초록 ▼

The device for interstitial laser thermotherapy of tumors comprises an hollow needle (3) with a point (3A) for perforating a tissue (T) to be treated, and a light guide (9) which can be inserted in said hollow needle. The hollow needle is associated with a membrane (17) which is inflatable to form a

The device for interstitial laser thermotherapy of tumors comprises an hollow needle (3) with a point (3A) for perforating a tissue (T) to be treated, and a light guide (9) which can be inserted in said hollow needle. The hollow needle is associated with a membrane (17) which is inflatable to form a balloon (P) into which the distal end (9A) of said light guide (9) can project, the membrane being inflated to create a cavity in the tissue to be treated into which laser radiation is guided by said light guide.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An interstitial tumor laser thermotherapy device, comprising: a hollow needle with a sharpened point configured for perforating a tissue to be treated;a light guide;a cannula arranged in said hollow needle such that said cannula is movable in said hollow needle to project from said sharpened poin

1. An interstitial tumor laser thermotherapy device, comprising: a hollow needle with a sharpened point configured for perforating a tissue to be treated;a light guide;a cannula arranged in said hollow needle such that said cannula is movable in said hollow needle to project from said sharpened point of said hollow needle, said light guide being inserted in said cannula, wherein said cannula is provided with an inflatable membrane which is inflatable to form a balloon into which the distal end of said light guide can project, the membrane being housed within said cannula or adherent to said cannula and said membrane being inflatable via a liquid when said cannula projects from said sharpened point of said hollow needle in the tissue perforated by said sharpened point to create a cavity in the tissue to be treated, wherein laser radiation is guided by said light guide into said cavity, said liquid containing at least one light scattering medium, said at least one light scattering medium providing uniform irradiation of said balloon. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is extractably housed in the distal end of said cannula. 3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said membrane is housed in a collapsed condition in the distal end of said cannula as said hollow needle is inserted in the tissue, said membrane being inflated with said liquid in an operating state, at least a portion of said inflatable membrane being in contact with an inner surface of said cannula. 4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the cannula is provided with a coating layer having a low coefficient of friction. 5. Device according to claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the cannula is provided with a coating layer having a low coefficient of friction. 6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is applied on the outer surface of the distal end of said cannula and covers the tip of said cannula. 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the tip of said cannula is rounded, said inflatable membrane being fixed to said cannula for movement therewith. 8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the outer surface of the cannula is provided with a coating layer having a low coefficient of friction. 9. Device according to claim 6, wherein the outer surface of the cannula is provided with a coating layer having a low coefficient of friction. 10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the cannula is provided with coating layer having a low coefficient of friction. 11. Device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid contains at least one light absorbing medium. 12. Device according to claim 1, wherein said light guide is an optical fiber. 13. Device according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is transparent or translucent to the wavelength of the radiation guided by said light guide. 14. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit for circulating a fluid in said membrane. 15. Device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal end of said light guide is associated with means for converting the light energy to ultrasonic energy. 16. Device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal end of said light guide is associated with an opto-acoustic transducer. 17. A device according to claim 1, wherein heat from said light guide is transmitted to the tissue via said liquid and said membrane. 18. A device according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is in a collapsed state as said hollow needle is inserted in the tissue, said membrane in said collapsed state being located at a position within said hollow needle as said hollow needle is inserted in the tissue. 19. An interstitial tumor laser thermotherapy device, comprising: a hollow needle with a sharpened tip, said sharpened tip defining a means for perforating a tissue to be treated;a light guide;a cannula arranged in said hollow needle, said cannula and said hollow needle being movable relative to one another such that cannula moves from a position within said hollow needle to another position, said cannula extending from said sharpened tip in said another position, said light guide being arranged in said cannula, wherein said cannula is provided with an inflatable membrane which is inflatable via a liquid to form a balloon into which a distal end of said light guide can project, the membrane being housed within said cannula or adherent to said cannula and being inflatable via said liquid when said cannula is in said another position to create a cavity in the tissue to be treated, wherein laser radiation is guided by said light guide into said cavity with said cannula in said another position, said light guide and said membrane being arranged and designed to generate a substantially uniform irradiation of the membrane, once the membrane is inflated via said liquid, said liquid containing at least one light scattering medium, wherein said laser radiation is dispersed via said at least one light scattering medium to provide said substantially uniform irradiation of said membrane. 20. A device according to claim 19, wherein said liquid contains at least one light absorbing medium. 21. A device according to claim 19, wherein said membrane is housed in a collapsed condition in the distal end of said cannula as said hollow needle is inserted in the tissue, said membrane being inflated in an operating state with said hollow needle in an operating state, at least a portion of said inflatable membrane being in contact with an inner surface of said cannula. 22. A device according to claim 19, wherein said membrane is in a collapsed state as said hollow needle is inserted in the tissue, said membrane in said collapsed state being located at a position within said hollow needle as said hollow needle is inserted in the tissue. 23. A device according to claim 19, wherein heat from said light guide is transmitted to the tissue via said liquid and said membrane. 24. A device according to claim 19, wherein a terminal end of said light guide is associated with a means for converting light energy to ultrasonic energy. 25. A device according to claim 19, wherein the terminal end of said light guide is associated with an opto-acoustic transducer. 26. An interstitial tumor laser thermotherapy device, comprising: a hollow needle with a sharpened tip, said sharpened tip defining a means for perforating a tissue to be treated;a light guide;an inflatable membrane;a cannula arranged in said hollow needle, said cannula and said hollow needle being movable relative to one another such that cannula moves from a position within said hollow needle to another position, said cannula extending from said sharpened tip in said another position, said light guide being arranged in said cannula, said cannula being connected to said inflatable membrane, said inflatable membrane being arranged in said cannula with said membrane in an uninflated state, said inflatable membrane being inflated via a liquid to form an inflated state of said inflatable membrane, wherein a distal end of said light guide projects into an interior of said inflatable membrane with said inflatable membrane in said inflated state when said cannula is in said another position to create a cavity in the tissue to be treated, wherein laser radiation is guided by said light guide into said cavity with said cannula in said another position, said light guide and said membrane being arranged and designed to generate a substantially uniform irradiation of an entire circumferential inner surface of the inflatable membrane with said inflatable membrane in said inflated state, said liquid containing at least one light scattering medium, wherein said at least one light scattering medium disperses said laser radiation to generate said substantially uniform irradiation of said entire circumferential inner surface with said inflatable membrane in said inflated state. 27. A device according to claim 26, wherein said inflatable membrane is in said uninflated state as said hollow needle is inserted in the tissue, said inflatable membrane in said uninflated state being located at a position within said hollow needle as said hollow needle is inserted in the tissue. 28. A device according to claim 26, wherein at least a portion of said inflatable membrane is in contact with an inner surface of said cannula. 29. A device according to claim 26, wherein a terminal end of said light guide is associated with a means for converting light energy to ultrasonic energy. 30. A device according to claim 26, wherein a terminal end of said light guide is associated with an opto-acoustic transducer.