|Publication number||US7048756 B2|
|Application number||US 10/733,970|
|Publication date||May 23, 2006|
|Filing date||Dec 11, 2003|
|Priority date||Jan 18, 2002|
|Also published as||EP1618359A2, US7684871, US7695505, US20040122494, US20060020312, US20060030912, WO2004097356A2, WO2004097356A3|
|Publication number||10733970, 733970, US 7048756 B2, US 7048756B2, US-B2-7048756, US7048756 B2, US7048756B2|
|Inventors||Philip E. Eggers, John L. Ridihalgh, Mark Mayerchak, Gary Altman|
|Original Assignee||Apasara Medical Corporation|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (101), Non-Patent Citations (99), Referenced by (36), Classifications (17), Legal Events (6)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/466,225, filed Apr. 28, 2003 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/246,347, filed Sep. 18, 2002 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/201,363 filed Jul. 23, 2002, now abandoned, claiming the benefit of United States Provisional Application No. 60/349,593 filed Jan. 18, 2002.
A beneficial response elicited by a heating of neoplastic tissue was reported by investigators in 1971. See the following publications in this regard:
Notwithstanding a straightforward need for more effective techniques in the confinement of thermotherapy to localized internally located target tissue regions, investigators have established that tumor cells may be physiologically inhibited by elevating their temperatures above normal body temperature, for example, 37° C. for one major population, to a range exceeding about 40° C. The compromising but beneficial results further are predicated upon that quantum of thermal exposure achieved, based upon the time interval of controlled heat application. Thus, effective thermotherapies are characterized by an applied quantum of thermal energy established within a restrictive tissue periphery or volume of application with an accurately controlled temperature over an effective component of time.
One modality of thermotherapy is termed “hyperthermia” therapy, an approach to thermal treatment at temperatures elevated within somewhat narrow confines above normal body temperature. For instance, the elevation above a normal body temperature of 37° C. typically will fall within a range of 42° C. to 45° C. While higher temperature therapies have been described, hyperthermia therapy conventionally looks to affecting tissue to the beneficial effect of, for instance, negating neoplastic development, while avoiding denaturization, i.e., cell death or necrosis. It follows that an embracing of this therapeutic modality calls for the application of thermal control over specific tissue volumes.
Confinement of thermotherapy to a neoplasm-suspect target tissue volume internally disposed within the body without a generation of damage to healthy surrounding tissue has been considered problematic and thus the subject of diverse investigation. Experience in this field has revealed that achieving a controlled, thermo-therapeutic level of heat throughout a targeted tissue volume is difficult. In general, the distribution of induced heat across such tissue volumes can exhibit substantial variations. Vascularity and densities of heterogeneous tissues may impose such variations. For instance, the cooling properties of blood flow complicate the maintenance of a desired thermal dose at the target volume. A variety of approaches toward intra-body localized heat applications have evolved. Such efforts generally have been based upon the application of microwave energy (U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,998); the application of acoustic wave-based systems (ultrasound); the application of electric fields at RF frequencies (direct RF) from transmitting antenna arrays including an application subset utilizing inductive systems driven at relatively lower frequencies within the RF realm, and the utilization of infra red heaters.
Ultrasound is considered to be an acoustic wave above the normal range of human hearing, i.e., above about 20,000 Hertz. When employed clinically for thermo-therapeutic as well as diagnostic purposes, ultrasound system configurations perform in recognition of the acoustic impedance of investigated tissue. Acoustic impedance is the resistance to wave propagation through tissue, for example, due to absorbance, reflectance or molecularly induced scattering. Accordingly, the subject tissue volume will absorb some of the energy from the ultrasound waves propagated through it and the kinetic energy associated with the energy absorbed is converted into thermal energy to thus raise tissue temperature. See generally U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,044. When implementing ultrasound thermotherapy systems, careful control is called for to assure that minimum threshold tissue temperatures are reached and that maximum tissue temperature limits are not exceeded. Heretofore, temperature monitoring generally has been carried out by percutaneously injecting or otherwise inserting tethered temperature sensors such as thermocouples or thermistors into the targeted tissue region. Insertion of a tethered thermocouple may be accomplished by first inserting a hypodermic needle, then inserting a catheter through the needle with the sensor at its tip, whereupon the needle is withdrawn. Where hyperthermia therapy or heat induced immunotherapy are carried out, maintenance of relatively narrow temperature targets is sought, calling for a high level of control. For these thermotherapies, typically multiple therapy sessions are required, thus the generally undesirable injection or insertion of temperature sensors must be carried out for each of what may be many treatment sessions.
One approach has been advanced for ultrasound-based thermotherapy. In that approach, thermal localization is achieved by developing constructive wave interference with phased array-based wave guide applicators mounted to extend around the patient (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,251,645 and 4,798,215).
The microwave band generally is considered to extend from about 900 Mhz. Clinical studies have established that thermotherapy systems can be implemented with microwave radiating devices. Early endeavors utilizing microwave-based hyperthermia treatment evidenced difficulties in heating target tissue volumes at adequate depth while preventing surrounding superficial healthy tissue from incurring pain or damage due to hot spots exhibiting temperatures greater than about 44–45° C. However, later developments using adaptive phased array technology has indicated that relatively deeply located target tissues can be heated to thermotherapeutic temperatures without inducing the earlier difficulties. See generally the following publication:
Inductively-based approaches to thermotherapy systems have received important attention by investigators. The coil transmitted outputs of these systems generally are focused for field convergence toward the target tissue volume and the resultant, internally thermally affected tissue region has been monitored in situ by thermo-responsive sensors such as rod-mounted thermocouples and thermistors. Those tethered heat sensors are inserted percutaneously into the target tissue region, being coupled by extra-body electrical leads extending to connections with temperature monitoring readouts. As before, the invasiveness of the monitoring electrical leads extending into the patients' body for this procedure has been considered undesirable. This particularly holds where repetitive but time-spaced procedures are called for, or the therapeutic modality is employed in thermally treating tumor within the brain.
The radio (RF) spectrum is defined as extending from the audio range to about 300,000 MHz. However direct RF thermotherapy has been described in conjunction with the 80 MHz to 110 MHz range.
Another approach is described as performing as a focused radio frequency/microwave region system, the election between these spectral regions being determined with respect to the depth of the target tissue. See: htp://www.bsdme.com/.
