HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THIS DEVICE

Abstract: A high-frequency heating method of supplying a high-frequency current between a first electrode (ll) which is disposed to the inside of a first electrode structure (4) so constituted as to be disposed in the vicinity of a portion intended to be heated (2) and which is surrounded with a flexible and gastight bag-like member (l2) and a second electrode (44) disposed to the inside of a second electrode structure (5) so constituted as to be disposed on the outer circumference of a living body (l) and having an electrode area greater by 5 times or more than the first electrode (ll), thereby forming a more intense electric field distribution in the vicinity of the first electrode structure (4) and selectively heating the portion intended to be heated at the periphery of the first electrode structure (4), wherein a coolant at a temperature of 37°C to 43°C which has physical properties approximate to those of the living body tissues at a portion where the first electrode structure (4) is disposed is supplied and discharged to and from the inside of the bag-like member (l2), and the coolant is circulated by l to l5 times a volume of the inner volume of the bag-like member (l2) per minute on the side of the first electrode structure (4).

Description: The present invention concerns a method for heating a living body by electromagnetic waves and a device therefor. The method of heating a living body by using electromagnetic waves utilizes a phenomenon that heat is generated when electromagnetic waves applied to a living body are absorbed in each portion of the living body and many reports have been presented in recent years of the therapeutic effect of the method on malignant tumors. In the conventional high frequency heating method, thermotherapy is carried out by putting a region including portion intended to be heated of a living body between two opposed plate-like electrodes and applying a high-frequency current between the electrodes from a high-frequency power generator. It has been difficult by the method to heat the portion intend to be heated, up to a temperature needed for therapy if it is situated at a deep inside, because those portions other than the portion intended to be heated may also possibly be heated since the high-frequency current flows substantially in parallel in the region between the opposed electrodes, because a subcutaneous fat layer tends to be heated more intensely than endotract organ tissues due to the difference of electrical constants (electroconductivity, dielectric constant) between the subcutaneous fat layer and endotract organ tissues, and because there is a risk of patient's complaining of undesirable feeling of heat or of burning patient's epidermal tissues, etc. due to stronger generation of heat in the subcutaneous fat layer than in a portion adjacent to an electrode body. In view of the above, there has been proposed, see for example, EP-A-0,115,420, a method of using a first electrode structure having a first electrode surrounded with a flexible and gas-tight bag-like member made of silicone rubber or the like and having a mechanism for supplying and discharging a coolant to the inside of the bag-like member and a second electrode structure, situating the first electrode structure (heating electrode structure) near the portion intended to be heated, while situating the second electrode structure having a second electrode (non-sensitive electrode structure) with an electrode surface larger by several times or more than the first electrode on the outer circumference of a living body, supplying a high-frequency electric current between the two electrodes, thereby forming an intense electric field distribution near the first electrode structure, selectively heating the portion intended to be heated, and monitoring the temperature at the surface of the living body or controlling the generated high-frequency power based on the information from a temperature sensor situated to the outer surface of the bag-like member. However, in the case of using, for example, water as the coolant in the above-mentioned method, the indication by the temperature sensor undergoes the effect of the temperature or introduction amount of the coolant for cooling, which may lead to excess heating or cooling than required thus giving no insurance for the effective heating of the lesional portion. Accordingly, it has been strongly demanded at present for the development of a method and a device capable of heating the lesional portion without giving feeling of heat or pain to a patient and under a quantitative control in heating a living body by way of electromagnetic waves. The present invention has been achieved in view of the foregoing present situation and the object thereof is to provide a method of and a device for heating capable of eliminating the patient's feeling of heat and pains by relying on the information from a temperature sensor situated to the outer surface of an electrode body, as well as capable of performing safe and effective hyperthermia. According to the present invention there is provided a high-frequency