Hyperthermia, system, method and components

Abstract

An IV pole mountable, therapeutic infusate processing device is incorporated into a hypothermia system to receive therapeutic fluid(s), such as normal saline, peritioneal dialysis solution, or other crystalloid solution, to heat such therapeutic fluid(s) a few degrees centigrade above normal body temperature and to direct the resulting heated infusate to and through a selected anatomical portion of a patients body to raise the temperature of that body portion so as to affect any cancerous or other tumors that may be located therein. The processing device is provided with touch screen controls and visual indicators to facilitate its proper use; while the system further includes temperature and pressure sensors to monitor the hyperthermia processing to insure patient safety.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system for heating an infusate for hyperthermia treatment, the system comprising:
 a reservoir for containing an infusate;   a fluid heater;   a diversion valve;   a patient line (e.g., a first enclosed path to and through a body in a continuous enclosed path to where the infusate is heated and back to and from the body); and   a recirculation line (e.g., a second enclosed path from where the infusate is heated and back to and the reservoir until the infusate in the reservoir is heated to a predetermined temperature),   wherein the fluid heater comprises an inlet to receive the infusate from the reservoir,   wherein the diversion valve operates to direct a heated infusate from the fluid heater into the patient line and/or the recirculation line, said diversion valve controlling a ratio of a flow in the patient line to a flow in the recirculation line,   wherein the patient line directs the heated infusate to a patient, and   wherein the recirculation line directs the heated infusate to the reservoir, so that the system increases a temperature of the infusate in the reservoir.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the diversion valve directs the heated infusate from the fluid heater into the recirculation line only during slack time. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid heater is an induction heater (e.g., electro magnetic heater). 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid heater receives electric power via an AC wall outlet or a battery. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a bubble trap for removing air bubbles from fluid flowing through the system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more temperature detectors positioned for simultaneous detection of one or more temperature of the infusate. 
     
     
         19 . A method for heating an infusate, the method comprising:
 heating an inlet infusate from a reservoir via a fluid heater;   directing an outlet infusate into a patient line and/or a recirculation line, the outlet infusate flowing from the heater;   providing the outlet infusate to a patient though the patient line when the outlet infusate is directed therethrough, and   directing selectively the outlet infusate to a reservoir though the recirculation line when the outlet infusate is directed therethrough, thereby providing heat to the infusate contained in the reservoir.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid heater is an induction heater (e.g., electro magnetic heater). 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a temperature of the outlet infusate is higher than a temperature of the inlet infusate. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising measuring a temperature of the inlet infusate, the inlet infusate flowing to the fluid heater from a reservoir. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising measuring a temperature of the outlet infusate, the outlet infusate flowing from the heater. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising mixing the infusate from the recirculation line and the infusate stored in the reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . A method for hyperthermia treatment for a body comprising,
 (a) providing treatment fluid;   (b) heating the treatment fluid to a predetermined temperature;   (c) causing fluid flow for the heated fluid;   (d) causing the fluid to flow either:
 (i) through a first enclosed path to and through a body to be treated in a continuous enclosed path to where the fluid is heated and back to and from the body to be treated until the treatment procedure is terminated; or 
 (ii) through a second enclosed path from where the fluid is heated and back to and through where the fluid is heated until the fluid is heated to a predetermined temperature; and 
   (e) selectively diverting the fluid flow into either said first enclosed path or said second enclosed path, and   (f) selecting said second fluid path during slack time.