Efforts to regionalize or confine therapeutic tissue heating to predefined borders or volumetric peripheries have included procedures wherein small wire or iron-containing crystals (U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,056) are implanted strategically within the tissue region of interest. Implantation is achieved with an adapted syringe instrumentality. Electromagnetic fields then are introduced to the region to inductively heat the implanted radiative-responsive heater components and thus evoke a more regionally controlled form of thermotherapy. In one such approach, ferromagnetic thermoseeds have been employed which exhibit Curie temperature values somewhat falling within the desired temperature range for an elected thermotherapy. This achieves a form of self regulation by operation of the system about those Curie transitions. For instance, as radiative inductive excitation drives the thermoseeds to temperatures to within the permeability based state change levels associated with attainment of a Curie temperature range, the thermoseeds become immune to further application of external excitation energy. (See generally U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,583). Unfortunately, the Curie transition temperature range of the thermoseeds is relatively broad with respect to the desired or target temperature. This expanded Curie transition range is, in part, the result of the presence of the ferrite-based seeds within relatively strong electromagnetic fields. The result is a somewhat broad and poor regulation temperature band which may amount 10° or more. As a consequence, the auto-regulated devices are constrained to uses inducing tissue necrosis or ablation, as opposed to uses with temperatures controlled for hyperthermia therapies. See generally:
Thermotherapeutic approaches designed to avoid the subcutaneous insertion of one or more temperature sensors have looked to the control of heating using modeling methodology. These approximating modeling methods are subject to substantial error due to differences or vagaries exhibited by the heterogeneous tissue of any given patient. Such differences may be due to variations in vascularity, as well as the gradual metamorphosis of a tumor mass. The latter aspect may involve somewhat pronounced variations in tissue physiologic characteristics such as density. See generally the following publication:
Some aspects of thermotherapy have been employed as an adjunct to the use of chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of tumor. Because of the precarious blood supply or vascularity and of the high interstitial fluid presence, such agents may not be effectively delivered to achieve a 100% cell necrosis. Further the tumor vessel wall may pose a barrier to such agents, and resultant non-specific delivery may lead to significant systemic toxicities. Studies have addressed these aspects of chemotherapy, for instance, by the utilization of liposomes to encapsulate the chemotherapeutic agents to achieve preferential delivery to the tumor. However the efficiencies of such delivery approaches have been somewhat modest. Clinically, hyperthermia therapy has been employed as a form of adjunct therapy to improve the efficiency of more conventional modalities such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. For the latter applications the thermal aspect has been used to augment bloodstream borne release agents or liposome introduction to the tumor site. Hyperthermia approaches have been shown to trigger agent release from certain liposomes, making it possible to release liposome contents at a heated site (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,490,840; 5,810,888). For any such thermotherapeutic application, an accurate temperature control at the situs of the release is mandated. See the following publications:
Hyperthermia when used in conjunction with radiation treatment of malignant disease has been demonstrated as beneficial for destroying a specific tumor site. Clinical data has evolved demonstrating an improved efficacy associated with combined radiation and hyperthermia treatments as compared to radiation therapy alone. Such multimodal therapy concepts also have been extended to a combination of hyperthermia treatment with both radiation treatment and chemotherapy (radiochemotherapy). See generally:
Biological mechanisms at the levels of single cells activated by heat became the subject of scientific interest in the early 1960s as consequence of the apparently inadvertent temperature elevation of an incubator containing Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). These creatures, upon being heat shocked, showed the characteristic puffs indicative of transcriptional activity and discrete loci. See the following publication:
Beneficial thermal compromization of target tissue volumes is not entirely associated with HSP based treatments for neoplastic tissue and other applications, for instance, having been studied in connection with certain aspects of angioplasty. Catheter-based angioplasty was first intentionally employed in 1964 for providing a transluminal dilation of a stenosis of an adductor hiatus with vascular disease. Balloon angioplasty of peripheral arteries followed with cautious approaches to its implementation to the dilation of stenotic segments of coronary arteries. By 1977 the first successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was carried out. While, at the time, representing a highly promising approach to the treatment of angina pectoris, subsequent experience uncovered post-procedural complications. While PTCA had been observed to be effective in 90% or more of the subject procedures, acute reclosure, was observed to occur in approximately 5% of the patients. Stenosis was observed to occur in some patients within a period of a few weeks of the dilational procedure and restenosis was observed to occur in 15% to 43% of cases within six months of angioplasty. See generally:
In general, the remedy for immediate luminal collapse has been a resort to urgent or emergency coronary bypass graft surgery. Thus, the original procedural benefits attributed to PTCA were offset by the need to provide contemporaneous standby operating room facilities and surgical personnel. A variety of modalities have been introduced to avoid post PTCA collapse, including heated balloon-based therapy, (Kaplan, et al., supra) the most predominate being the placement of a stent extending intra-luminally across the dilational situs. Such stents currently are used in approximately 80% to 90% of all interventional cardiology procedures. While effective to maintain or stabilize intra-luminal dilation against the need for emergency bypass procedures, the stents are subject to the subsequent development of in-stent stenosis or restenosis (ISR). See generally:
See additionally the following publications with respect to atherectomy for therapeutically confronting restenosis:
In each such approach, additional percutaneous intervention is called for. See generally the following publication:
Other approaches have been proposed including the application of electrical lead introduced electrical or RF applied energy to metallic stents, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,736); the incorporation of radioisotopes with the stents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,187,037; 6,192,095); and resort to drug releasing stents (U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,916 B1). While non-invasive control of ISR has been the subject of continued study, the development of a necessarily precise non-invasively derived control over it has remained an elusive goal.
Another application of hyperthermia is in orthopedics, as a means to stimulate bone growth and fracture healing. There are several FDA approved devices for stimulation of bone growth or healing, each with limitations and side effects. Therapies include invasive electrical stimulation, electromagnetic fields, and ultrasound stimulation. Decades old research has claimed a stimulation of bone growth by a mild increase in temperature of the boney tissue. Previous researchers have used such methods as inductive heating of implanted metal plates, or heating coils wrapped around the bone. The utility of these methods is limited by the invasive nature of the surgery needed to implant the heating elements and the inability to closely control tissue temperature. Moreover, therapeutic benefits have been inconsistent between different studies and experimental protocols. For a summary of past work, see generally:
A number of protocols have demonstrated a beneficial effect of hyperthermia on bone healing. Several studies indicate temperature affects bone growth and remodeling after injury. Hyperthermia may both improve blood supply and stimulate bone metabolism and have a direct effect on bone-forming cells by inducing heat shock proteins or other cellular proteins. In one experiment, rabbit femurs were injured by drilling and insertion of a catheter. Hyperthermia treatments were given at four-day intervals for 2–3 weeks using focused microwave radiation. Bones which had suffered an insult as a result of the experimental procedure showed a greater density of osteocytes and increased bone mass when treated with hyperthermia. Injured bones treated with hyperthermia showed completely ossified calluses after two weeks, while these processes normally take four weeks in untreated injuries. One problem with microwave heating of bone mass is the difficulty in predicting heat distribution patterns and maintaining the target tissue within the appropriate heat range.
When tissue is heated at too high of temperature, there can be irreversible cytotoxic effects which could damage bone and other tissues, including osteogenic cells, rather than induce healing. Certain studies have shown that induction of mild heat shock promotes bone growth, while more severe heat shock inhibits bone growth. Therefore, control and monitoring of the temperature of the targeted bone tissue is imperative to achieve therapeutic benefit and avoid tissue damage.
See additionally the following publications with respect to hyperthermia for therapeutically promoting osteogenesis:
Existing protocols for therapeutically promoting osteogenesis are limited by the invasive nature and concomitant potential for infection for instance with tethered electrical stimulators; poor temperature control, and potential for tissue injury or reduced therapeutic benefit, for instance with microwave heating or other induced electromagnetic fields; difficulty in effectively applying therapy to the injured bone because of targeting difficulties or low patient compliance with prescribed repetitive therapy.
The host immune system can be activated against infectious disease by heat shock protein chaperoned peptides in a manner similar to the effect seen against metastatic tumors. Heat shock proteins chaperoning peptides derived from both viral and bacterial pathogens have been shown to be effective at creating immunity against the infectious agent. For infectious agents for which efficacious vaccines are not currently available (especially for intracellular pathogens e.g. viruses, Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Plasmodium) HSP chaperoned peptides may be useful for the development of novel vaccines. It is expected that purified HSP chaperoned peptides (e.g. gp96 complexes) used as vaccines for diseases caused by highly polymorphic infectious agents would be less effective against genetically distinct pathogen populations. For a summary of past work on HSP vaccines against infectious agents, see generally:
In commonly owned co-pending application for U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/246,347, filed Sep. 18, 2002 and entitled “System, Method and Apparatus for Localized Heating of Tissue”, an approach to accurately carrying out an in situ elevation of the temperature of a target tissue volume is presented. Accuracy is achieved using untethered temperature sensor implants formed of ferromagnetic material which experiences an abrupt magnetic permeability state change within a very narrow temperature range. Temperature sensing is carried out by monitoring a very low level magnetic field extending through the position of the implant. For instance, the earth's magnetic field may be employed. Where inductively based heating is utilized, non-magnetic heaters may be implanted with the sensors and sensing is carried out intermittently in the absence of the inductably derived magnetic field.
The present invention is addressed to method, system and apparatus for accurately evaluating a temperature related physical parameter within the body of a patient. Accurate temperature measurement is achieved through the use of one or more tetherless temperature sensors strategically located within the body and configured with a passive resonant circuit. These passive circuits respond to an extra body applied excitation electromagnetic field by resonating at an identifiable unique resonant center frequency. In one embodiment, the resonant circuit based sensors are configured with a capacitor and a series coupled inductor formed with a winding disposed about a ferrite core. That ferrite core is formulated to exhibit a somewhat sharp permeability state change or transition at a Curie temperature corresponding with a desired temperature setpoint. With the arrangement, upon being excited by an applied excitation burst, the sensor will ring or resonate at its unique, signature resonant center frequency when at monitor temperatures below the involved Curie temperature. As the sensor witnesses monitoring temperatures approaching the Curie temperature defined setpoint the intensity of its unique resonant center frequency decreases, an aspect which may be taken advantage of from a temperature control standpoint. However, when the Curie or target temperature is reached, the relative permeability of the sensor's ferrite core drops sharply toward a unity value to, in turn, cause a sharp drop in the reluctance of the associated inductor coil causing the resonant frequency of the device to shift substantially upward in value. This shift is to an off-scale value. In effect, the signature output disappears. As the sensors resonate in response to excitation, the detector components of the associated interrogation system are capable of sensing all of the resonating devices, whereupon the sensed signals are digitized, averaged and analyzed to identify each sensor by its unique resonant center frequency, if at the noted monitor temperatures. Such analysis may be carried out using a Fourier transform-type approach. Because the unique resonant center frequency remains stable as the temperatures witnessed by the sensors, approach or transition toward the Curie temperature-based setpoint, the amplitude of the Fourier transform signal will diminish and the system has the capability of predicting the arrival of the Curie based setpoint temperature. Thermal overshoot can thus be more accurately accommodated for.