heating device comprising: a first electrode structure so adapted as to be disposed to the vicinity of a portion of a living body intended to be heated and having a first electrode, a flexible bag-like member surrounding said first electrode, a coolant supplying and discharging means connected to said flexible bag-like member for supplying a coolant being an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt to an inside of said flexible bag-like member and for discharging said supplied coolant from said inside of said flexible bag-like member, and a temperature detecting means attached to the outer surface of said flexible bag-like member for detecting the temperature of the living body tissues at said portion intended to be heated; a second electrode structure adapted to be disposed on an outer circumference of a living body and to selectively heat said portion at the periphery of said first electrode structure in cooperation with said first electrode structure, and having a second electrode with an electrode area at least 5 times the area of said first electrode; a high-frequency power source connected to said first electrode and said second electrode for supplying a high-frequency current to said first and second electrodes; and temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the coolant supplied to said flexible bag-like member, characterised in that said temperature control means are adapted to control the temperature of the supplied coolant such that the temperature of said coolant within said flexible bag-like member becomes approximately equal to the temperature to which said living body tissues are intended to be heated, and said coolant supplying and discharging means is adapted to control the volume flow rate of said supplied coolant such that said volume flow rate of said supplied coolant is in the range of from 1 to 15 times the inner volume of said flexible bag-like member per minute, and is substantially equal to the blood volume flow rate in said living body tissues, and said coolant containing salt at a concentration in the range of from 15 m mol/l to 160 m mol/l. The present invention also provides a method of operating such a high frequency heating device. The present invention will be further described hereinafter with reference to the following description of an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 and 2 are explanatory views for the concept of the high-frequency heating system; Figure 3 is a schematic explanatory view for a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 4 is an explanatory view for the cross-section taken along line IV -IV in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a detailed explanatory view of the first electrode structure shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is an explanatory view for a cross section taken along line VI - VI in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line VII - VII in Figure 5 in a state where the bag-like member is deflated; Figure 8 is an explanatory view for the second electrode structure shown in Figure 3; Figure 9 is an explanatory view for the cross section taken along line IX - IX in Figure 8; Figures 10 and 11 are charts showing a relationship between the time and temperature indication in the preferred embodiment according to the present invention; and Figures 12 and 13 are charts showing a relationship between the time and temperature indication in a comparative embodiment. In the conventional high-frequency heating method, hyperthermia is carried out, for example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, by putting a region 3 including portion intended to be heated 2 of a living body 1 as a target between two opposed plate-like electrodes 4 and 5 and applying a high-frequency current between the electrodes 4 and 5 from a high-frequency power generator 6. It has been difficult by the method to heat the portion intended to be heated 2, up to a temperature needed for therapy if it is situated at a deep inside, because those portions other than the portion intended to be heated 2 may also possibly be heated since the high-frequency current flows substantially in parallel in the region between the opposed electrodes, because a subcutaneous fat layer 7 tends to be heated more intensely than endotract organ tissues due to the difference of electrical constants (electroconductivity, dielectric constant) between the subcutaneous fat layer and endotract organ tissues, and because there is a risk of patient's complaining of undesirable feeling of heat or of burning patient's epidermal tissues, etc. due to stronger generation of heat in the subcutaneous fat layer. The second electrode structure (non-sensitive electrode structure) referred to in the present invention is, for example, such an electrode structure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying Open No. Sho 60 - 55966, which has a second electrode of a greater electrode surface area usually by 5 times and, preferably, by 10 times or more as compared with the first electrode of the first electrode structure (heating electrode structure) and has a remarkably small heating effect to a living