Temperature control and analysis system for hyperthermia treatment

Claim 1

A system for controlling a hyperthermia treatment device of the type which has applicator means for applying energy to attain a predetermined temperature protocol for portions of a patient's body, the system monitoring said energy application and being capable of adjusting said energy application responsive to operator manipulation, said system comprising: means for sensing temperature of the patient's body and for providing a temperature signal; computer means having associated instruction and data storage means for interacting with other systems means to perform the energy application, said computer means monitoring said temperature signal and adjusting said energy application responsive to the operator manipulation and having data and instructions defining said predetermined temperature protocol, said computer means utilizing said temperature signal and said protocol defining data and instructions to selectively provide an operator prompt signal indicating the desirability of the operator adjusting said energy application and further providing correlative temperature data associated with said portions of the patient's body; operator means responsive to the operator manipulation for providing an operator signal to control said energy applicator means via said computer means; and means responsive to said correlative data and said protocol defining data and instructions for displaying a video presentation of said correlative temperature data to the operator, said correlative temperature data displayed in a color coded manner such that preselected colors represent predetermined temperature effectiveness zones of hyperthermia treatment, the operator capable of adjusting said energy application by evaluating said color coded video presentation and providing said operator signal.

Claim 2

A system for controlling a hyperthermia treatment device of the type which has applicator means for applying energy to attain a predetermined temperature protocol for portions of a patient's body, the system monitoring said energy application and being capable of adjusting said energy application responsive to operator manipulation, said system comprising: means for sensing temperature of the patient's body and for providing a temperature signal; computer means having associated instruction and data storage means for interacting with other systems means to perform the energy application, said computer means monitoring said temperature signal and adjusting said energy application responsive to the operator manipulation and having data and instructions defining said predetermined temperature protocol, said computer means utilizing said temperature signal and said protocol defining data and instructions to selectively provide an operator prompt signal indicating the desirability of the operator adjusting said energy application and further providing correlative temperature data associated with said portions of the patient's body; operator means responsive to the operator manipulation for providing an operator signal to control said energy applicator means via said computer means; and means responsive to said correlative data and said protocol defining data and instructions for displaying a video presentation of said correlative temperature data to the operator, said correlative temperature data displayed in a color coded manner such that preselected colors represent predetermined temperature effectiveness zones of hyperthermia treatment, the operator capable of adjusting said energy application by evaluating said color coded video presentation and providing said operator signal.

Claim 10

A system for controlling a hyperthermia treatment device applicator means for applying energy to attain a predetermined temperature protocol for treating a tumor in a portion of a patient's body, the system cooperating with an operator to monitor and adjust said energy to achieve said protocol, said system comprising: computer means for controlling said applicator means and coupled to operator means, temperature sensing means, video output means and alphanumeric output means; operator means responsive to an operator input for providing an operator signal to control said applied energy to achieve said predetermined temperature protocol; temperature sensing means for providing a temperature sensor signal to said computer means, said computer means utilizing said sensor signal and data and instructions characteristic of said predetermined temperature protocol and selectively providing a prompt signal requesting adjustment of said energy by the operator and further providing correlative temperature data associated with said portions of the patient's body; means for providing a video output responsive to said correlative temperature data; means for providing an alphanumeric output responsive to said prompt signal; and means responsive to said video output for displaying a video presentation to the operator of said correlative temperature data, said correlative temperature data displayable using a plurality of colors wherein each said color corresponds to predetermined temperature threshold zones of hyperthermia treatment and the operator responding to said request for energy adjustment by evaluating said video presentation and providing said operator signal.