The unique resonant center frequencies of the sensors are readily established by adjusting the value of inductance and/or capacitance of the passive resonant circuits. In general, the unique resonant center frequencies are developed within a frequency band ranging from about 100 kHz to about 2 MHz. Accordingly, a substantial range of sensor signatures are available to the system.
A feature of the system and method of the invention is concerned with a typical patient management regimen wherein a relatively substantial repetition of thermotherapeutic procedures is called for. The sensors remain in position with respect to the target tissue volume and may, in this regard, be fashioned with anchors for the purpose of migration avoidance. Where a succession of treatments is involved, not only is there no requirement to re-install sensors, but also, the alignment of excitation and sensing antennae as well as heating unit output orientations essentially are simply repeated. Another aspect of this feature resides in the utilization of the pre-implanted sensors as a conventional tumor situs marker for subsequent patient evaluation imaging procedures.
In one embodiment of the invention one or more of the sensor implants are configured to exhibit Curie transitions at a lower threshold setpoint temperature, while an additional one or more are configured to exhibit Curie transitions at an upper limit higher setpoint temperature. Thus, the practitioner will be apprised of the target tissue volume reaching that minimum temperature adequately for therapy, as well as of any temperature excursions above the upper limit. Where such thermal excursions occur, the heating unit involved may be adjusted, for example, in terms of power level as well as component positioning.
Those sensor implants configured to identify attainment of a lower threshold temperature setpoint may be combined with ferrite core implemented auto-regulating heater implants having Curie transitions at an upper limit higher temperature setpoint. This particular combination will be beneficial where the thermotherapy temperature levels involved will approach apoptosis or necrosis levels, as well as for the previously mentioned hyperthermia therapy administered in the range between approximately 40° C. and 45° C.
The instant method has broad application to thermotherapy endeavors including an in vivo induction of heat shock proteins, a procedure having important utility in the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases and other therapies. As another modality, one or more of the sensors is combined with an intra-luminal stent and when so combined and implanted, permit a non-invasive repeatable and accurate hyperthermia therapy for stenosis/restenosis.
The implant control heating approach of the invention also may be applied to the field of orthopedics. In this regard, the sensor components may be combined in intimate thermal exchange relationship with non-magnetic metal bone support devices implanted with bony tissue. The setpoint temperature elected for such modality is selected to enhance the repair of the mending bony tissue.
Implant based controlled in vivo heating according to the precepts of the invention also may be employed as a vehicle for inducing immunity against or for the treatment of diseases cause by infectious agents.
Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part appear hereinafter.
The invention, accordingly, comprises the method, system and apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts and steps which are exemplified in the following detailed description.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
While a variety of techniques for evolving an effective interstitial thermotherapy of target tissue volumes have been approached by investigators, an earlier development deemed somewhat promising involved the implantation of ferromagnetic alloy heaters sometimes referred to as “ferromagnetic seeds” within that volume. The ferromagnetic alloy heaters were adapted so as to alter in exhibited magnetic permeability in consequence of temperature. For example, with this arrangement, when a Curie temperature transition range was thermally reached, permeability would, in turn, diminish over the transition range and correspondingly thermal responsiveness to an applied inductive field would diminish. Thus it was opined that a temperature auto-regulation could be achieved to optimize a thermally based implantation therapy. Such an arrangement is depicted in
Traditionally, the change in magnetic permeability of ferromagnetic alloys with increasing temperature has not been abrupt as would be preferred for precise temperature regulation of an implanted heating component as at 16. In this regard, characteristic curve 22 reveals that under the relatively intense, applied fields a permeability transition occurs gradually over a span typically of 10° C. to 15° C. or more. Responses of ferromagnetic-based auto-regulators as represented at curve 22 are occasioned both by the formulation of the ferromagnetic material as well as its reaction to the imposed inductive field which is somewhat unavoidable for auto-regulation. As a result, the implanted heater device 16 may not reach the intended Curie temperature and resultant relative permeability of unity. Often, that elevation in temperature above normal body temperature has not been achieved. Accordingly, accommodation has been made by electing Curie temperature transition ranges falling well above what would have otherwise been a target temperature for thermotherapy with a result that critical temperature limits of the tissue being treated have been exceeded. Because of such performance, thermotherapy utilizing such auto-regulating heating implants has been constrained to developing higher temperatures including those deriving necrosis or cell death. Thermotherapeutic procedures also are prone to inaccuracies by virtue of the unknown environmental conditions within which an implant as at 16 is situated. With respect to such unknown phenomena, temperatures achieved with ferromagnetic implants will vary depending upon cooling phenomena within the tissue surrounding the device. Such phenomena occur, for example, as a consequence of the degree of vascularity in the target region and proximity of the heating element as at 16 to blood vessels. These vessels will tend to perform as inherent cooling mechanisms. Accordingly, while attempting to achieve an effective heat therapy, the auto-regulating implants as at 16 generally have been unable to establish a necessary precise temperature output for requisite therapeutic time intervals.
Now turning to the subject of the physiological consequence of elevating tissue temperature, studies have been carried out to investigate both the component of temperature elevation as well as the time component within which such asserted higher temperatures are maintained, i.e., the temporal aspect thereof.
Such investigations have established critical temperature and time relationships which identify the occurrence of irreversible tissue damage effects. In this regard, looking to
A more severe heat shock may irreversibly damage cellular components. Under certain conditions, when a cell is damaged, an ordered process, apoptosis, is induced that leads to the death of the damaged cell. Apoptosis is considered a form of “programmed cell death,” and cells undergoing apoptosis often exhibit distinctive morphologic changes. Apoptosis is also involved in many developmental processes, defensive responses to microbial infection, the homeostasis of cell populations (e.g. lymphocytes) and as means of eliminating genetically damaged cells, such as cancer cells.
It is generally accepted that apoptosis is an active, highly organized, form of cell death, requiring both RNA and protein synthesis. A classic example is the systematic death of a finite number of cells, 131, at a certain stage in the life cycle of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a process controlled by the negative and positive regulation of specific genes. As demonstrated by development in C. elegans, certain genes are involved in the regulation of cell death by apoptosis. A specific example is the human gene bcl-2. In certain human follicular B-cell lymphomas, deregulation of the expression of bcl-2 has been identified as a cause of the prolonged survival of the lymphoma cells. Altered expression of bcl-2 interferes with the typical programmed cell death pattern, blocking apoptosis even when hematopoeitic growth factors are absent.
Apoptotic cells exhibit a pronounced decrease in cellular volume, modification of the cytoskeleton that results in convolution of the cell, and eventual blebbing of the cell's membrane, compaction of chromatin and its segregation within the nucleus of the cell. The DNA is degraded into small fragments, and the apoptotic cell sheds small membrane-bound apoptotic bodies which may contain intact organelles. The apoptotic bodies are phagocytosed (e.g. by macrophages) and the contents of apoptotic bodies are intracellularly degraded, with little release of the contents of the apoptotic cells. In this manner, apoptosis does not induce a localized inflammatory response.
Apoptosis is differentiated from necrosis by the general absence of inflammation. It is a physiological type of cell death, part of a homeostatic mechanism to maintain an optimal number and arrangement of cells. In certain physiological conditions, massive apoptosis is not followed by necrosis and inflammation, such as the removal of interdigital webs during early human development, the regression of liver hyperplasia following withdrawal of a primary mitogen and cellular loss in the premenstrual endometrium.
Where thermotherapy is sufficiently severe, cells and tissues are so damaged that cellular integrity is destroyed, or the cellular machinery is so disabled that the induction of apoptosis does not occur. In contrast to apoptosis, necrosis is a type of cell death morphologically characterized by extensive cell loss, which results in the recruitment of inflammatory cells. In necrosis, injured cells may exhibit clumping of chromatin, swelling of the cell and organelles (demonstrating a loss of control of ion balance), flocculent mitochondria, and eventual bursting and disintegration of the necrotic cell. If necrosis is extensive enough, the architecture of a tissue is destroyed. Extensive necrosis is characteristic of tissue destruction induced following severe damage by toxic chemicals, invasive microorganisms or ischemia. The wholesale release of cellular components into a tissue itself can trigger a damaging inflammatory response.