body when it co-operates with the first electrode of the first electrode structure. The first electrode structure (heating electrode structure) has such a size as it can be disposed to the portion intended to be heated, for example, in endotract portion of a living body such as esophagus, stomach, vagina, etc. or at the surface of lesional mammary portion and is capable of selectively heating the desired living body tissue by supplying a high-frequency current between the first electrode incorporated into the first electrode structure and the second electrode of the second electrode structure to thereby form an intense electric field distribution in the vicinity of the first electrode structure. Such an arrangement is schematically shown in Figures 3 and 4 where like parts are given like reference numerals as in Figures 1 and 2. A coolant having physical properties similar to those of living body tissue to be heated will now be described. That is, when a high-frequency voltage is applied at a frequency f between a pair of electrodes while putting a material with a dielectric constantε and loss factor tanδ therebetween, the electric P (W) absorbed per unit volume of the material is represented by the equation: P = K.f.E².ε tan δ (W) (1) where E represents an electric field intensity in the material, and K represents a proportional constant. When a high-frequency voltage is applied between the first electrode of a smaller area (heating electrode such as endotract eletrode) and a second electrode of a larger area (non-sensitive electrode such as external electrode), the electric field intensity is greater at the periphery of the first electrode of a smaller area (heating electrode) and attenuated as a distance from the first electrode increases. However, since the way of intensity attenuation is different depending on the shape and the configuration of electrodes and physical properties of the material put between the electrodes, the electric field intensity can not generally be defined. However, if they are known, the electric field intensity can be calculated. Assuming the dielectric constant to be ε T and the loss factor of the living body tissue outside of the film constituting the bag-like member to be tanδ T and the electric field intensity at the vicinity thereof to be E T , the power P T absorbed therein is represented as: While on the other hand, assuming the electric field intensity, dielectric constant and the loss factor in the coolant to be E C , ε C and δ C respectively, the electric power P C absorbed in the coolant is represented as: By properly selecting the dielectric constant ε C and loss of power factor tanδ C of the coolant, it is possible to substantially equalize the electric power P T absorbed in the living body tissue near the first electrode structure with the electric power P C absorbed in the coolant. Accordingly, the coolant in the present invention means such a coolant as to absorb the electric power substantially equal with that in the living body tissue at the portion Where the first electrode structure is disposed. The kind of the coolant somewhat varies depending on the living body tissue as a target, and the usable coolant can include, for example, an aqueous solution at a concentration of an inorganic salt of 30 m mol/l - 160 m mol/l, preferably, of less than 120 m mol/l in the case of using an inorganic salt such as potassium chloride and sodium chloride, and at a concentration of an inorganic salt of about 15 mmol/l - 80 mmol/l in the case of using an inorganic salt such as calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium sulfate and potassium sulfate. Antibiotics or preservatives may be added as required to the coolant in the present invention as described above. Further, the inorganic salt may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more of them. Explanation will then be made to the introduction and circulation of the coolant into and through the bag-like member of the first electrode structure. That is, the electric power P T absorbed in the tissue shown by the above-mentioned formula (1) is converted into a heat energy (Q P ) of 1/J x P t per unit volume and unit time and a portion of the thus converted heat energy Q B cal is diffused to the peripheral portion of the tissue by way of a blood flow and heat conduction and, as a result, brings about a temperature increase Δ T to the tissue. The relationship between them is represented as: Q P - Q B = ρ·CΔT (2) where ρ density of living tissue C : specific heat. Now selecting the coolant having density (ρ) and specific heat (C) which are equal to those of the living body tissue, and removing the heat corresponding to Q B by the circulation of the coolant, the temperature increase of the coolant can also be set to ΔT°C. Although the introduction and circulation amount of the coolant required for removing the heat quantity Q B is different depending on the kind and the temperature condition of the living body tissue at a portion where the electrode structure is disposed, removal of the heat quantity (Q B ) as described above can be attained by substantially equalizing the introducing and circulating