Hyperthermia treatment systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed to control the temperature of an RF hyperthermia system with minimum overshoot and to improve safety by, among other things, detecting a defective temperature sensor. Temperature overshoot may be minimized by compensating for the short-term temperature difference between the area being treated and the applicator delivering the RF energy. The RF energy may heat the tissue and then the tissue may transfer heat to the applicator sensor. The system may also adapt to various applicator sizes and shapes by modifying control loop coefficients based on initial probe response.

1 . A method of operating a hyperthermia treatment system, comprising: 
 measuring a temperature that is within an allowable range of operation for the system; and    determining whether to continue operation of the system based on a parameter related to the measured temperature.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the parameter comprises the measured temperature.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the parameter comprises a temperature difference between the measured temperature and another measured temperature.  
   
   
       4 . The method  claim 1  wherein the parameter comprises a rate of change of temperature.  
   
   
       5 . A medical device for performing hyperthermia treatment, comprising: 
 a heat source for providing heat for the hyperthermia treatment;    a temperature sensor for measuring temperature from the providing of heat; and    a processor that determines whether to continue the hyperthermia treatment based on a parameter related to a measured temperature that is within an allowable range of operation for the device.    
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the parameter comprises the measured temperature.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the parameter comprises a temperature difference between the measured temperature and another measured temperature.  
   
   
       8 . The device  claim 5  wherein the parameter comprises a rate of change of temperature.  
   
   
       9 . A method of operating a hyperthermia treatment system, comprising: 
 performing a plurality of tests to determine whether the hyperthermia treatment system is operating properly; and    terminating operation of the hyperthermia treatment system in response to failure of any test of a predefined set of the tests and preventing further operation of the hyperthermia treatment system until the hyperthermia treatment system is reset for further operation at a specified facility.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the specified facility comprises a manufacturer of the hyperthermia treatment system.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the tests are for verifying proper operation inside and outside of a housing for the hyperthermia treatment system.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the tests for verifying proper operation inside the housing comprise the predefined set of the tests.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further including terminating operation of the hyperthermia treatment system in response to failure of any test of a predefined second set of the tests and permitting further operation of the hyperthermia treatment system after a local reset is performed.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the tests for verifying proper operation outside of the housing comprise the predefined second set of the tests.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the reset may be performed only after required repairs are completed.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the reset includes providing a special code to the hyperthermia treatment system.  
   
   
       17 . A method of operating a hyperthermia treatment system, comprising: 
 determining when the hyperthermia treatment system has provided a desired temperature for treatment;    evaluating one or more criteria pertaining to a thermal dose being delivered; and    terminating a treatment when evaluation of one or more of the criteria indicates undertreatment of a patient.    
   
   
       18 . A medical device for performing hyperthermia treatment, comprising: 
 a heat source for providing heat for the hyperthermia treatment;    a temperature sensor for measuring temperature from the providing of heat; and    a processor that determines when the hyperthermia treatment system has provided a desired temperature for treatment, evaluates one or more criteria pertaining to a thermal dose being delivered, and terminates a treatment when evaluation of one or more of the criteria indicates undertreatment of a patient.    
   
   
       19 . A method of operating a hyperthermia treatment system, comprising: 
 monitoring parameters relating to operation of the hyperthermia treatment system; and    playing over the system a predefined announcement when a predefined operational characteristic of the system has been detected.    
   
   
       20 . A medical device for performing hyperthermia treatment, comprising: 
 a heat source for providing heat for the hyperthermia treatment;    a temperature sensor for measuring temperature from the providing of heat; and    a processor that monitors parameters relating to operation of the hyperthermia treatment system and plays over the system a predefined announcement when a predefined operational characteristic of the system has been detected.    
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the system is used to treat at least one of an abnormality, ailment, condition, disease, disorder and wound found on at least one of a patient's skin and tissue.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the at least one of an abnormality, ailment, condition, disease, disorder and wound include at least one of Actinic Keratosis, Angioma, Acrochordon, Atypical Mycobacteria, Chromoblastomycosis, Cystic Acne, Clavus, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Dermatophytosis, Epidermoid Cysts, Fibroma, Hydrocystoma, Keloids, Molluscum Contagiosum, Mycetoma, Seborrheic Keratosis, Sporotrichosis, Syringoma and Warts.