When a tissue is damaged, cells may die by a combination of apoptosis and necrosis. Many agents capable of inducing necrosis also induce apoptosis. Apoptosis often precedes extensive necrosis, with apoptosis in these situations possibly acting in a self-protective manner. When the level of insult to a tissue is too great, necrotic cell death cannot be avoided. Murine mastocytoma cells have been reported to undergo apoptosis after a moderately severe heat shock, but the same cells die via necrosis when the heat shock exposure is more severe.
For a comparison of apoptosis and necrosis, see:
The cellular response to a heatshock has been extensively studied. Certain heat shock inducible proteins such as Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70), HSP 90 and gp96 are expressed constitutively at low levels. During mild to moderate heatshock, cellular proteins may undergo conformational changes. It is this alteration in the structure of proteins, or other reversible denaturation effects, which are believed to play a role in inducing the heat shock response. (Note that other stressors, such as nutrient deprivation, release of oxygen radicals, or viral infection may also induce conformational aberrations.) Following a heat shock, mRNA expression of the genes encoding HSP70, HSP 90 and gp96, for example (along with that of other heatshock responsive genes) is induced by activating proteins called “Heat Shock Factors.” The response of two “Heat Shock Factors”, HSF-I and HSF-II is triggered by different levels of thermal stress. As an example, HSP70 is thought to be induced more rapidly than (by either less heat stress, or a shorter duration) HSP90. Therefore, different thermotherapy regimes will induce different panels of heat inducible genes.
For additional background on the heat shock response see:
Initiation of a heatshock will induce conformational changes in cellular proteins, and lead to the induction of heat shock genes. HSP70 has the ability to bind to proteins, is thought to act as a molecular chaperone, and may use an ATP dependant activity to renature stress-damaged proteins. It is thought that HSP 70 is involved in a process that ‘repairs’ partially denatured proteins. If the native conformation of a protein is not restored, then the denatured protein is degraded. During the degradation process, HSP70 can retain a peptide fragment derived from the degraded protein. In essence HSP 70 may then chaperone an antigenic peptide fragment of the denatured protein. These HSP70 chaperoned fragments are then processed though the cell's endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, and can then appear on the cell surface, presented by MHC-I molecules. Antigens presented on the surface of a cell can then lead to an immune response being generated to those antigens.
In order to have processing of peptide fragments, and presentment of potentially immunogenic fragments on the cell surface, it is necessary to have a living cell. An apoptotic cell, since the cellular contents are degraded (for instance, without presenting antigens on the phagocytitic cell's surface MHC-I molecules), may have lower immunogenicity than either a heat shocked, but recovering cell or a necrotic cell.
Accordingly, with accurate temperature and time controls therapy employing heat shock protein induction becomes available. Other adjunct therapies available with accurately controlled thermotherapy are, for example, release agent systems associated with a heating instigated release, radiation treatment, chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy.
Some approaches utilized by investigators, in the use of hyperthermia therapy, have achieved accurate temperature measurement and consequent control by inserting temperature sensors such as fiber optic temperature sensors, thermocouples or thermistors into the tissue adjacent to or integrally with implanted heaters. These fiberoptic, thermocouple or thermistor-based sensors necessarily are tethered having one or more electrical or optical leads extending externally or to a surface region of the body each time a hyperthermia therapy is administered. In the latter regard, the somewhat involved procedure often must also be repeated a number of times over many weeks or months to effect the desired therapeutic results. This becomes particularly problematic where the approach is employed in thermal therapy procedures associated with the human brain. See generally:
Should those sensors as at 34 a–34 d not be utilized, the temperatures reached at the target tissue volume 26 during a procedure can only be approximated by modeling methods which are subject to substantial error due to physical differences in the tissue of given patients. In this regard, tissues will exhibit differences in vascularity, as well as otherwise assumed average properties. As noted hereinbefore, vascularity functions as a conveyance for heat removal in the vicinity of the targeted tissue region. For further discussion of thermal modeling based methods of thermotherapy, reference is made to publication (10) supra.
The present invention employs temperature sensing untethered implants which are located within a target tissue volume, whereupon, using any of the above-discussed extra body heating systems the untethered implants will provide a quite accurate readout of preselected temperature levels. These temperature sensing implants are configured as passive resonant circuits with an inductor component and a capacitor component configured as a resonant circuit. That circuit is caused to ring at a known unique resonant center frequency while the tissue being monitored is at monitor temperatures below a target Curie temperature. When the predetermined setpoint (Curie-based) temperature for the tissue is reached, then the known resonating center frequency abruptly terminates. This sharp termination of resonance in conjunction with the known center frequency is achieved by utilizing an inductor component comprised of a winding and a ferromagnetic core. The ferromagnetic core is formulated to evoke a Curie transition, for example, in magnetic permeability over relatively narrow temperature ranges, for instance, between about 0.1° C. to about 5° C. for use with sensors and as narrow as about 0.1° C. to about 1° C. for use with auto-regulating heaters. This transition in terms of relative magnetic permeability μr, will be from about 100 to 1 to about 5000 to 1.
A highly advantageous aspect of this inductor component when employed with a passive resonant sensor resides in a stabile maintenance of the resonant center frequency of the sensors during the transition approaching the Curie temperature setpoint. During the transition, while the intensity amplitude of the sensor output diminishes, its select resonant center frequency persists. As a consequence, a target temperature predictive form of control is made available. In general, control is based upon a predetermined ratio of the instantaneous value of a signal representing the amplitude of the detector signal at the unique resonant center frequency to the maximum detector amplitude witnessed.
Where autoregulating heater implants are employed with the sensors of the invention, then the above-noted narrow Curie transistor range as it is present without inductive influence is desirable. Such a narrow range is represented in
The temperature sensing implants may be designed to perform at their predetermined resonant center frequencies as the targeted tissue heats to a lower threshold setpoint or target level. As that Curie temperature-based threshold setpoint is approached within a Curie transition range, the output intensity of the involved sensor at its unique resonant center frequency diminishes. When the threshold Curie temperature setpoint is reached, the resonant center frequency, in effect, shifts to an off-scale value. These lower threshold temperature monitoring sensors may be combined with temperature sensing implants which experience the sharp Curie transition at an upper limit of tissue temperature. Accordingly, as the Curie temperature-based limit setpoint is approached within a Curie transition range, the output intensity of the involved sensor at its unique resonant center frequency diminishes. When the limit Curie temperature is reached, the resonant center frequency, in effect, shifts to an off-scale value. Thus, in effect, the desired thermotherapy temperature range is bracketed.
The passive resonant sensors with inductors exhibiting the Curie transition characteristic may be employed as threshold temperature measuring implants in conjunction with auto-regulating heaters exhibiting Curie temperatures above the sensor threshold temperature levels. Because such heaters require an inductive heating modality their Curie temperature based transitions ranges will be affected. However with the noted ferromagnetic materials the Curie temperature transitions will be within much narrower temperature ranges than heretofore have been observed. Looking to
Now turning to the soft ferromagnetic materials employed with the inductor components of the passive resonant circuit based temperature sensing implants as well as the auto-regulating heaters, ferrites have been considered to be crystalline reaction products of the oxides of iron and one or more other bivalent metals or bivalent metallic complexes. The soft magnetic materials are generally categorized as exhibiting a high inductance, B, for a low field, H.
Particularly for the predominating hyperthermia based procedures described herein, the soft ferrites are formulated to derive relatively low Curie point values within, for instance, a range extending from about 39° C. to about 65° C. and more typically within a range extending from about 41° C. to about 50° C. Generically, ferromagnetic materials exhibit pronounced magnetic effects occurring in atoms and ions and stem from only a limited number of metallic elements, to wit: Fe, Co, Ni and certain rare earths. Alloys or oxides of these materials typically will contain neighboring ions such as Mn to substantially enhance the atomic spin effect. Zn substitution both increases the magnetic moment of Mn and Ni ferrites and lowers the Curie temperature point of a resultant product. Such substitution will be seen to appear in ferrite formulations disclosed herein. The metal ion present in largest concentration in ferrites is Fe3+. Because of its high ionic moment it has a high potential for controlling magnetic characteristics. Such effects are not chemical but crystallographic, being related to lattice site distribution.