amount of the coolant of the present invention into the bag-like member with the blood flow amount in the living body tissue. The blood flow amount in the living body tissue, for example, in the case of muscle tissue is dependent on the temperature such as about 2 ml/min per 1 cm³ of the living body tissue at a temperature of 37°C, and about 7ml/min at a temperature of 40°C. The blood flow amount in the living body tissue can be approximated by introducing and circulating the coolant of the present invention usually at a temperature from 37°C to 43°C by 1 to 15 times the volume of an inner volume of the bag-like member. The inner volume of the bag-like member means the inner volume of the bag-like member attained when it is extended or expanded by the coolant. Since no substantial heating is recognized to the living tissue on the side of the second electrode structure, there are no particular restritions to the circulation amount or the temperature of the coolant with respect to the second electrode structure. The device according to the present invention can be attained, for example, in a high-frequency heating device which uses as the first electrode structure an endotract electrode device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying Open No. Sho 60 - 119962 as the first electrode structure, and which uses as the second electrode structure a medical electrode device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying Open No. Sho 60 - 55966, wherein a coolant having physical properties approximated to those of the living body tissue at a portion where the electrode structure is disposed is used as the coolant and means for supplying and discharging the coolant to and from the bag-like member is so constituted that the coolant of 1 to 15 times volume of the inner volume of the bag-like member is circulated per min to the bag-like member of the first electrode structure. Then, explanation will be made to the preferred embodiment for the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure for the device according to the present invention by way of the accompanying drawings. Figures 5 through 7 show the details for the first electrode structure 4. In Figures 5 through 7, a flexible two-channeled tube 8 made of silicone rubber in which a coolant supply channel 9 and a coolant discharge channel 10 are formed integrally. At the top end of the tube 8, there are attached a flexible high-frequency electrode 11 and a flexible bag-like member 12 of a size capable of coming into contact with the inner wall of the tubular endotract organ without expansion of the flexible bag-like member. Connectors 13 and 14, for supplying and discharging a coolant are disposed integrally with the coolant supply channel 9 and the discharge channel 10 respectively. A portion where connectors 13 and 14 are respectively connected to the tube 8 is bonded by an adhesive and further covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 8a made of silicone. The high-frequency electrode 11 as the first electrode is secured to the outer circumference of the tube 8 and it may metal mesh, bellows, spiral member or the like so long as it has flexibility. The electrode 11 is formed to an axial length as equal to that of a tumour lesional portion. A high-frequency lead wire 15 (for example, about 1 mm of outer diameter) is fixedly connected to the base end of the high-frequency electrode 11. The lead wire 15 is extended along the outer circumference of the two-channeled tube 8 near the base of the tube 8, and a connector 17 for connection with a power generator 7 is attached to its extended end. The bag-like member 12 is formed into a cylindrical shape corresponding to the size and the shape of a tubular endotract near the lesional portion to which it is applied and, if desired, to the size and the shape of a portion narrowed by a tumour and the bag-like member 12 is secured to the outer circumference of the tube 8 on both of diametrically reduced ends 18 and 19 thereof so as to surround the electrode 11. In a case where the first electrode structure 4 is applied to an esophagus, a bag-like member 12, for example, having 5 - 25 mm of outer diameter and 30 - 100 mm of length is used. In the case of inserting the first electrode structure 4 into the tract, the bag-like member 12 is deflated as shown in Figure 7 and it is preferably folded, for example, as shown by the phantom line in Figure 7. The bag-like member 12 may be formed preferably with a molded tube or balloon made of silicone rubber. Copper - constantan thermocouples 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 as temperature detection means have thermocontacts 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a and 26a, and the thermocouples 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 are secured by means of bonding to the outer surface of the bag-like member 12 such that they can be brought into a close contact with the tract wall when the bag-like member 12 is expanded by the coolant. The lead wires 22b, 23b, 24b, 25b and 26b is secured together with the high-frequency lead wire 15 and the base end 18 of the bag-like member 12 on the