Apparatus and method for controlling immunostimulating laser thermotherapy
An apparatus for obtaining an anti-tumour immunologic response by thermotherapy of a treatment lesion covering at least a portion of a tumour is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a heating probe comprising an optical fiber and a cooling catheter. The optical fiber is inserted in the cooling catheter. Further the heating probe has a light emitting area, and the heating probe is interstitially insertable into the tumour of the treatment lesion. The heat probe is internally cooled by a fluid circulating in said catheter. The apparatus further comprises a first thermal sensor member having at least one sensor area. The first thermal sensor member is positionable at a distance from said boundary. The apparatus also comprises a control unit for controlling a power output of said light source based on a measured first temperature.
1 . A computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for processing by a computer, the computer program is for thermotherapy of a predetermined treatment lesion covering at least a portion of a treatment lesion, and wherein said computer program comprising a plurality of code segments for:
obtaining at least one image of said treatment lesion and a laser-based heating probe arranged in said treatment lesion;
obtaining a first temperature of a first temperature area defined inside a boundary of said treatment lesion and adjacent to said laser-based heating probe, wherein said first temperature area is provided from a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI);
monitoring, during a treatment period, said first temperature and switching off said laser-based heating probe, and/or providing a warning, should said first temperature exceed a defined maximal temperature.
2 . The computer readable medium according to claim 1 , comprising a code segment for obtaining a second temperature from said Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of a second temperature area defined outside of or at said boundary of said treatment lesion.
3 . The computer readable medium according to claim 2 , comprising a code segment for maintaining said second temperature at a target temperature by controlling a power to said laser-based heating probe, wherein predefined treatment lesion is obtained.
4 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 3 , comprises a code segment for providing a warning and/or switching of said laser-based heating probe if said target temperature is exceeded.
5 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 3 , wherein said controlling of said power to said laser-based heating is performed using a feedback control.
6 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 3 , wherein said target temperature is set to a range between 44 to 55° C.
7 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 6 , wherein said target temperature is set to provide an anti-treatment lesion immunologic response.
8 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein said second temperature area is arranged 2 to 7 mm outside said boundary of said treatment lesion.
9 . The computer readable medium according to claim 2 , wherein said second temperature is used for minimizing unpredictable tissue damage and lesion size to minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
10 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum temperature is set to a temperature below 120° C.
11 . The computer readable medium according to claim 1 , comprising a code segment for obtaining a third temperature from said Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of a third temperature area defined in adjacent to an organ at risk.
12 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , comprises a code segment for providing a warning and/or switching of said laser-based heating probe if a maximum temperature of said third temperature is exceeded.
13 . The computer readable medium according to claim 11 , comprising a code segment wherein said third temperature is used in a feedback control to control said third temperature by adjusting said power of said laser-based heating probe to protect said organ at risk.
14 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein said laser-based heating probe has a diffusor arranged in said treatment lesion.
15 . The computer readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein said diffuser has a length between 5 to 30 mm.
16 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , comprising a code segment for performing an initial warm-up period.
17 . The computer readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein said treatment lesion has the same size as a tumour to be treated.
18 . The computer readable medium according to claim 1 , comprising a code segment to run a treatment for a pre-defined period of time.
19 . The computer readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein said laser-based heating probe uses a wavelength with an absorption wavelength in visual or near infrared wavelength region.
20 . The computer readable medium according to claim 19 , wherein said wavelength region is 700 to 1300 nm.
21 . The computer readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein said first temperature is used for minimizing evaporisation and carbonization of tissue in said treatment lesion.
22 . The computer readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein said first temperature is used for minimising unpredictable tissue damage.