Organ separation for thermal therapy

Abstract

A method of providing thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient. The method includes: inserting a mechanical separator or infusing a fluid to separate human tissue to be treated from nontarget tissue, thereby providing thermal insulation and other beneficial effects, and applying the thermal therapy to the target tissue.

We claim:  
     
       1. A method of providing thermal to prostate tissue of a patient, comprising the steps of: 
       inserting a fluid infusing device into the patient;  
       locating the fluid infusing device at a location adjacent a portion of the patient's prostate and the patient's rectum to provide passage of a volume of a fluid from the device to said location without a containment structure between the portion of the patient's prostate and the rectum, said location selected to allow said fluid to begin physically separating the portion of the prostate and the rectum;  
       continuing to infuse said fluid causing physical separation of the portion of the prostate and the rectum; and  
       applying said thermal therapy to the prostate tissue.  
     
     
       2. The method as defined in  claim 1 , further including the step of containing to infuse said fluid to completely physically separate all portions of the prostate and the rectum with said fluid. 
     
     
       3. The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said location is disposed in a biplane fascial layer of the patient. 
     
     
       4. The method as defined in  claim 1 , including the step of delivering the fluid under pressure. 
     
     
       5. The method as defined in  claim 1 , including the step of using a recirculating apparatus to recirculate said fluid. 
     
     
       6. The method as defined in  claim 1 , and including the step of positioning the temperature sensor to be disposed in contact with said fluid. 
     
     
       7. The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said fluid cools the rectum. 
     
     
       8. The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
       9. A method of providing thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient, comprising the steps of: 
       providing a gel to a location adjacent a portion of the patient's prostate and the patient's rectum, said location selected to allow said gel to begin physically separating the portion of the prostate and the rectum;  
       said gel causing physical separation of the portion of the prostate and the rectum and applying said thermal therapy to the prostate tissue.  
     
     
       10. A method of providing thermal therapy to prostate tissue of a patient, comprising the steps of: 
       inserting a fluid infusing device into the patient;  
       locating the fluid infusing device at a location adjacent at a portion of the patient's prostate and the patient's rectum to provide passage of a volume of a fluid from the device to said location without a containment structure between the portion of the patient's prostate and the rectum, said location selected to allow said fluid to begin physically separating the portion of the prostate and the rectum;  
       continuing to infuse said fluid causing physical separation of the portion of the prostate and the rectum;  
       applying said thermal therapy to the prostate tissue; and  
       using a temperature sensor to sense temperature of the volume of fluid to minimize damage to the prostate and to the rectum.