outer circumference of central part of the tube 8 by means of a heat-shrinkable tube made of silicone without intersecting the lead wire 15. A connector 28 for the lead wires 22b, 23b, 24b, 25b and 26b of the thermocouples comprises a 10 - pin type receptacle 30 fixedly connected with the lead wires 22b, 23b, 24b, 25b and 26b and press-bonded at the cover portion, and a 10 - pin type plug 32 which is detachable with the receptacle 30 secured to the outer circumference of the tube 8 and has lead wires 31 connected to a temperature measuring volt meter. A coolant discharge hole 33 is communicated with the coolant discharge channel 10 formed in the tube 8, a coolant supply hole 20 is communicated with the coolant supply channel 9 formed in the tube 8, a top end portion 39 is disposed for guiding the insertion of the first electrode structure to the inside of the tract, a connector 34 for the coolant supply tube is connected with a pump 35 equiped with a flow control means through a cooler 36 equipped with a temperature control means. The connector 34 being so constituted as to be detachably attached to the connector 13. A connector 37 is so constituted as to be detachably attached to the connector 14 and as to discharge the coolant through the coolant discharge tube 38 or return the coolant to the pump 35. Figures 8 and 9 show the second electrode structure 5 according to the present invention. In Figures 8 and 9, a substrate 43 comprises a nylon fabric coated with a silicone resin. In the drawing, are shown an electrode 44 made of a copper foil plate, an elastic silicone rubber sheet 45, a lead wire 46 connected to one end of a high-frequency power generator (not illustrated), and silicone tubes 47, 47 as supply and discharge tubes for the coolant 48. A portion or a region 49 shown by the broken hatched lines defines a portion where the substrate 43 and the rubber sheet 45 are bonded to each other for forming a coolant flow channel 50 in one direction between tubes 47, 47. Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line IX - IX in Figure 8 in a state where the coolant 48 is supplied, in which the upper side in Figure 9 is brought into a close contact with the surface of a living body. In the foregoings, the bag-like member 45a is constituted with the sheet 45 and the substrate 43. The second electrode member 5 can be brought into a good contact with the living body by the interaction between a fixing tool and the expansion of the silicone rubber sheet 45. In the case of heating a lesional portion by the high-frequency heating device according to the present invention, the temperature difference between the coolant in the bag-like member of the first electrode structure and the living body tissue which is in contact with the outer surface of the bag-like member is substantially eliminated. Therefore, according to the present invention, the temperature at the living body tissue can accurately be monitored based on the indication from the temperature sensor situated at the outer surface of the bag-like member of the first electrode structure irrespective of the level of the high-frequency power and the hyperthermia for the portion intended to be heated can be conducted safely. The present invention will now be described more in details while referring to the example. Example A temperature sensor A is secured to the outer surface and a temperature sensor B is secured to the inner surface of a central portion of a bag-like member of a first electrode structure by means of adhesives respectively, in which the bag-like member made of silicone rubber and having a diameter of 15 mm ⊘ and the length of 80 mm surrounds a helical electrode of a diameter of 8 mm ⊘ and the first electrode structure is inserted into an esophagus. While on the other hand, a second electrode structure having a coolant channel disposed on a copper plate of 120 mm width x 430 mm length is attached to a chest portion opposed to the esophagus. Brine water at 70 m mol/l was used as the coolant, the temperature is controlled so as to be at 37°C at the inlet of the first electrode structure and the circulation flow rate q is set to 50 ml/min. Since the volume v occupied by the coolant in the bag-like member is about 10 ml, the circulation amount per inner volume is (per minute) q/v = 5 times/min. High-frequency current at 13.5 MHz is supplied at powers of 100W and 150W between the first electrode and the second electrode, in which the temperature difference shown by the sensors A and B is within 0.5°C for both of the cases as shown in Figures 10 and 11. For the comparison, the result of the temperature measurement by the sensor A and the sensor B in the case of using distilled water as the coolant under the same conditions as described above are shown in Figures 12 and 13. The symbols ○ and □ show the indication temperatures of the sensors A and B respectively in the drawings. In the case of a comparative example using distilled water as the coolant, it can be recognized that the temperature difference between the sensor A and the sensor B is remarkably greater as compared with the case of the example according to the present invention.