The processes for preparing ferrites have an extensive but relatively short history. Such processes generally reflect the common goal of formation of a spinel structure. Starting materials typically are oxides or precursors of oxides of the cations and their processing involves an interdiffusion of metal ions of a select composition to form a mixed crystal. Ferrite powders have been produced by precipitation and digestion methods. These powders are blended, calcined and milled and, for the case of spinel ferrites, sintered for a variety of purposes including: (a) completing the interdiffusion of the component metal ions into a desired crystal lattice; (b) establishing appropriate valences for the multi-valent ions by proper oxygen control; and (c) developing a desired microstructure. During this procedure, the materials are consolidated into a body or component, for example, by die-pressing.
One ferrite exhibiting a sharp Curie point transition of 44.5° C. exhibited the following chemistry:
In addition, calcium oxide may be added to the above formulation to advantageously increase the electrical resistivity of the ferrite material to greater than 100 ohm-cm, preferably greater than 500 ohm-cm and more preferably greater than 700 ohm-cm. This serves to increase the amplitude of the signal generated by the resonant circuit of the sensor.
See generally the following publications:
L=(const.) μr AN 2 /I
With this arrangement, a plurality of temperature sensing implants may be developed, each with a unique resonant center frequency. The particular resonant frequency which is utilized in carrying out temperature sensing of a target tissue volume in general, will fall within a range of from about 100 kHz to about 2 MHz. As is apparent from the above two expressions, when the circuit 90 is exposed to temperatures approaching the Curie temperature, relative permeability will drop to a value approaching one and, in consequence, the reluctance of the inductor decreases and the associated signal output level issuing from the sensor decreases by 3-fold to 10-fold or more, indicating that the Curie temperature is close at hand. The above expressions also reveal that the various resonant frequencies employed with the system can be adjusted by controlling the number of turns 94 and the value of capacitance for capacitors as at 100. Accordingly, each temperature sensor implant will exhibit its own unique resonant center frequency based signature.
In general, the windings 94 are formed of materials including copper, silver, gold, aluminum, platinum or other non-magnetic, low electrical resistivity metals or alloys and will exhibit diameters within a range of from about 0.001 inch to about 0.020 inch and preferably from about 0.002 inch to about 0.010 inch; and most preferably within a range of about 0.003 inch to about 0.007 inch. Because the temperature sensing implant circuits as at 90 are excited from an extra body applied excitation electromagnetic field generated as a broad spectrum pulse exhibiting an excitation interval, it is desirable that resonant ringing of circuits as at 90 continue for an interval extending beyond that excitation interval. To achieve this ringing persistence interval it has been found desirable to configure the implant circuits as exhibiting a high quality factor, Q. Q is a measure of the sharpness of a resonant peak at the −3 dB point. The Q of a series RLC circuit may be expressed as follows: Q=ω0L/R. Accordingly, it is desirable to maintain lower values of resistance which is a factor in the selection of a particular inductive winding wire diameter. It is preferred that the inductive windings 94 be in a single layer in order to avoid a resistance elevating proximity effect. However, in general, between one and about ten layers may be employed. The dimensions for the core length, l, can vary substantially, for example, within a range of from about 5 mm to about 100 mm; more preferably from about 5 mm to about 40 mm; and most preferably, from about 5 mm to about 20 mm.
A gate drive circuitry is represented at block 136 shown connected to line 130 via line 138 and providing the earlier-noted gating pulse, A. Gate drive circuitry 136 is actuated in response to a forward drive input represented at arrow 140. That input is derived at a fiberoptic interface circuit represented at block 142 which is seen responsive to an optical drive input represented at dashed arrow 144. An interface optical output is represented at dashed arrow 146. In operation, when a forward drive gating pulse is applied to transistor Q1 for about one microsecond current flows from the storage capacitor function C1 through excitation antenna 112, then returns through diode D1, transistor function Q1 and returns to the storage capacitor function C1. That represents the forward half-cycle of excitation of antenna 112. When transistor Q1 is turned off, current flows through diode D2, through excitation antenna 112 and returns to the capacitor function C1. The result is a single cycle sinewave excitation. Sense antenna 118 is blocked during this excitation interval, inasmuch as the excitation field generated from excitation antenna 112 will tend to couple with antenna 118. Antenna 118, which may be provided as a paired wire device is connected through cable 148 to a detector and control function represented at block 150. Function 150 includes fiberoptic interface circuitry represented at block 152. Circuitry 152 is seen to be interactively associated with optical transmission arrows 144 and 146 and is powered as represented at arrow 154 from a low voltage linear power supply represented at block 156. Power supply 156 additionally powers a timing and control logic function shown at block 158 as represented at arrow 160. Function 158 serves to carry out appropriate logic including the duration of the excitation pulse, delays before the enablement of antenna 118 and the like.
Also powered from low voltage linear power supply 156 as represented at arrows 162 and 164 is a front-end amplification function represented at 166 and an output amplification function represented at 168. The detected signals from sense antenna 118 are both amplified and filtered following a delay interval occurring subsequent to the excitation interval. That delay interval permits a sufficient dampening of the excitation pulse so as not to interfere with the resonating signals emanating from the sensor implant or implants. Note that cable 148 extends to the input of a front-end amplification stage 166. The output of the detector assembly also is seen to be amplified as represented at symbol 168. As part of the signal treatment, as represented at arrows 170 and 172, the sense antenna output is subjected to bandpass filtering as represented at block 174 as well as is stripped of any d.c. term. The bandpass evoked by the filtering function 174 will extend from, for example, about 100 kHz to about 2 MHz.
The amplified sense output is directed, as represented at arrow 176 to a data acquisition and control network represented in general at block 178. This analog signal is sampled at a very high rate with an analog to digital conversion approach. With this digital approach, the system may apply the full power of signal averaging to lower baseline noise with respect to the associated function of identifying thermal sensor broadcast centerline frequency data. For example, utilizing a point-by-point approach averaging is carried out and resonant frequency data is derived. For that purpose, Fourier transform approaches are available including the fast Fourier transform (FFT). These functions are represented at block 178 as a data acquisition block 180, the digital output of which is represented at arrow 182. Arrow 182 extends to a data processing algorithmic function represented at block 184. This algorithm is responsive to the center frequency intensity signal and data representing a corresponding unique resonant electromagnetic response of an implant temperature sensor to derive implant status data as detector outputs. These Fourier-type outputs representing a unique resonant center frequency will diminish in amplitude as core Curie temperature is approached. A ratio of such diminution (instantaneous to maximum amplitude) is used for control and monitoring purposes. As represented at bus arrow 186 and block 188 resultant implant status data is asserted to a graphical user interface or readout assembly to provide visibly discernable information to the operator. Signals to instruct the system to commence carrying out an excitation and sensing sequence may be evolved from the data acquisition function 180. Such signal introduction is represented at arrow 190.
An initial concern in the earlier investigations of the instant system was addressed to the slight change in relative permeability which may occur when a given implant sensor was approaching or transitioning toward its Curie temperature. The question was posed as to whether the resonant center frequency position would shift during the temperature interval of Curie transition so as to despoil the necessary FFT derived center frequency spacing. As the sensors were heated toward their Curie temperatures, resonant center frequencies remained stable and did not increase or shift. Looking to
Now referring to
Curve 220 plots the signal strength ratio of a sensor having a 45° C. Curie temperature. Note that as its associated temperature curve 217 elevates from a normal human body temperature of about 37° C., the signal strength ratio remains at one at region 221, then commences to drop, essentially dropping into noise as the bath temperature closely approached 45° C.
The control system associated with this form of sensor performance measures the initial (FFT) signal amplitude for each sensor with respect to its unique resonant center frequency. Typically there resonant center frequencies are separated by about 50 kHz to about 75 kHz. The relative amplitude of the Fourier transform based signal of each sensor is tracked. When that relative amplitude (representing the ratio of the instantaneous amplitude to its initial amplitude) diminishes or drops to a select value, the setpoint temperature is assumed to have been reached. In this regard, the extent of any thermal overshoot is somewhat minimized.
