초록

An improvement in a method of treating cancer by systemic hyperthermia which comprises measuring the patient\s core body temperature in the bladder and controlling the inducement of systemic hyperthermia in accordance with the bladder temperature measured.

대표청구항 ▼

In a process of retarding the growth of cancer cells in a human patient which comprises the steps of establishing a sterile extracorporeal flow path for blood having an inlet, an outlet and a temperature control zone therebetween, establishing communication of the inlet and said extracorporeal flow

In a process of retarding the growth of cancer cells in a human patient which comprises the steps of establishing a sterile extracorporeal flow path for blood having an inlet, an outlet and a temperature control zone therebetween, establishing communication of the inlet and said extracorporeal flow path with the patient\s bloodsream so that blood can be withdrawn and supplied to said extracorporeal flow path without adversely affecting the blood circulation in the areas from which the blood is withdrawn, establishing communication of the outlet of said extracorporeal flow path with the patient\s bloodstream so that blood flowing from the extracorporal flow path is returned to the bloodstream in such a way as to be distributed systemically, pumping blood withdrawn from the patient\s bloodstream along said extracorporeal flow path through said temperature control zone at a controlled rate of at least approximately 1 liter per minute and returning the same to the patient\s bloodstream to be distributed systemically, as aforesaid, controlling the temperature of the blood flowing along said extracorporeal flow path through said temperature control zone for an initial period during which the temperature control zone for an initial period during which the temperature level of the blood within the zone is raised without causing the same to reach localized temperatures in excess of approximately 45°C. so that the systemic distribution of the returned blood gradually increases the patient\s core body temperature to a generally stable temperature condition at a level of approximately 41.5°C. but not higher than approximately 42.5°C., and maintaining control of the temperature of the blood flowing along said extracorporeal flow path through said temperature control zone at said generally stable temperature for a second time period sufficient to effect the desired treatment; the improvement of which comprises the steps of: measuring the patient\s core body temperature in the patient\s bladder and utilizing the measured bladder temperature in controlling the temperature of the blood flowing along said extracorporeal flow path.