Claims: A high-frequency heating device comprising: a first electrode structure (4) so adapted as to be disposed to the vicinity of a portion of a living body intended to be heated, and having a first electrode (11), a flexible bag-like member (12) surrounding said first electrode, a coolant supplying and discharging means (8, 9, 10, 34, 35, 37, 38) connected to said flexible bag-like member for supplying a coolant being an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt to an inside of said flexible bag-like member and for discharging said supplied coolant from said inside of said flexible bag-like member, and a temperature detecting means (22-26) attached to the outer surface of said flexible bag-like member for detecting the temperature of the living body tissues at said portion intended to be heated; a second electrode structure (5) adapted to be disposed on an outer circumference of a living body and to selectively heat said portion at the periphery of said first electrode structure in cooperation with said first electrode structure, and having a second electrode with an electrode area at least 5 times the area of said first electrode; a high-frequency power source (6) connected to said first electrode and said second electrode for supplying a high-frequency current to said first and second electrodes; and temperature control means (36) for controlling the temperature of the coolant supplied to said flexible bag-like member, characterised in that said temperature control means are adapted to control the temperature of the supplied coolant such that the temperature of said coolant within said flexible bag-like member becomes approximately equal to the temperature to which said living body tissues are intended to be heated, and said coolant supplying and discharging means is adapted to control the volume flow rate of said supplied coolant such that said volume flow rate of said supplied coolant is in the range of from 1 to 15 times the inner volume of said flexible bag-like member per minute, and is substantially equal to the blood volume flow rate in said living body tissues, and said coolant containing salt at a concentration in the range of from 15 m mol/l to 160 m mol/l. A device according to claim 1 including a flexible and liquid-tight second bag-like member surrounding said second electrode and a mechanism for supplying and discharging a coolant to and from the inside of said second bag-like member. A device as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the specific heat of the coolant is substantially equal with the specific heat of the living body tissue at a portion where the first electrode structure is disposed. A method of operating a high-frequency heating device comprising: a first electrode structure (4) so adapted as to be disposed to the vicinity of a portion of a living body intended to be heated, and having a first electrode (11), a flexible bag-like member (12) surrounding said first electrode, a coolant supplying and discharging means (8, 9, 10, 34, 35, 37, 38) connected to said flexible bag-like member for supplying a coolant being an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt to an inside of said flexible bag-like member and for discharging said supplied coolant from said inside of said flexible bag-like member, and a temperature detecting means (22-26) attached to the outer surface of said flexible bag-like member for detecting the temperature of the living body tissues at said portion intended to be heated; a second electrode structure (5) adapted to be disposed on an outer circumference of a living body and to selectively heat said portion at the periphery of said first electrode structure in cooperation with said first electrode structure, and having a second electrode with an electrode area at least 5 times the area of said first electrode; a high-frequency power source (6) connected to said first electrode and said second electrode for supplying a high-frequency current to said first and second electrodes; and temperature control means (36) for controlling the temperature of the coolant supplied to said flexible bag-like member, characterised in that said temperature control means are operated in such a manner that the temperature of said coolant within said flexible bag-like member becomes approximately equal to the temperature to which said living body tissues are intended to be heated, and said coolant supplying and discharging means are operated to control the volume flow rate of said supplied coolant such that said volume flow rate of said supplied coolant is in the range of from 1 to 15 times the inner volume of said flexible bag-like member per minute, and is substantially equal to the blood volume flow rate in said living body tissues, and said coolant containing salt at a concentration in the range of from 15 m mol/l to 160 m mol/l. A method according to claim 4, wherein said device includes a flexible and liquid-tight second bag-like member surrounding said second electrode and a mechanism for supplying and discharging a coolant to and from the inside of said second bag-like member. A method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the specific heat of the coolant is substantially equal with the specific heat of the living body tissue at a portion where the first electrode structure is disposed.

Inventors: KITAGAWA, KIYOSHI, ONODERA, CHIKAU, ONUMA, TADASHI, SOGAWA, AKIRA, YOSHIHARA, ATSUHI
Applicants: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A61N1
IPC codes: H05B6, A61N1, A61N5