Apparatus and method for interstitial laser therapy of small breast cancers and adjunctive therapy

Abstract

Apparatus and method for performing interstitial laser therapy and adjunctive therapy on a patient are revealed. The apparatus employs a combination of a mammography unit, an interstitial laser treatment device attached to the mammography unit and a treatment platform positioned relative to the mammography unit to enable the interstitial laser therapy to be performed. The use of the treatment platform with the mammography unit enables the interstitial laser therapy to be performed and, if necessary, adjunctive therapy to be performed in the same treatment room without transferring the patient to a new platform.

1 . An interstitial laser treatment device comprising: 
 a laser probe;    a separate thermal probe; and    a probe holder configured to: 
 (a) removably receive and position the laser probe,  
 (b) removably receive and position the thermal probe relative to the laser probe, and  
 (c) be adjacently attached to a mammography unit to form a single treatment unit in a single treatment room such that said single treatment unit is configured to perform a mammographic examination and interstitial laser therapy in sequence to a patient on a treatment platform positioned relative to the single treatment unit.  
   
     
     
         2 . The interstitial laser treatment device of  claim 1 , which includes a laser device connectable to the laser probe.  
     
     
         3 . The interstitial laser treatment device of  claim 1 , which includes a stereotactic device, said probe holder being configured to be adjacently attached to said stereotactic device for stereotactic placement of the laser probe.  
     
     
         4 . The interstitial laser treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the probe holder is configured to be mounted adjacent to a compression plate of the mammography unit such that the laser probe and thermal probe are extendable pass a portion of the compression plate when held by the laser probe.  
     
     
         5 . The interstitial laser treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the probe holder is configured to be mounted adjacent to a compression plate of the mammography unit such that the laser probe and thermal probe are extendable through a portion of the compression plate when held by the laser probe.  
     
     
         6 . The interstitial laser treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the probe holder is configured to perform interstitial laser treatment on a person lying on the treatment platform.  
     
     
         7 . An interstitial laser treatment device comprising: 
 a laser probe;    a laser device connectable to the laser probe;    a separate thermal probe;    a stereotactic device for stereotactic placement of the laser probe;    a probe holder configured to: 
 (a) removably receive and position the laser probe,  
 (b) removably receive and position the thermal probe relative to the laser probe, and  
 (c) be adjacently attached to said stereotactic device which is adjacently attached to a mammography unit to form a single treatment unit in a single treatment room such that said single treatment unit is configured to perform a mammographic examination and interstitial laser therapy in sequence to a patient on a treatment platform positioned relative to the single treatment unit.  
   
     
     
         8 . The interstitial laser treatment device of  claim 7 , wherein the probe holder is configured to be mounted adjacent to a compression plate of the mammography unit such that the laser probe and thermal probe are extendable pass a portion of the compression plate when held by the laser probe.  
     
     
         9 . The interstitial laser treatment device of  claim 7 , wherein the probe holder is configured to be mounted adjacent to a compression plate of the mammography unit such that the laser probe and thermal probe are extendable through a portion of the compression plate when held by the laser probe.  
     
     
         10 . The interstitial laser treatment device of  claim 7 , wherein the probe holder is configured to perform interstitial laser treatment on a person lying on the treatment platform.