Heat surgery system monitored by real-time magnetic resonance temperature profiling

Patent 5323779 Issued on June 28, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 8, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor

Hardy, Christopher J.

Application

No. 162987 filed on 12/08/1993

US Classes:

600/411, Combined with therapeutic or diverse diagnostic device600/412, Temperature detection600/549, Temperature detection601/2, Ultrasonic607/89, Laser application607/93Light pipe applicator

Examiners

Primary: Smith, Ruth S.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Zale; Lawrence P., Snyder; Marvin

International Class

A61B 005/055

Abstract

Surgery is performed with a pulsed heat-producing device that selectively heats a region in a specific tissue within a patient destroying the tissue. The pulsed heat-producing device may be a coherent optical source that is guided by laser fiber to the tissue to be destroyed. In another embodiment, the pulsed heat-producing device is a focussed ultrasound transducer which concentrates ultrasonic energy at a focal point within the specific tissue. A magnetic resonance imaging system employing a real-time temperature-sensitive pulse sequence monitors the heated region of the tissue to provide temperature profiles allowing an operator to alter the position and size of the heated region.

Other References

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