Amplitude ratio ranges for this control approach may range from about 0.2 to about 0.7 and preferably from about 0.3 to about 0.5. The temperature value at the commencement of the Curie transition range, i.e., at the knee 42 (
A steering diode D3 is seen positioned within output line 230. Diode D3 functions to block downstream voltages and thus protect device 226. Similarly, diode D4 coupled between output lines 230 and 232 within line 266 protects device 226 against the application of a reversed voltage. Downstream of device 226 are three energy storage capacitors C5–C7 corresponding with capacitor function C1. In this regard, capacitor C5 is coupled between output lines 230 and 232 at line 270; capacitor C6 is coupled between those output lines at line 271; and capacitor C6 is coupled between the output lines at line 272. Line 232 extends to one input of a header 274 while opposite output line 230 extends to an opposite terminal of that device. Header 274 is connected with excitation antenna 112 which is connectable with header 274 at lines 276 and 278. A ballast resistor R3 is coupled within line 230 and functions as an inrush current limiter with respect to capacitors C5–C7. Additionally, the high voltage across lines 230 and 232 is monitored at line 280 which is coupled intermediate resistors R4 and R5. These resistors correspond with sensor resistor function R1 described in connection with
Monitoring line 280 extends to a voltage monitoring network represented generally at 290. In this regard, line 280 extends to lines 292 and 294. Line 294, in turn, extends to the positive input of a comparator 296. Line 292 additionally incorporates a Schottky diode D5. Diode D5 functions to protect the network 290 from overvoltages. The opposite input to comparator 296 is provided by a precision reference network represented generally at 298 comprised of zener diode D6, capacitor C8 and resistor R6. These components combine to provide a reference input at line 300 of, for example, 2.5 volts. The output of comparator 296 at line 302 is of an open collector variety and therefore incorporates a pull-up resistor R7 and noise protecting bypass capacitor C9. Resistors R8 and R9 within line 280 function to provide comparator hysteresis performance. When the high voltage across lines 230 and 232 is at an appropriate level, for example, 1000 volts, a logic high true signal, HV_OK is generated.
Looking to that circuitry, gate drive circuitry 136 (
Excitation transistor Q1 performs in conjunction with two steering diodes to apply excitation energy to excitation antenna 112 as described in connection with
An interrogation cycle for the system at hand involves an initial excitation of excitation antenna 112 followed by a short, for example, 2 microsecond delay, following which data is acquired from sense antenna 118 (
A start-up reset function is provided by a device 354, which is configured with resistor R23 and provides a Clear input signal to PLD 340 via line 356. Device 354 may be provided as a Supply-Voltage Supervisor and Precision Voltage Detector, model TL7757CD marketed by Texas Instruments, Inc. of Dallas Tex. PLD 340 further is configured with resistors R26 and R27 and is programmable from junction device 358 having outputs at lines 360–363, which are coupled with pull-up resistors R28–R34. PLD 340 receives status information, for example, the HV_OK signal at line 302, interlock information and the like and where operational criteria are in order, provides a STATUS_OK signal at its output line 366. Additionally, the HV_OK signal is employed to provide the power supply enabling signal, HV_EN at line 368. That signal may be directed to acquisition and control circuitry and additionally may be employed to enable power supply 226 as described in connection with line 262 in
The STATUS_OK signal from line 366 is optically transmitted to the acquisition and control features of the system. Looking to the
In similar fashion the ACQUIRE signal at line 372 (
Device 382 optically conveys the STATUS_OK signal to an optical receiver for further disposition. Referring to
The ACQUIRE signal generated from PLD340 and transmitted via opto-transmitter 386 is received at opto-receiver 402. Device 402 is configured with capacitor C26 and resistor R48 and may be provided as a 1 MBd 600 nm High Performance Link Receiver, model HFbR-2532 marketed by Agilent Corp. (supra). The output of device 402 at line 404 is directed to an input of line driver 394 to provide a corresponding output at line 406 incorporating resistor R49 and extending to a BNC connector 408. Connector 408 is employed to convey the ACQUIRE signal to control and data acquisition functions of the system. Note, additionally, that the same ACQUIRE signal is tapped from line 406 at line 410. Returning momentarily to
Driver 394 further is configured with resistors R55–R59 which are coupled respectively to input terminals A2–A7 and ground.
Secondary output windings of transformer 452 are coupled via lines 470 and 472 to a full wave rectifier represented generally at 474, the output of which is presented at line 476 in conjunction with ground level at line 478. Line 478 is seen connected to ground via line 480. A filter capacitor C29 extends between lines 476 and 478. Line 476 and line 478 via line 482 extend to a regulator 484 the output of which is directed to lines 486 and 488. The latter lines are filtered at capacitor C30 extending between lines 486 and 478. Device 484 may be provided as a Three-Terminal Positive 15 volt Regulator, model LM78M15CT marketed by National Semiconductor, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. With the arrangement shown, the output at line 488 is a regulated positive 15 volts.
The outputs of the secondary windings of transformer 458 are present at lines 490 and 492 which are directed to a full wave rectifier represented generally at 494. The positive output of rectifier 494 is provided at line 496, while the negative output thereof is provided at line 498. Ground level is present at line 500. Line 496 is filtered by capacitors C31 and C32, while line 498 is filtered by capacitor C33. Line 496 and line 502 extending from line 500 are coupled with a voltage regulator 504. Device 504 provides a regulated +5V output at line 506. Line 506 is filtered by a capacitor C34.
Now looking to the negative output, line 498 and line 508 extending from line 500 are directed to a negative voltage regulator 510 which functions to provide a regulated −5V output at line 512. Line 512 is filtered by a capacitor C35. Device 510 may be provided as a Three-Terminal Negative 5 volt Regulator, model LM79MO5CT marketed by National Semiconductor, Inc. (supra).
Sense antenna 118 as described in connection with
In general, the intensity will be of a Fourier approach wherein resonant center frequencies and their Fourier-based amplitudes are identified. Next, as represented at arrow 650 and block 652 controller logic is employed to identify the above-discussed relative amplitudes of the unique resonant frequencies associated with the sensor implants. Accordingly, a unique sensor resonant frequency is determined to be present along with its relative amplitude and is associated with the appropriate implant identifier. In this regard, the sensors may be given a numerical identification for readout purposes. With such status and identification data, then, as represented at arrow 654 and block 656 controller interface logic is employed to develop appropriate digital data for providing a readout to the operator. That function is represented at arrow 658 and block 660. Preferably, certain of the temperature sensor implants will have a Curie temperature at a lower threshold temperature, for example, 41° C., while others will be at an upper limit temperature, for example, 44° C. The readout information will apprise the operator as to whether temperature elevation toward threshold and upper limit temperatures are underway and whether the threshold temperatures have been reached or exceeded. With such information, the operator is aware that thermal therapy is underway and its status.
The discourse now turns to the physical structuring of the temperature sensing implants. Looking to
Practitioners may find it beneficial to structure the implants as at 670 with an anchoring feature engagable with surrounding tissue to prevent any migration of the implants once implanted. One approach to providing such an anchoring structure is to extend the outer sleeve 700 beyond the outward surfaces of the epoxy potting material 706 and associated biocompatible conformal coating. For example, an outer sleeve 700 extension is represented in phantom at 714 in
A variety of anchoring structures and techniques are employable with the implants at hand.
Temperature sensing implants as at 670 which are configured to identify lower threshold tissue temperatures may be combined with auto-regulating ferrite core based heater implants. Those ferrite core heater implants will be configured to exhibit a Curie temperature, for example, at an upper limit value above the lower threshold value. A physical structuring of such an auto-regulated heater implant is illustrated in connection with
Biocompatible stainless steel heater collars or end caps can also be combined with extended ferrite cores within thermal sensing implants as at 670. However, such an arrangement generally is not recommended inasmuch as the temperature sensing components of the implant will be influenced by the Joulian heating of the heater sheaths, as opposed to the more appropriate responsiveness to surrounding tissue temperature. Combined ferrite-based temperature sensing and heater components are described in detail in the noted application for U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/246,347.
Another anchor structure which may be employed with either temperature sensing implants as at 670 or auto-regulated heater implants as at 730 is represented in
The implants described in conjunction with
However, with the instant system and method, the surgeon is given an opportunity for deploying hyperthermia-based temperature monitoring and/or heater implants by direct access. Of special interest, colorectal cancers tend to metastasize through the lymph system. Accordingly, the implants can be intraoperatively positioned within lymph nodes to provide for the induction of HSPs at the node-retained cancer cells. Other sites of tumor similarly can be implanted. Following surgical closure, the hyperthermia therapy procedures described herein can be undertaken in mitigation of the metastasis. In general, practitioners employing the method herein described with respect to hyperthermia will elect to implant the most or more accessible target tissue volume.
