The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 2009
Filed:
Jan. 12, 2004
Chris J. Diederich, Novato, CA (US);
Dana L. Deardorff, Oakland, CA (US);
Chris J. Diederich, Novato, CA (US);
Dana L. Deardorff, Oakland, CA (US);
The Regents of The University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Acoustic Medsystems, Inc., Champaign, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for shielding non-target tissues and organs during thermotherapy, brachytherapy or other treatment of a diseased target tissue. The apparatus includes a catheter shaft having input and output lumens and at least one inflatable balloon. A plurality of input lumens within the catheter shaft allows the passage of liquid or gas through an input port and into the interior of the balloon thereby inflating the balloon. The gas or liquid can then be cycled through the inflated balloon through an output port and output lumen and out of the catheter shaft. Temperature sensors or other sensors may be attached to the balloon or catheter to monitor temperature or other conditions at the treatment site. The catheter is positioned between the target tissue or organ and sensitive non-target tissues in proximity to the target tissue and inflated causing a physical separation of tissues as well as a physical shield.