1 TISSUE-TREATMENT METHODS
This invention relates to tissue-treatment methods.
Energy, such as RF energy, can be employed to degrade unhealthy or unwanted tissue, such as a wart, a mole, a cyst, scar tissue, and/or a tumor. In some cases, for example, an RF probe can be delivered into the unhealthy or unwanted tissue via a catheter. Once positioned within the tumor, RF-emitting tines can be deployed and activated. Upon activation, the tines can emit RF energy to degrade the tissue by, for example, heating the tissue.
The invention relates to polymer insulators and methods of using the same.
In one aspect, the invention features a method that includes separating a first portion of tissue of a subject from a second portion of tissue of the subject so that there is a space between the first and second portions of tissue. The method also includes disposing a material between the first and second portions of tissue, and exposing the first portion of tissue to energy to treat the first portion of tissue. The material disposed between the first and second portions of tissue can be one or more of the following: deionized water; a buffered saline solution; liquid polymers; gels; particles; foams; and/ or gases.
In another aspect, the invention features a method that includes disposing a material between a first portion of tissue of a subject and a second portion of tissue of the subject. The method also includes exposing the first portion of tissue to energy to treat the first portion of tissue. The secondportion of tissue can be substantially unexposed to the energy while the first portion of tissue is exposed to the energy. The distance between the first and second portions of tissue is at most about five centimeters, and the material disposed between the first and second portions of tissue can be one or more of the following: deionized water; a buffered saline solution; liquid polymers; gels; particles; foams; and/or gases.
The methods can include one or more of the following features.
In some embodiments, the second portion of tissue is substantially unexposed to the energy while the first portion of tissue is exposed to the energy.
In certain embodiments, the energy includes RF energy, microwave energy, ultrasonic energy, laser energy, and/or heat. In some embodiments, exposing the first portion of tissue to energy includes cooling the first portion of tissue.
In some embodiments, the first portion of tissue includes unhealthy tissue (e.g., cancerous tissue), and/or the second portion of tissue includes healthy tissue. Examples of tissue include bodily vessel tissue, bladder tissue, bone tissue, brain tissue, breast tissue, bronchi tissue, diaphragm tissue, esophagus tissue, gall bladder tissue, heart tissue, intestine tissue, kidney tissue, larynx tissue, liver tissue, lung tissue, lymph vessel tissue, lymph node tissue, nerve tissue, ovary tissue, pancreas tissue, prostate tissue, skin tissue, stomach tissue, and thyroid tissue, trachea tissue, urethra tissue, ureter tissue, uterus tissue, and vertebral disc tissue.
In certain embodiments, the material is formed of particles. The particles can have, for example, a size of at most about 10,000 microns. The particles can include one or more poly
meric materials. The particles can include a material having a dielectric constant of at least about 2.1 and/or a dielectric strength of at least about 100 Kv/mrn in some embodiments.
In some embodiments, the material is a liquid polymer.
In certain embodiments, the material is a foam.
In some embodiments, the material is a gas. Examples of gases include air, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.
In some embodiments, the material is deionized water and/ or a buffered saline solution.
In certain embodiments, the material is a water soluble polysaccharide and/or an ionically cross-linkable polymer.
In certain embodiments, the material is a ceramic material.
In some embodiments, the material is capable of undergoing an endothermic reaction.
In some embodiments, the space between the first and second portions of tissue is at most about five centimeters.
The methods can provide one or more of the following advantages.
In some embodiments, the methods can protect healthy or desired tissue from damage, while treating (e.g., ablating, degrading, destroying) unhealthy or undesired tissue.
In certain embodiments, the methods can allow relatively small regions of desired or healthy tissue to be protected while treating (e.g., ablating, degrading, destroying) undesired or unhealthy tissue.
In certain embodiments, the methods can protect regions of desired or healthy tissue that are difficult to access.
Features and advantages are in the description, drawings, and claims.
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a cancerous liver of a subject.
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the liver of FIG. 1A with a protective layer of particles disposed between the cancerous and non-cancerous tissue regions.
FIG. 1C illustrates administration of particles between cancerous and non-cancerous tissue regions of the liver of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 1D illustrates emission of energy within the cancerous tissue region of the liver of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C to degrade the cancerous tissue.
Like reference symbols in the drawings indicate like elements.
The methods include disposing one or more materials between a region of unhealthy tissue and a region of healthy tissue, and exposing the Lmhealthy tissue to energy (e.g., RF energy) to damage or destroy the unhealthy tissue. The materials can include one or more of the following: deionized water; a buffered saline solution; liquid polymers; gels; particles; foams; and/or gases. The material disposed between the Lmhealthy and healthy tissue regions can protect the healthy tissue so that it is substantially unharmed by the energy.
For example, FIG. 1A shows a portion 100 of a subject including a liver 110 and skin 120. Liver 110 includes healthy tissue 130 and unhealthy tissue 140 (e.g., a cancerous tissue, such as a cancerous tumor).
FIG. 1B shows healthy tissue 130 separated from unhealthy tissue 140 by a protective layer 145 of particles