A target tissue volume is represented in
Upon the determining of the boundaries or periphery and the physiological state of a target tissue volume, the practitioner will determine the number of implants called for and their positioning within the localized tissue region. In effect, the location of the implants can be mapped such that their resonating responses or lack thereof may be utilized in conjunction with the map to adjust the aiming feature of the external heating system. Referring to
A lower readout 840 is configured in the same manner as readout 830. Lower readout 840 includes a Curie temperature indicator 842 representing the programmed upper limit Curie temperature for the remaining six implants, for instance, 43° C. Each of the upper limit implants will have a unique resonant frequency when interrogated at monitor temperatures below 43° C. and those unique resonant center frequencies will provide relative amplitude data of diminishing value at temperatures approaching that upper limit value. Lower readout 840 incorporates six yellow LED implemented visual readout components represented at linear LED array 844. LEDs within the array 844 will illuminate in a yellow coloration at monitor temperatures below and approaching the upper limit of 43° C., i.e., below Tmax. Each LED will be illuminated when its associated implant is resonating at its designated unique center frequency in the presence of monitoring temperatures below the upper limit temperature, i.e., below Tmax. Aligned below LED array 844 is a red LED array represented generally at 848. As before, each of the red indicators within array 848 is associated with a numerically assigned implant identifier as at numeric sequence 846. The LEDs at 848 will be illuminated at monitor temperatures above or closely approaching the upper limit temperature, for example, of 43° C. Above that temperature any so thermally influenced implant will cease to provide the assigned unique resonant center frequency.
The system of
The type of heater unit employed with the instant arrangement is one which employs broadcast frequencies which are non-interfering with the frequency band employed with the temperature sensing implants at hand. In this regard, the heater unit will operate at frequencies above, for instance, 2 MHz. Such heaters, for example, are employed to carry out thermotherapy by applying microwave, radiofrequency or ultrasonic energy from a variety of antenna components, for example, phased array antennae. Such products are marketed, for example, by BSD Medical Corporation of Salt Lake City, Utah.
For the instant demonstration operator 850 is shown providing interaction with a heater control function as represented at arrow 856 and block 858. Control 858, in turn, as represented by arrow 860 and block 862 provides control to such an above-described non-interference heater unit. The output is represented at arrows 864–866. The latter arrows extend to blocks 868 and 870 representing antennae of such a focused heating system.
As is apparent, the operator 850 will wish to effect control of the heater unit 862 such that LED array 834 is off, and array 838 is on at upper readout 830, while LEDs of array 844 of the lower readout 840 are illuminated and the LEDs of arrays 848 are off. Accordingly, the operator adjusts to maintain green and yellow LED excitation.
Looking additionally to
Where the test posed at block 920 is affirmative and all implants are operational, then as represented at line 924 and block 926 a heating system is elected which performs at frequencies not interfering with the implant interrogation procedure. As represented at line 928 and block 930 an initial or starting heating level for the heating unit elected then is selected. This level may or may not be adjusted in the course of therapy. In this regard, as represented at line 932 and block 934 the practitioner determines what the maximum interval should be to reach the lower threshold temperature at the target tissue volume. This is referred to as the maximum warm-up interval, twu. Correspondingly, as represented at line 936 and block 938 FIG. 21C), the practitioner determines what the total therapy duration should be. In this regard, a quanta of heat energy is to be administered to the target tissue volume as determined by the intensity level of the heating unit and the duration of thermal energy application at temperatures above Tmin.
With the above basic procedures being completed, as represented at line 940 and block 942 a general or local anesthetic agent is administered and, as represented at line 944 and block 946 the practitioner employs ultrasound, stereotatic systems, upright mammographic guidance or palpation to insert the sensor implants into the target tissue volume using an appropriate delivery device as generally discussed in connection with
It may be recalled that these tetherless implants will remain in place indefinitely and that the patient typically will undergo several therapeutic sessions. Accordingly, it is necessary that the implant information be recorded. Thus, the next line 962 is shown leading to therapy session procedures as labeled. Each of these procedures commences as represented at line 964 extending to block 966. At block 966, the practitioner reproduces the skin-carried markers if necessary. Next, as represented at line 968 and block 970 the patient is positioned upon a treatment fixture such as a table or chair such that the skin surface carried markers are clearly visible. Then, as represented at line 972 and block 974, guided by the skin-carried marker, the practitioner positions the heating assembly output component, for example, phased array antennae as close as practical to the target tissue volume. Additionally, as represented at line 976 and block 978, again guided by the skin-carried marker, the practitioner positions the excitation and receiver or sense antennae as close as practical to the target tissue volume. In this regard, the sense antenna may be flexible and, in effect drapes over the body surface of the patient. Additionally, where necessary, as represented at line 980 and block 982 all of the recorded unique resonant center frequencies and associated sensor identification numbers are loaded into the interrogation assembly controller or data acquisition system. That interrogation controller then is turned on as represented at line 984 and block 986 and the procedure continues as represented at line 988 to the query at block 990. At this time, a determination is made as to whether all appropriate lower threshold and upper limit implants are resonating in response to monitoring or body level temperature, for example, with respect to
Returning to block 1008, in the event that all appropriate LEDs of the arrays 834 and 844 are illuminated, then the procedure continues as represented at line 1020 extending to line 1018. Where the query posed at block 1012 indicates that the maximum warm-up time has been timed out, then as represented at line 1022 the program reverts to node A, which reappears in
Returning to the query posed at block 1016, where LED array 838 indicates that the target tissue volume temperature is above the lower threshold temperature, Tmin and below the upper limit temperature as represented at LED array 846, then the program continues as shown at line 1018 to block 1034 representing the commencement of a session of a predetermined therapy duration. That therapy duration commences to be timed out. Where proper therapy temperatures are not present, the procedure reverts to node B a represented at line 1032. The program continues as represented at line 1036 leading to the query posed at block 1038 (
Where auto-regulating heater implants as described in connection with FIGS. 15 and 15A–15D, are employed as the upper temperature limit devices, then the heating units employed typically will be of an inductive variety. As a consequence, the electromagnetic energy broadcast by them will interfere with the interrogation equipment employed in accordance with the invention. Accordingly, an intermittent approach is utilized wherein the inductive heating assembly is activated for a heating interval and then turned-off, whereupon the interrogation assembly is activated. Where this intermitting is carried out automatically as opposed to the basic system of
A further effect of the noted inductive interference has been described in connection with
A graphic illustration of the intermitting performance of the system is provided in connection with
Now considering the intermittent activation or duty cycle-defined application of power and activation/enablement of the interrogation components, it may be observed that power is represented as initially being applied as shown at power curve 1088 between times t0 and t1, representing a power application increment of time δt1. Following this power application interval the heating function is turned off for a sensing or interrogation time extending between times t1 and t2, representing an increment of measurement or sensor interrogation time, δt2. Because the electromagnetic field applied for sensor interrogation purposes is relatively low in power, the Curie transition range characteristic elected for the sensors remains quite stable. Recall the discussion associated with
As then labeled in conjunction with at line 1193, one or more therapy sessions are carried out. As noted above, inasmuch as the sensors are untethered and essentially permanently implanted, multiple therapy sessions can be carried out without a requirement for re-implanting such devices. As multiple therapy sessions are carried out, the skin carried marker may somewhat disappear. Accordingly, lines 1193 and 1194 extend to block 1195 (
Looking momentarily to
In the event of an affirmative determination with respect to the query posed at block 1252, then as represented at line 1254 and block 1272 the session therapy duration time-out commences. Where the query at block 1244 indicates that all appropriate LEDs are illuminated, the procedure extends as represented at line 1274 to line 1254. With the commencement of therapy duration time-out, as represented at line 1276 and block 1278 the interrogation assembly is turned off and as represented at line 1280 and block 1282 (
Node D reappears in conjunction with line 1308 in
The intermitting approach also can be employed with temperature sensor implants which respond to identify a lower temperature threshold and upper limit temperature heater implants as described earlier in connection with FIGS. 15 and 15A–15D. Inasmuch as the heater implants typically will require an inductive form of alternating field current excitation, intermitting is called for to both avoid interference with the interrogation procedure. The procedure for carrying out this intermitting approach with this combination of implants is provided in connection with
Looking momentarily to
With the commencement of session therapy duration time-out as represented at block 1468, the procedure turns on the heating assembly for the noted heating period as represented at line 1488 and block 1490 (
Console 1550 incorporates LED arrays as have been earlier-described in connection with
The patient is now prepared for undertaking one or many therapy sessions as labeled in correspondence with lines 1686 and 1687, extending to block 1688 (
Returning to block 1788, where the stop therapy button or switch has not been pressed, then as represented at line 1810 and block 1812 a determination is made as to whether all appropriate LEDs within array 834′ and array 844′ are illuminated. In the event they are not, then as represented at line 1814 and block 1816 a determination is made as to whether the maximum time of warm-up has timed out. If the maximum time of warm-up has timed out, then as represented at line 1818 and block 1820, red LED 1598 is illuminated and as represented at line 1822 and block 1824 an error message and prompt is presented at display 1588 and the procedure advances to node C as represented at line 1826.