Claim 11

A system for controlling a hyperthermia treatment device applicator means for applying energy to attain a predetermined temperature protocol for treating a tumor in a portion of a patient's body, the system cooperating with an operator to monitor and adjust said energy to achieve said protocol, said system comprising: computer means for controlling said applicator means and coupled to operator means, temperature sensing means, video output means and alphanumeric output means; operator means responsive to an operator input for providing an operator signal to control said applied energy to achieve said predetermined temperature protocol; temperature sensing means for providing a temperature sensor signal to said computer means, said computer means utilizing said sensor signal and data and instructions characteristic of said predetermined temperature protocol and selectively providing a prompt signal requesting adjustment of said energy by the operator and further providing correlative temperature data associated with said portions of the patient's body; means for providing a video output responsive to said correlative temperature data; means for providing an alphanumeric output responsive to said prompt signal; and means responsive to said video output for displaying a video presentation to the operator of said correlative temperature data, said correlative temperature data displayable using a plurality of colors wherein each said color corresponds to predetermined temperature threshold zones of hyperthermia treatment and the operator responding to said request for energy adjustment by evaluating said video presentation and providing said operator signal.

Claim 22

A method for preparing a predetermined hyperthermia treatment protocol for a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using a hyperthermia treatment data base defining a plurality of general hyperthermia treatment protocols, comprising the steps of: identifying location, size and type characteristics of said tumor in the patient's body; mapping data in said hyperthermia treatment data base corresponding to tumor characteristics identified in said patient's body; and modifying a selected one of said general hyperthermia treatment protocols for said tumor to account for said identified location, size and type characteristics of said tumor in said patient's body to develop said predetermined hyperthermia treatment protocol.

Claim 23

A method for preparing a predetermined hyperthermia treatment protocol for a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using a hyperthermia treatment data base defining a plurality of general hyperthermia treatment protocols, comprising the steps of: identifying location, size and type characteristics of said tumor in the patient's body; mapping data in said hyperthermia treatment data base corresponding to tumor characteristics identified in said patient's body; and modifying a selected one of said general hyperthermia treatment protocols for said tumor to account for said identified location, size and type characteristics of said tumor in said patient's body to develop said predetermined hyperthermia treatment protocol.

Claim 24

A method under control of a computer and manipulated by an operator using a predetermined temperature protocol for accumulating a hyperthermia treatment data base for tumors in specific portions of a patient's body, comprising the steps of: (a) applying energy to heat said portions of the patient's body; (b) sensing temperatures in said portions of the patient's body; (c) comparing said sensed temperature with temperature from said predetermined temperature protocol; (d) selectively generating a prompt signal for observation by said operator requesting adjustment of said energy, said prompt signal generated responsive to said step of comparing, indicating a deviation from said predetermined temperature protocol; (e) generating correlative temperature data associated with said portions of the patient's body; (f) generating a video output responsive to said correlative temperature data; (g) displaying a video presentation to said operator responsive to said video output, said video presentation displayable using a plurality of colors wherein each of said colors corresponds to a preselected temperature threshold zone, and said operator responding to said prompt signal by evaluating said video presentation and providing an operator signal to attain said predetermined temperature protocol; (h) storing said correlative temperature data in storage means; and repeating steps (a)-(h) until completion of said predetermined temperature protocol and completion of said storing of said correlative temperature data.

Claim 25

A method under control of a computer and manipulated by an operator using a predetermined temperature protocol for accumulating a hyperthermia treatment data base for tumors in specific portions of a patient's body, comprising the steps of: (a) applying energy to heat said portions of the patient's body; (b) sensing temperatures in said portions of the patient's body; (c) comparing said sensed temperature with temperature from said predetermined temperature protocol; (d) selectively generating a prompt signal for observation by said operator requesting adjustment of said energy, said prompt signal generated responsive to said step of comparing, indicating a deviation from said predetermined temperature protocol; (e) generating correlative temperature data associated with said portions of the patient's body; (f) generating a video output responsive to said correlative temperature data; (g) displaying a video presentation to said operator responsive to said video output, said video presentation displayable using a plurality of colors wherein each of said colors corresponds to a preselected temperature threshold zone, and said operator responding to said prompt signal by evaluating said video presentation and providing an operator signal to attain said predetermined temperature protocol; (h) storing said correlative temperature data in storage means; and repeating steps (a)-(h) until completion of said predetermined temperature protocol and completion of said storing of said correlative temperature data.

