Selective Conductive Interstitial Thermal Therapy Device

Abstract

An apparatus and method for thermally destroying tumors. A tip has a plurality of deployable thermal conductive elements whose temperatures are individually controllable. This allows the shape of the thermal field to be controlled and for specific areas to be protected from excessive heat by cooling those specific areas while ablating other areas. In another embodiment, the deployable thermal conductive elements are individually deployable to various lengths to further aid in shaping the thermal field. The temperatures and the shape of the thermal field may be monitored and controlled by a data processing device, such as a microprocessor. Further selectivity in defining the area of tissue to be treated may be achieved by introducing into the tissue thermal additives that alter the thermal properties of the tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for the thermal treatment of tissues, comprising:
 (a) a tip;   (b) a first deployable element connected to said tip, wherein said first deployable element has a first temperature, wherein said first temperature is effective to ablate tissue; and   (c) a second deployable element connected to said tip, wherein said second deployable element has a temperature lower than said first temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first deployable element and said second deployable element comprise a thermal sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second deployable element is cooled by a heat sink. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first deployable element and said second deployable element are made of a shape memory material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first deployable element and said second deployable element holds an additive operable to change a thermal property of a tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first individual temperature controller, wherein a temperature of said first deployable element is controlled by said first individual temperature controller, wherein a modular package in communication with first deployable element comprises said first individual temperature controller. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first shape controller, wherein a shape of said first deployable element is controlled by said first shape controller, wherein a modular package in communication with first deployable element comprises said first shape controller. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for the thermal treatment of tissues, comprising:
 (a) a tip;   (b) a light source;   (c) a first deployable element connected to said tip, wherein said first deployable element has a first temperature, wherein said first temperature is effective to ablate tissue; and   (d) a second deployable element connected to said tip, wherein said second deployable element has a temperature lower than said first temperature.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said light source is a laser. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of said first deployable element and said second deployable element comprise a thermal sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said first deployable element and said second deployable element are made of a shape memory material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one of said first deployable element and said second deployable element holds an additive operable to change a thermal property of a tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said additive comprises particles, solutions containing particles, metals, ceramics, compositions, polymers, organic and inorganic chemicals, and mixtures of any of the preceding. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a first individual temperature controller, wherein a temperature of said first deployable element is controlled by said first individual temperature controller, wherein a modular package in communication with first deployable element comprises said first individual temperature controller. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a first shape controller, wherein a shape of said first deployable element is controlled by said first shape controller, wherein a modular package in communication with first deployable element comprises said first shape controller. 
     
     
         16 . A method for the thermal treatment of tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) determining a spatial shape of a volume of tissue to be treated;   (b) providing a tip having a first deployable element and a second deployable element;   (c) positioning said tip into said volume of said tissue to be treated, wherein said first deployable element has a first temperature, wherein said first temperature is effective to ablate said tissue, wherein said second deployable element has a temperature lower than said first temperature; and;   (d) maintaining said tip in said tissue for a sufficient period of time for said first deployable element to ablate a portion of said volume of said tissue, wherein said second deployable element protects a portion of said tissue from ablation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of applying an additive to said tissue, thereby causing said tissue to be more susceptible to thermal treatment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said additive comprises particles, solutions containing particles, metals, ceramics, compositions, polymers, organic and inorganic chemicals, and mixtures of any of the preceding.