Method of thermal treatment for myolysis and destruction of benign uterine tumors

Abstract

A high-power ultrasound heating applicator for minimally-invasive thermal treatment of uterine fibroids or myomas. High-Intensity interstitial ultrasound, applied with minimally-invasive laparoscopic or hysteroscopic procedures, is used to effectively treat fibroids within the myometrium in lieu of major surgery. The applicators are configured with high-power capabilities and thermal penetration to treat large volumes of fibroid tissue (>70 cm 3 ) in short treatment times (3-20 minutes), while maintaining three-dimensional control of energy delivery to thermally destroy the target volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating uterine fibroids, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; and   (b) an ultrasound applicator disposed at the distal end of said catheter, the ultrasound applicator comprising:
 one or more transducers disposed longitudinally along a central axis of the catheter; 
 the one or more transducers being coupled to a power source external to said catheter; 
   (c) wherein the ultrasound applicator is configured to be positioned to a treatment location at or near a fibroid tissue mass and deliver high-intensity ultrasound energy sufficient to therapeutically heat said fibroid tissue mass.