Claim 27

A method for establishing a hyperthermia treatment data base useful for preparing a predetermined hyperthermia treatment protocol for therapeutic treatment of tumors in specified portions of a patient's body, comprising the steps of: performing a planned patient hyperthermia treatment protocol by applying energy to heat said portions of the patient's body; measuring time dependent temperature data for said hyperthermia treatment protocol; storing said time dependent temperature data in a storage means; calculating a figure of merit from said time dependent temperature data; determining treatment effect of said hyperthermia treatment protocol; and storing said treatment effect and said figure of merit in said storage means in association with said time dependent temperature data.

Claim 28

A method for establishing a hyperthermia treatment data base useful for preparing a predetermined hyperthermia treatment protocol for therapeutic treatment of tumors in specified portions of a patient's body, comprising the steps of: performing a planned patient hyperthermia treatment protocol by applying energy to heat said portions of the patient's body; measuring time dependent temperature data for said hyperthermia treatment protocol; storing said time dependent temperature data in a storage means; calculating a figure of merit from said time dependent temperature data; determining treatment effect of said hyperthermia treatment protocol; and storing said treatment effect and said figure of merit in said storage means in association with said time dependent temperature data.

Claim 30

A method of determining a figure of merit for use in evaluating a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using an apparatus having a group of temperature sensors disposed in the tumor and another group of temperature sensors disposed in surrounding normal tissue, comprising: applying energy to heat said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures by said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and by said group in said surrounding normal tissue; determining periodically throughout said hyperthermia treatment a minimum and maximum temperature range for said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and for said group in said surrounding normal tissue; calculating a time-temperature integrated overlap of said minimum and maximum temperature ranges for each of said groups of temperature sensors; calculating a time-temperature integrated area for said temperature range for each said group of temperature sensors; and determining a percentage for said integrated overlap and for said integrated area, said determined percentages compared arithmetically to characterize said figure of merit.

Claim 31

A method of determining a figure of merit for use in evaluating a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using an apparatus having a group of temperature sensors disposed in the tumor and another group of temperature sensors disposed in surrounding normal tissue, comprising: applying energy to heat said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures by said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and by said group in said surrounding normal tissue; determining periodically throughout said hyperthermia treatment a minimum and maximum temperature range for said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and for said group in said surrounding normal tissue; calculating a time-temperature integrated overlap of said minimum and maximum temperature ranges for each of said groups of temperature sensors; calculating a time-temperature integrated area for said temperature range for each said group of temperature sensors; and determining a percentage for said integrated overlap and for said integrated area, said determined percentages compared arithmetically to characterize said figure of merit.

Claim 35

A method of determining a figure of merit for use in evaluating a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using an apparatus having a group of temperature sensors disposed in the tumor and another group of temperature sensors disposed in surrounding normal tissue, comprising the steps of: applying energy to heat said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures by said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and said group in said surrounding normal tissue; determining periodically throughout said hyperthermia treatment a minimum and maximum temperature range for said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and for said group in said surrounding normal tissue; assigning temperature threshold zones for each of said two groups of temperature sensors; determining time-temperature integrated areas which lie within and which exceed said temperature threshold zones; and comparing arithmetic relative percentages of said integrated areas which lie within said temperature threshold zones with said integrated areas which exceed said temperature threshold zones, said arithmetic relative percentages characteristic of said figure of merit.

Claim 36

A method of determining a figure of merit for use in evaluating a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using an apparatus having a group of temperature sensors disposed in the tumor and another group of temperature sensors disposed in surrounding normal tissue, comprising the steps of: applying energy to heat said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures by said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and said group in said surrounding normal tissue; determining periodically throughout said hyperthermia treatment a minimum and maximum temperature range for said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and for said group in said surrounding normal tissue; assigning temperature threshold zones for each of said two groups of temperature sensors; determining time-temperature integrated areas which lie within and which exceed said temperature threshold zones; and comparing arithmetic relative percentages of said integrated areas which lie within said temperature threshold zones with said integrated areas which exceed said temperature threshold zones, said arithmetic relative percentages characteristic of said figure of merit.

