45 minutes including anaesthetic induction and recovery. The procedure itself takes about 15-20 minutes and requires the full time attention of a skilled gynaecologist in moving the probe. This is because, as the typical power used is about 550 watts and radio frequency electromagnetic radiation is difficult to contain it has to be moved close to the endometrium to be at all effective. It also has the disadvantage that radio frequency electromagnetic energy readily passes through most materials (including tissue) and may very easily leak and insidiously cause injury to both
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Navy Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 14, No. 1 (Dec. 1988).
Cronin Nigel
Evans Martyn
Feldberg Ian
Sharp Nicholas
Smith Suzanne
Graham Mark S.
Microsulis Limited
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