Looking momentarily to
Returning to the query at block 1816, where the maximum time to warm-up has not timed out, then as represented at line 1836 and block 1838 a determination is made as to whether all appropriate LEDs within arrays 838′ and 844′ are illuminated. In the event that they are not, then the program reverts to node D as represented at line 1840. Where those LEDs are appropriately illuminated, the program continues as represented at line 1842 extending to block 1844 providing for the commencement of therapy time-out. Returning to the query at block 1812, where the condition represented at block 1838 obtains, then the procedure diverts to line 1842 as represented at line 1846.
Returning to block 1844, where therapy time-out has commenced, then as represented at line 1848 and block 1850 where the heating unit elected is one requiring intermittent heating and interrogation, then that form of system activation is utilized in accordance with the interrogate/heat duty cycle elected in connection with up-down switches 1577 and readout 1578. The procedure then continues as represented at line 1852 (
Returning to the query at block 1854, where none of the temperature excursion LEDs at array 848′ are illuminated, then the procedure progresses as represented at line 1868 and block 1870. Block 1870 determines whether or not the therapy duration has timed-out. In the event that it has not, then as represented at loop line 1872 extending to line 1852, the procedure dwells until such time-out occurs. At such time-out, as represented at line 1874 and block 1876 green LED 1602 is illuminated and green LED 1600 is turned off. As represented at line 1878 and block 1880 the heating unit and interrogation assembly are turned off and, as represented at line 1882 and block 1884 therapy data are recorded and as represented at line 1886 and node 1888 the therapy session is ended.
Hyperthermia currently is employed for purposes of limiting restenosis at the location of implanted stents in blood vessels. In general, such stents, for example, may be utilized in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for purposes of avoiding a collapse of arteries subsequent to balloon implemented dilation. Thermal treatment at the site of the stent will typically fall within a temperature range from about 40° C. to about 45° C. As in other thermotherapeutic procedures, necessary sensing of temperature heretofore has been carried out in an invasive manner. Specifically, a transluminal catheter borne thermal sensor is maneuvered within the stent structure in the course of the thermal therapy procedure. As is apparent, such an invasive positioning of the temperature sensor is required each time the hyperthermia therapy is performed, a procedure which may be called for relatively often. In addition to the risk of this invasive positioning of the temperature sensor, the catheterization of the patient involves a substantial cost. See the following publications in this regard:
The mesh-like generally cylindrically-shaped stent 1900 is seen to be implanted such that its outwardly disposed contact surface 1904 will have been urged into abutting and fixed intimate connection with the intima of a blood vessel 1906. Fixed to contact surface 1904 at the central region of stent 1900 is an untethered temperature responsive assembly according to the invention which is represented generally at 1908. Component 1908 is configured with the rod-shape of device 670 described in connection with FIGS. 14 and 14A–14C. The ferrite core as described at 672 of the component will be formulated to develop a Curie transition at an upper temperature limit as described above. That upper temperature limit is elected inasmuch as the instant embodiment includes only one passive device with a signature resonant center frequency. Sensor 1908 may be bonded with the stent 1900 and its securement may be further assured by the positioning of a biocompatible flexible sheath or band 1910 over the central portion of the stent 1900 and over the outwardly disposed surface 1912 of the sensor assembly 1908. Band 1910 may, for instance, be formed of a biocompatible, non-metallic material such as silicone elastomer, Dacron or Teflon. The arrangement is seen to slightly additionally distend blood vessel 1906 at region 1914. If desired, the sensor assembly 1908 may be mounted in intimate thermal exchange relationship with the stent 1900. Providing a biocompatible electrically insulated conformal coating such as the earlier-described Parylene as shown at 1916 in
The combined stent and untethered sensor components discussed in conjunction with
The nominal drug release temperature will range from about 39° C. to about 65° C. and preferably from about 41° C. to about 50° C. Drug release coating 1936, when non-invasively heated to a drug releasing temperature, provides a controlled amount of a selected drug at the situs of the stent 1920 to limit restenosis phenomena. Such a drug release process can be repeated at therapeutic intervals which may range from weeks to months to even years. Additionally, the coating may be activated in the event the patient's symptoms or diagnostic methods indicate that restenosis is occurring and progressing to the point that therapeutic intervention is warranted. Where hyperthermia therapy is combined with drug release activity, more than one passive resonant frequency based sensor may be employed each being assigned a different Curie transition temperature.
The untethered passive resonant circuit based sensors preferably are positioned on the outer contact surface of the stent structure, inasmuch as such location provides a factor of safety with respect to the adhesion of the individual components to that contact surface. Should the coupling be damaged, the sensor components are retained by the stent structure itself outside of luminal blood flow. In addition, the detectable signal amplitude issuing from the passive resonant circuit is greater if the sensor is placed on the outside of a metallic stent.
Two of these resonant circuit based passive sensors may be employed to provide the earlier-described lower threshold temperature sensing and upper limit temperature sensing. Additionally, multiple sensors may be employed to provide a redundancy.
As noted earlier, essentially all metallic stents which have been implanted are formed of nonmagnetic material in view of the potential involvement of highly magnetic imaging systems. As a consequence, those pre-implanted stents can be retrofitted in vivo with the temperature sensing aspect of the present invention to enhance noninvasive thermotherapeutic procedures or subsequent treatment of restenosis phenomena. The retrofitting approach, in effect, provides for the installation of a temperature sensing component containing a stent-like structure which is diametrically expandable within the preexisting stent.
See additionally the following publication:
The instrumentation described in connection with
Subsequent to the stent positioning phase, the patient will be monitored for the occurrence of clinically significant stenosis/restenosis. This may be to a requirement for a number of hyperthermia based treatment sessions which can extend over a lengthy period. Referring to
Where the heating unit status is ok, then as represented at line 2192 and block 2194, green LED 1590′ (
Where the query at block 2206 indicates that the appropriate LEDs are illuminated, then as represented at line 2220 and block 2222 the control system commences timing for the maximum time to warm up. As represented at line 2224 and block 2226 a determination is made as to whether the stop therapy switch or button 1604′ (
Looking momentarily to
Looking momentarily to
The passive resonant circuit based sensor implant of the invention also may be implemented utilizing an inductive component exhibiting substantially uniform relative permeability over a temperature range of interest, for example, between 40° C. and 45° C. in combination with a capacitor component which exhibits capacitance values as a function of temperature. The involved passive resonant circuit will physically appear essentially identical to that described in connection with
From that expression it may be seen that the capacitance may be varied by altering either or both the values d and ∈.
Looking additionally to
Since certain changes may be made in the above-described system, apparatus and method without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be intrepid as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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|U.S. Classification||607/113, 374/E07.04, 600/12|
|International Classification||A61F2/82, A61F2/00, G01K7/38, A61F2/02|
|Cooperative Classification||A61F7/12, A61B2017/00084, G01K7/38, A61F2/82, A61F2250/0001, A61B18/04, A61B18/18|
|European Classification||A61F7/12, A61B18/04, G01K7/38|
|Dec 11, 2003||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: CALFACIOR CORPORATION, OHIO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:EGGERS, PHILIPS E.;RIDIHALGH, JOHN L.;MAYERCHAK, MARK;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:014802/0133;SIGNING DATES FROM 20031204 TO 20031208
|Jun 21, 2005||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: APSARA MEDICAL CORPORATION, OHIO
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:CALFACIOR CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:016164/0657
Effective date: 20050617
|Feb 20, 2006||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: APSARA MEDICAL CORPORATION,OHIO
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:CALFACIOR CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:017186/0892
Effective date: 20050617
|Dec 28, 2009||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|May 23, 2010||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Jul 13, 2010||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 20100523