Apparatus for medical treatment

Claim 1

An apparatus for effecting hyperthermia in a body cavity or duct comprising: a disposable first part comprising an elongate distal section intended to be inserted into said cavity or duct comprising a centrally located, heat-releasing element, which is either surrounded by an elongate housing or is itself constituted by an elongate housing, and a flexible and/or elastic enclosure surrounding said housing in a liquid-tight manner, further including means for supplying energy to the heat-releasing element and an axially operating first inlet at the proximal part of the housing, an outlet from the housing being arranged for the supply of heat-transmitting medium under pressure for expansion of the flexible enclosure to accommodate and to exert a controller pressure on surrounding walls of said cavity or duct, a second inlet to the housing, and a medium-actuating means for said expansion of the flexible enclosure and for internal circulation of said medium in a closed circuit from said second inlet through the housing exiting via said outlet and flowing on an outside of said housing to return to said second inlet; and a permanent non-disposable second part comprising drive means for said means for expansion and for internal circulation, and connecting means for releasably interconnecting said drive means and said means for expansion and internal circulation, said medium-actuating means comprising a first means for the expansion of the flexible enclosure, and a second means for the internal circulation of the medium through the housing, said first means being capable also of removing medium from the system to bring the enclosure into a collapsed condition.

Claim 2

An apparatus for effecting hyperthermia in a body cavity or duct comprising: a disposable first part comprising an elongate distal section intended to be inserted into said cavity or duct comprising a centrally located, heat-releasing element, which is either surrounded by an elongate housing or is itself constituted by an elongate housing, and a flexible and/or elastic enclosure surrounding said housing in a liquid-tight manner, further including means for supplying energy to the heat-releasing element and an axially operating first inlet at the proximal part of the housing, an outlet from the housing being arranged for the supply of heat-transmitting medium under pressure for expansion of the flexible enclosure to accommodate and to exert a controller pressure on surrounding walls of said cavity or duct, a second inlet to the housing, and a medium-actuating means for said expansion of the flexible enclosure and for internal circulation of said medium in a closed circuit from said second inlet through the housing exiting via said outlet and flowing on an outside of said housing to return to said second inlet; and a permanent non-disposable second part comprising drive means for said means for expansion and for internal circulation, and connecting means for releasably interconnecting said drive means and said means for expansion and internal circulation, said medium-actuating means comprising a first means for the expansion of the flexible enclosure, and a second means for the internal circulation of the medium through the housing, said first means being capable also of removing medium from the system to bring the enclosure into a collapsed condition.

Claim 24

An apparatus comprising: a disposable section including: a first housing, substantially surrounded by a flexible enclosure, having a heat releasing element disposed therein; tubing connected to said first housing and, said flexible enclosure at a distal end thereof; at least one fluid pressurizing device for pumping a fluid through said tubing at a proximal end thereof and into said flexible enclosure via said first housing; a non-disposable section including: a second housing; at least one retaining means within said second housing for releasably retaining said at least one fluid pressurizing device; at least one drive means, operably connected with said at least one fluid pressurizing means when said at least one fluid pressurizing device is retained within said at least one retaining means, for powering said fluid pressurizing device to provide internal circulation of said fluid within said apparatus; wherein said internal circulation provides for an intake of said fluid through an inlet in said first housing and moving said fluid past said heat releasing element, said fluid exiting said first housing at an outlet and returning to said inlet.

Claim 25

An apparatus comprising: a disposable section including: a first housing, substantially surrounded by a flexible enclosure, having a heat releasing element disposed therein; tubing connected to said first housing and, said flexible enclosure at a distal end thereof; at least one fluid pressurizing device for pumping a fluid through said tubing at a proximal end thereof and into said flexible enclosure via said first housing; a non-disposable section including: a second housing; at least one retaining means within said second housing for releasably retaining said at least one fluid pressurizing device; at least one drive means, operably connected with said at least one fluid pressurizing means when said at least one fluid pressurizing device is retained within said at least one retaining means, for powering said fluid pressurizing device to provide internal circulation of said fluid within said apparatus; wherein said internal circulation provides for an intake of said fluid through an inlet in said first housing and moving said fluid past said heat releasing element, said fluid exiting said first housing at an outlet and returning to said inlet.