Claim 39

A method of determining a figure of merit for use in evaluating a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using an apparatus having a group of temperature sensors disposed in the tumor and another group of temperature sensors disposed in surrounding normal tissue, comprising the steps of: applying energy to heat said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures by said group of temperature sensors disposed within said tumor and in said surrounding normal tissue; determining periodically throughout said hyperthermia treatment a minimum and maximum temperature range for said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and for said group of temperature sensors in said surrounding normal tissue; assigning temperature threshold zones for each of said two groups of temperature sensors; determining time-temperature integrated areas which lie within and which exceed said temperature threshold zones; and comparing arithmetic relative percentages of said integrated areas which lie within said temperature threshold zone with said integrated areas which exceed said temperature threshold zones, said relative percentages being characteristic of said figure of merit.

Claim 40

A method of determining a figure of merit for use in evaluating a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using an apparatus having a group of temperature sensors disposed in the tumor and another group of temperature sensors disposed in surrounding normal tissue, comprising the steps of: applying energy to heat said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures by said group of temperature sensors disposed within said tumor and in said surrounding normal tissue; determining periodically throughout said hyperthermia treatment a minimum and maximum temperature range for said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and for said group of temperature sensors in said surrounding normal tissue; assigning temperature threshold zones for each of said two groups of temperature sensors; determining time-temperature integrated areas which lie within and which exceed said temperature threshold zones; and comparing arithmetic relative percentages of said integrated areas which lie within said temperature threshold zone with said integrated areas which exceed said temperature threshold zones, said relative percentages being characteristic of said figure of merit.

Claim 42

A method for generating a topographical display of temperature isotherms in a set of planes of a patient's body for a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of said patient's body, comprising the steps of: applying energy to said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures in said portion of said patient's body; generating an interpolated set of temperatures for said set of planes from said sensed temperatures; assigning color codes to said temperature isotherms of said set of planes, each said color code corresponding to predetermined temperature effectiveness zones of hyperthermia treatment for said patient's body portion; and generating said topographical display of said temperature isotherms in said set of planes of the patient's body.

Claim 43

A method for generating a topographical display of temperature isotherms in a set of planes of a patient's body for a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of said patient's body, comprising the steps of: applying energy to said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures in said portion of said patient's body; generating an interpolated set of temperatures for said set of planes from said sensed temperatures; assigning color codes to said temperature isotherms of said set of planes, each said color code corresponding to predetermined temperature effectiveness zones of hyperthermia treatment for said patient's body portion; and generating said topographical display of said temperature isotherms in said set of planes of the patient's body.

Claim 44

A method of determining figures of merit for use in a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using an apparatus having a group of temperature sensors disposed in the tumor and another group of temperature sensors disposed in surrounding normal tissue, comprising the steps of; applying energy to heat said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures periodically throughout said hyperthermia treatment for said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and said group in said surrounding normal tissue; storing in storage means said sensed temperatures for each said group of temperature sensors; assigning a temperature threshold zone to each said sensed temperatures; determining percentages for each said group of said sensed temperatures which lie within each said temperature threshold zone; and calculating said figures of merit by comparing selected ones of said determined percentages associated with said temperature threshold zones.

Claim 45

A method of determining figures of merit for use in a hyperthermia treatment of a tumor in a portion of a patient's body using an apparatus having a group of temperature sensors disposed in the tumor and another group of temperature sensors disposed in surrounding normal tissue, comprising the steps of; applying energy to heat said portion of the patient's body; sensing temperatures periodically throughout said hyperthermia treatment for said group of temperature sensors disposed in said tumor and said group in said surrounding normal tissue; storing in storage means said sensed temperatures for each said group of temperature sensors; assigning a temperature threshold zone to each said sensed temperatures; determining percentages for each said group of said sensed temperatures which lie within each said temperature threshold zone; and calculating said figures of merit by comparing selected ones of said determined percentages associated with said temperature threshold zones.