Monteris Medical Corporation

Autolitt Inc.

Technology 2000 Incororated

Ken J McTaggart

Mark G Torchia

John Stephen Pacak

Richard Tyc

Craig P Judt

Dennis D Cote

In vivo hyperthermia treatment of a target tissue can include imaging the target tissue with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, positioning a hyperthermia treatment probe in or proximate to the target tissue based on the imaging, and heating the target tissue by the probe. During the heating, changes in temperature of a volume of tissue that includes the target tissue can be monitored with the MRI system to determine an amount of the heating applied to the target tissue, and the heating can be terminated when the amount of the heating reaches a predetermined amount.

Hyperthermia treatment and probe therefor

A method of using a probe that emits energy to coagulate lesions is disclosed. The probe is constructed and arranged to emit light from its distal end, either at an angle to its longitudinal axis, or along its longitudinal axis. Optionally, an end reflector may be used to direct the energy in a beam to one side of the fiber end. A reinforcing sleeve for the fiber is mounted to a shielded, Piezo-electric motor constructed and arranged to move the fiber both longitudinally and rotationally within an optional elongate cannula. An MRI system is arranged to generate a series of output signals indicative of temperature in the targeted area. The application of energy is stopped when the temperature at the boundary of the lesion reaches the required hyperthermic temperature. Cooling of the tip portion of the probe is effected by expansion of a supplied cooling fluid through a restrictive orifice into an expansion zone at the probe end. The fiber is encased in a stiff tubular titanium probe with a relatively small fluid supply duct inside the probe with the interior of the probe acting as a return duct for the expanded liquid. The temperature of the probe end is monitored by a sensor in the probe end and controlled by controlling the pressure in the supplied cooling fluid.

Hyperthermia treatment and probe therefore

An MRI guided surgical apparatus includes a heat source formed by a laser and an optical fiber carrying the heat energy into a part to be coagulated by hyperthermia with an end reflector to direct the energy in a beam to one side of the fiber end. The fiber includes a reinforcing sleeve along its length to prevent bending and twisting. The sleeve is mounted in a shielded, Piezo-electric motor which causes movement of the fiber longitudinally of its axis to move the end within the part and rotation of the fiber about its axis to cause the beam to rotate about the axis. A rigid elongate cannula is arranged for insertion to a position at the part of the patient having a bore for receiving a portion of the fiber adjacent the outlet end in sliding engagement therein such that the end can pass through the cannula into engagement with the part of the patient. A part of the sleeve projecting beyond the cannula is rigid and a further part connecting to the motor is stiff but less rigid. A magnetic resonance imaging system is arranged to generate a series of output signals over a period of time representative of temperature in the part as the temperature of the part changes during that time. The heat source is controlled in heat energy applied and location and orientation of the beam to continue the heating at a respective area in the part until the temperature at a selected location in the part normally at the boundary of a tumor reaches the required hyperthermic temperature as monitored whereupon the heating in the area is halted.

MRI guided hyperthermia surgery

A system for filling containers with a prescribed medication includes a support head for receiving a disposable syringe which allows the syringe to be pumped to transfer liquid to an from the syringe. A robot arm is also provided to carry medication and diluent containers to the syringe for withdrawing diluent to the syringe and injecting it into the medication container for mixing. In order to ensure alignment of the containers with the syringe, there is provided on the support head an additional needle grasping system which grasps and locates the needle for penetration of the membrane of the container. The support head includes a weigh scale as an integral element thereof so that the syringe is weighed after each step of the process. The syringe is actuated in a pumping action to inject air into the container and to withdraw liquid from the container and to maintain at the termination of the pumping action a partial vacuum within the container so that any liquid tending to escape as a drop is drawn back into the container and is prevented from escaping to atmosphere. The medication containers and the diluent container together with a syringe are supplied on a rack body so that each prescription to be filled can be set up in advance on a separate rack body and that rack body inserted into the apparatus in turn and located on a base member of the apparatus. A separate mixer is provided for receiving the medication container from the robot arm for effecting an oscillating mixing action while the robot arm effects functions on a further container.

Growing community of inventors

Ottawa, Canada

Ken J McTaggart