SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEATING THE PROSTATE GLAND TO TREAT AND PREVENT THE GROWTH AND SPREAD OF PROSTATE TUMORS

摘要

A system and method for safely heating cancerous and pre-cancerous conditionsof the prostate, as well as benign and pre-benign lesions (any localizedpathological change in the prostate tissue) by irradiation of the prostatetissue with coherent phased array or non-coherent energy is introduced. Tocoherently focus the energy, such as microwave energy, in the prostate, thepatient's prostate can be compressed via a urethral and rectal balloon andeither a single electric-field probe, inserted in the central portion of theprostate, or two noninvasive electric-field sensors on the urethral and rectalwalls, can be used to measure a feedback signal to adjust the energy phasedelivered to the applicators located in the urethra and in the rectum.Temperature feedback sensors are used to measure urethral and rectal walltemperatures during treatment to adjust the energy power delivered to theapplicators to avoid overheating the urethral and rectal walls. The energydelivered to the applicators is monitored in real time during treatment, andthe treatment is completed when a desired total energy dose has beenadministered.