Apparatus for medical treatment

Abstract

An apparatus for effecting hyperthermia in a narrow body cavity or duct including: a disposable first part (1) having an elongate distal section (5) intended to be inserted into the cavity or duct having a centrally located, heat-releasing element (22), which is either surrounded by an elongate housing (24) or is itself constituted by an elongate housing, and a flexible and/or elastic enclosure (23) surrounding the housing in a liquid-tight manner, further including a device for supplying energy to the heat-releasing element (22) and an axially operating first inlet (135) at the proximal part of the housing, an outlet (133) from the housing being arranged for the supply of heat-transmitting medium under pressure for expansion of the flexible enclosure (23) to accommodate and to exert a controlled pressure on surrounding walls of the cavity or duct, a second inlet (131) to the housing (24), and medium-actuating device (13, 19) for the expansion of the flexible enclosure (23) and for internal circulation of the medium through the housing (24); and a permanent non-disposable second part (51) having a drive (55, 75) for the device (13, 19) for expansion and for internal circulation, and a connection (43, 59; 41, 81) for releasably interconnecting the drive (55, 75) and the device means (13, 19) for expansion and internal circulation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for effecting hyperthermia in a narrow body cavity or duct. The invention is especially applicable to the treatment of the endometrium of the uterus. The treatment resides in a combination of the supply of heat to said body cavity or duct and simultaneous application of a controlled pressure on surrounding tissue.

2. Background Art

In the treatment of certain disorders in narrow body cavities or ducts the supply of heat is frequently used, the treatment residing in so called hyperthermia. For use in such treatment several apparatuses have been described including a special catheter employing a balloon attached to the distal end of the catheter. In the treatment of for example menorrhagia the distal end of the catheter including the balloon is inserted into the uterus cavity via vagina and cervix, the balloon being

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention is shown in full in FIG. 2, whereas the disposable first part thereof is shown in FIG. 1. Said disposable first part end and cheap in manufacture and belongs to the part of the equipment that is disposed of after use.

In certain cases it can be of advantage to be able to vary the plateau pressure of the balloon 109. This can be done by surrounding balloon 109 with an airtight container 111 shown by the dashed square in FIG. 13. Container 111 can be provided with pressurizing means, such as a manual operated pump, not shown it FIG. 13. By pressurizing container 111 the plateau pressure of balloon 109 can be set at the desired value. In this manner different plateau pressures can be obtained using one and the same balloon 109.

Claims

1. An apparatus for effecting hyperthermia in a body cavity or duct comprising:

a disposable first part comprising an elongate distal section intended to be inserted into said cavity or duct comprising a centrally located, heat-releasing element, which is either surrounded by an elongate housing or is itself constituted by an elongate housing, and a flexible and/or elastic enclosure surrounding said housing in a liquid-tight manner, further including means for supplying energy to the heat-releasing element and an axially operating first inlet at the proximal part of the housing, an outlet from the housing being arranged for the supply of heat-transmitting medium under pressure for expansion of the flexible enclosure to accommodate and to exert a controller pressure on surrounding walls of said cavity or duct, a second inlet to the housing, and

a medium-actuating means for said expansion of the flexible enclosure and for internal circulation of said medium in a closed circuit from said second inlet through the housing exiting via said outlet and flowing on an outside of said housing to return to said second inlet; and

a permanent non-disposable second part comprising drive means for said means for expansion and for internal circulation, and connecting means for releasably inter-connecting said drive means and said means for expansion and internal circulation, said medium-actuating means comprising a first means for the expansion of the flexible enclosure, and a second means for the internal circulation of the medium through the housing, said first means being capable also of removing medium from the system to bring the enclosure into a collapsed condition.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second means comprises a reciprocating element creating a reciprocating motion to a determined quantity of the pressurized medium.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said reciprocating element is part of a syringe.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first means is constituted by a syringe.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive means comprise a first device capable of creating reciprocating motion for transfer to said reciprocating element via said connecting means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said device comprises an eccentric.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said drive means additionally comprise a second drive capable of axial adjustment of an end plate of said reciprocating element via said connecting means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second device is capable of providing both major adjustment, such as for filling the system under expansion of the enclosure, and fine adjustment for setting a desired pressure.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first means and said second device, respectively, are capable of yielding to avoid excessive pressure.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said internal circulation allows said medium to absorb heat and subsequently release heat in said enclosure.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one first back valve arranged in association with said second inlet allowing flow into the interior of housing and the flow resistance of which in an open position is lower than the flow resistance through housing, said means for internal circulation being arranged to provide a reciprocating movement of a small quantity of the pressurized medium enclosed in the inlet canal of the device after expansion of the enclosure, whereby the inlet is closed and the outlet is open, thereby providing circulation of the medium in a closed circuit.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one first back valve arranged in association with the outlet allowing flow out of the interior of housing, the flow resistance of the inlet being higher than the flow resistance through housing, said means for internal circulation being arranged to provide a reciprocating movement of a small quantity of the pressurized medium enclosed in the inlet canal of the device after expansion of the enclosure, whereby the inlet is open and the outlet is closed, thereby providing circulation of the medium in a closed circuit.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising oppositely operating back valves arranged in association with said outlet and said second inlet, respectively.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heat-releasing element is of an inherently self-regulating type.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said medium-actuating means comprise a first means for the expansion of the flexible enclosure, and a second means for the internal circulation of the medium through the housing.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first means is capable also of removing medium from the system to bring the enclosure into a collapsed condition.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said second means comprises a reciprocating element creating a reciprocating motion to a determined quantity of the pressurized medium.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said reciprocating element is part of a syringe.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first means is constituted by a syringe.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second distensible and elastic enclosure, the interior of which is in communication with the interior of said flexible enclosure, whereby any undesired pressure arising in the flexible enclosure will be released through distention of said second enclosure.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said second enclosure has a higher resistance to distention than the flexible enclosure.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, comprising a non-elastic container surrounding said second enclosure, and means for controlling the pressure within said container and exterior to said second enclosure, whereby the level of release of said excessive pressure can be adjusted.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a disposable section including:

a first housing, substantially surrounded by a flexible enclosure, having a heat releasing element disposed therein;

tubing connected to said first housing and, said flexible enclosure at a distal end thereof;

at least one fluid pressurizing device for pumping a fluid through said tubing at a proximal end thereof and into said flexible enclosure via said first housing;

a non-disposable section including:

a second housing;

at least one retaining means within said second housing for releasably retaining said at least one fluid pressurizing device;

at least one drive means, operably connected with said at least one fluid pressurizing means when said at least one fluid pressurizing device is retained within said at least one retaining means, for powering said fluid pressurizing device to provide internal circulation of said fluid within said apparatus;

wherein said internal circulation provides for an intake of said fluid through an inlet in said first housing and moving said fluid past said heat releasing element, said fluid exiting said first housing at an outlet and returning to said inlet.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said at least one retaining means further comprises a bed for receiving said at least one fluid pressurizing device and a slot for receiving a flange associated with said at least one fluid pressurizing device.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a disposable section including:

a first housing, substantially surrounded by a flexible enclosure;

tubing connected to said first housing and, said flexible enclosure at a distal end thereof;

at least one fluid pressurizing device for pumping a fluid through said tubing at a proximal end thereof and into said flexible enclosure via said first housing;

a non-disposable section including:

a second housing;

at least one retaining means within said second housing for releasably retaining said at least one fluid pressurizing device;

at least one drive means, operably connected with said at least one fluid pressurizing means when said at least one fluid pressurizing device is retained within said at least one retaining means, for powering said fluid pressurizing device to provide internal circulation of said fluid within said apparatus;

wherein said internal circulation provides for an intake of said fluid through an inlet in said first housing and moving said fluid within said flexible enclosure, said fluid exiting said first housing at an outlet and returning to said inlet.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a heat releasing element.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one drive means further comprises:

coarse adjustment means for filling the flexible enclosure with fluid; and

fine adjustment means for setting a pressure of the flexible enclosure.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one drive means is operably connected with the at least one fluid pressurizing device by fluid control means, the fluid control means comprising:

means for controlling the pressure of the fluid delivered to the at least one fluid pressurizing device; and

means for circulating the fluid in the at least one fluid pressurizing device.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for circulating the fluid further comprises a reciprocating element for causing the fluid to circulate in the at least one fluid pressurizing device.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein both the means for controlling the pressure and the means for circulating the fluid include a syringe.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein heated fluid is circulated in the flexible enclosure.

32. An apparatus comprising:

a heat releasing element;

a disposable section including:

a first housing, substantially surrounded by a flexible enclosure;

tubing connected to said first housing and, said flexible enclosure at a distal end thereof;

at least one fluid pressurizing device for pumping a fluid through said tubing at a proximal end thereof and into said flexible enclosure via said first housing;

a non-disposable section including:

a second housing;

at least one retaining means within said second housing for releasably retaining said at least one fluid pressurizing device;

at least one drive means, operably connected with said at least one fluid pressurizing device when said at least one fluid pressurizing device is retained within said at least one retaining means, for powering said fluid pressurizing device to provide internal circulation of said fluid within said apparatus;

wherein said internal circulation provides for an intake of said fluid through an inlet in said first housing and moving said fluid past said heat releasing element, said fluid exiting said first housing at an outlet and returning to said inlet.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one drive means is operably connected with the at least one fluid pressurizing device by fluid control means, the fluid control means comprising:

means for controlling the pressure of the fluid delivered to the at least one fluid pressurizing device; and

means for circulating the fluid in the at least one fluid pressurizing device.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the means for circulating the fluid further comprises a reciprocating element for causing the fluid to circulate in the at least one fluid pressurizing device.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein both the means for controlling the pressure and the means for circulating the fluid include a syringe.

36. An apparatus comprising:

a heat releasing element;

a disposable section including:

a flexible enclosure;

tubing connected to said flexible enclosure at a distal end thereof;

at least one fluid pressurizing device for pumping a fluid through said tubing at a proximal end thereof and into said flexible enclosure;

a non-disposable section including:

a housing;

at least one retaining unit within said second housing for releasably retaining said at least one fluid pressurizing device;

at least one power unit, operably connected with said at least one fluid pressurizing device when said at least one fluid pressurizing device is retained within said at least one retaining unit, for powering said fluid pressurizing device to provide internal circulation of said fluid within said apparatus;

wherein said internal circulation provides for an intake of said fluid through an inlet in said fluid pressuring device and moving said fluid past said heat releasing element, said fluid exiting said fluid pressuring device at an outlet and returning to said inlet.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one drive means is operably connected with the at least one fluid pressurizing device by fluid control means, the fluid control means comprising:

means for controlling the pressure of the fluid delivered to the at least one fluid pressurizing device; and

means for circulating the fluid in the at least one fluid pressurizing device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for circulating the fluid further comprises a reciprocating element for causing the fluid to circulate in the at least one fluid pressurizing device.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein both the means for controlling the pressure and the means for circulating the fluid include a syringe.