Causing ischemia in tumors

Abstract

A method for treating a tumor at least partially within an organ in a subject's body. The method comprises volumetrically compressing the tumor to increase a pressure within the tumor above a threshold level to cause ischemia of the tumor; and maintaining the pressure above the threshold level for a period sufficient to cause necrosis in the tumor. The method may include passing a tension member within the organ around a predetermined volumetric region encompassing at least a portion of the tumor. The method may include tightening the tension member to cause compression of the volumetric region, thereby directly increasing a pressure within the tumor. The method may include maintaining the increased pressure such that most or all tissues of the tumor undergo ischemia and/or necrosis resulting directly from the compression caused by the tightened tension member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a target tissue mass in an organ of a body of a subject, the method comprising:
 choosing a volumetric region internal to the organ containing the target tissue mass;   passing at least some of a plurality of tension members along respective trajectories within the organ between respective entry openings and respective exit openings, each of the respective entry openings and exit openings being at a surface of the organ;   tightening the at least some of the plurality of tension members to cause compression of the volumetric region, thereby directly increasing a pressure within the target tissue mass; and   maintaining the increased pressure such that the target tissue mass undergoes ischemia resulting directly from the compression caused by the tightened at least one tension member.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective trajectories are in close fit around the volumetric region. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target tissue mass includes, is included in, or defines a cancerous, malignant or benign tumor. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising creating and/or closing a surgical access to the organ from outside the body, wherein at least one of the choosing, passing, tightening, and maintaining is performed via the surgical access, and/or the plurality of tension members remains within the body of the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least some of the plurality of tension members includes a first portion protruding from one of the respective entry openings and a second portion protruding from one of the respective exit openings, wherein the tightening includes or is followed by securing each first portion to each second portion from outside boundaries of the organ, and wherein the securing facilitates the maintaining. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the passing comprises sequentially passing respective ends of the at least some of the plurality of the tension members through the respective exit openings, around the target tissue mass, and through the respective entry openings such that respective first portions of the at least some of the plurality of tension members protrude from the organ through the respective exit openings and respective second portions of the at least some of the plurality of tension members protrude from the organ through the respective entry openings. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 advancing an elongated member through one of the respective entry openings, around the target tissue mass, and through one of the respective exit openings; and   coupling the elongated member to at least one of the plurality of tension members prior to passing the at least one of the plurality of tension members, and   withdrawing the elongated member with the at least one tension member coupled thereto through the one of the respective exit openings, around the target tissue mass, and through the one of the respective entry openings.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising sequentially performing the advancing, coupling, and withdrawing with a plurality of tension members. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the passing comprises:
 forming a passage around the volumetric region between each one of the respective entry openings and each one of the respective exit openings, wherein the passing is performed after the forming and mostly or entirely within the passage.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the respective entry openings is located at a first location on or adjacent to the target tissue mass and at least one of the respective exit openings is located at a second location on or adjacent to the target tissue mass spaced from the first location, such that the target tissue mass is located between the first location and the second location. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tightening comprises tightening the at least some of the plurality of tension members to collectively apply compressive force toward an interior of the target tissue mass. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tightening comprises tightening each of the at least some of the plurality of tension members to achieve a chosen tensioning force in each of the at least some of the plurality of tension members. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a tensioning force applied to at least one of the plurality of tension members, and/or measuring a pressure within the target tissue mass, during the tightening. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 volumetrically compressing a tumor at least partially embedded within healthy tissue in an organ of a patient to increase a pressure within the tumor above a threshold level that is sufficient to cause ischemia of the tumor; and   maintaining the pressure above the threshold level for a period sufficient to permit at least a portion of the tumor to necrotize due to the ischemia.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising circumscribing the tumor with at least one device of foreign origin relative to the patient, wherein the volumetrically compressing the tumor and maintaining the pressure above the threshold level are achieved via the at least one device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the volumetrically compressing the tumor comprises reducing a profile of the device around the tumor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the volumetrically compressing comprises compressing the tumor along at least first and second lines of compression that extend around an outer surface of the tumor along different paths. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising encompassing the tumor with at least one tension member to define a three-dimensional shape around the tumor, wherein the volumetrically compressing the tumor comprises decreasing a size of the three-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the decreasing the size of the three-dimensional shape is achieved by tightening the at least one tension member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising stopping the volumetrically compressing after indication of the ischemia.