METHOD FOR CRYOSPRAY ABLATION
Methods for treating oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue in a subject are described. Methods of the invention may comprise spraying a tissue to be treated with a cryogen and/or using a cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue to be treated.
1 . A method for treating oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue, comprising:
spraying the tissue with a cryogen, or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cryogen is a liquefied gas.
3 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the liquid gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, a nitrogen oxide, nitrogen and argon.
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cryogen is carbon dioxide.
5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to initiate a tissue response.
6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of a catheter is connected to a cryogen source and a distal end of the catheter is placed in proximity to the tissue and cryogen flows from the source through the distal end to the tissue.
7 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is guided to the tissue using a guiding device.
8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the guiding device comprises a video camera and the distal end of the guiding device and/or the catheter is guided to the tissue by observing the distal end of the catheter and/or guiding device on a video monitor.
9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises unwanted tissue.
10 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein the unwanted tissue comprises cancerous cells.
11 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is maintained in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to freeze the tissue.
12 . A method for treating a lesion in oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue, comprising:
spraying tissue comprising a lesion with a cryogen or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue.
13 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the cryogen is a liquefied gas.
14 . A method according to claim 13 , wherein the liquid gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, a nitrogen oxide, nitrogen and argon.
15 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the cryogen is carbon dioxide.
16 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to initiate a tissue response.
17 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein a proximal end of a catheter is connected to a cryogen source and a distal end of the catheter is placed in proximity to the tissue and cryogen flows from the source through the distal end to the tissue.
18 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is guided to the tissue using a guiding device.
19 . A method according to claim 18 , wherein the guiding device comprises a video camera and the distal end of the guiding device and/or the catheter is guided to the tissue by observing the distal end of the catheter and/or guiding device on a video monitor.
20 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the lesion comprises unwanted tissue.
21 . A method according to claim 20 , wherein the unwanted tissue comprises cancerous cells.
22 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is maintained in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to freeze the tissue.
23 . A method for stimulating a response in oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue, comprising:
spraying the tissue with a cryogen or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue.
24 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the cryogen is a liquid gas.
25 . A method according to claim 24 , wherein the liquid gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, a nitrogen oxide, nitrogen and argon.
26 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the cryogen is carbon dioxide.
27 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to initiate a tissue response.
28 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein a proximal end of a catheter is connected to a cryogen source and a distal end of the catheter is placed in proximity to the tissue and cryogen flows from the source through the distal end to the tissue.
29 . A method according to claim 28 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is guided to the tissue using a guiding device.
30 . A method according to claim 29 , wherein the guiding device comprises a video camera and the distal end of the guiding device and/or the catheter is guided to the tissue by observing the distal end of the catheter and/or guiding device on a video monitor.
31 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the tissue comprises a lesion.
32 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the tissue comprises unwanted tissue.
33 . A method according to claim 32 , wherein the unwanted tissue comprises cancerous cells.
34 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is maintained in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to freeze the tissue.
35 . A method of treating an infection in oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue, comprising:
spraying an infected oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue with a cryogen or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue.
36 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the cryogen is a liquid gas.
37 . A method according to claim 36 , wherein the liquid gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, a nitrogen oxide, nitrogen and argon.
38 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the cryogen is carbon dioxide.
39 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to initiate a tissue response.
40 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein a proximal end of a catheter is connected to a cryogen source and a distal end of the catheter is placed in proximity to the tissue and cryogen flows from the source through the distal end to the tissue.
41 . A method according to claim 40 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is guided to the tissue using a guiding device.
42 . A method according to claim 41 , wherein the guiding device comprises a video camera and the distal end of the guiding device and/or the catheter is guided to the tissue by observing the distal end of the catheter and/or guiding device on a video monitor.
43 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the tissue comprises a lesion.
44 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the tissue comprises unwanted tissue.
45 . A method according to claim 44 , wherein the unwanted tissue comprises cancerous cells.
46 . A method according to claim 35 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is maintained in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to freeze the tissue.
47 . A method of treating unwanted oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue, comprising:
spraying unwanted tissue with a cryogen or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue.
48 . A method according to claim 47 , wherein the cryogen is a liquid gas.
49 . A method according to claim 48 , wherein the liquid gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, a nitrogen oxide, nitrogen and argon.
50 . A method according to claim 47 , wherein the cryogen is carbon dioxide.
51 . A method according to claim 47 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to initiate a tissue response.
52 . A method according to claim 47 , wherein a proximal end of a catheter is connected to a cryogen source and a distal end of the catheter is placed in proximity to the tissue and cryogen flows from the source through the distal end to the tissue.
53 . A method according to claim 52 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is guided to the tissue using a guiding device.
54 . A method according to claim 53 , wherein the guiding device comprises a video camera and the distal end of the guiding device and/or the catheter is guided to the tissue by observing the distal end of the catheter and/or guiding device on a video monitor.
55 . A method according to claim 47 , wherein the tissue comprises a lesion.
56 . A method according to claim 47 , wherein the unwanted tissue comprises cancerous cells.
57 . A method according to claim 47 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is maintained in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to freeze the tissue.
58 . A method of modulating an immune response in oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue, comprising:
spraying the tissue with cryogen or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to the tissue.
59 . A method according to claim 58 , wherein the cryogen is a liquid gas.
60 . A method according to claim 59 , wherein the liquid gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, a nitrogen oxide, nitrogen and argon.
61 . A method according to claim 58 , wherein the cryogen is carbon dioxide.
62 . A method according to claim 58 , wherein a proximal end of a catheter is connected to a cryogen source and a distal end of the catheter is placed in proximity to the tissue and cryogen flows from the source through the distal end to the tissue.
63 . A method according to claim 63 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is guided to the tissue using a guiding device.
64 . A method according to claim 64 , wherein the guiding device comprises a video camera and the distal end of the guiding device and/or the catheter is guided to the tissue by observing the distal end of the catheter and/or guiding device on a video monitor.
65 . A method according to claim 58 , wherein the immune response is reduced.
66 . A method according to claim 58 , wherein the immune response is increased.
67 . A method according to claim 58 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is maintained in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to freeze the tissue.
68 . A method of treating benign or malignant tumors or lesions, dysplastic tissue, and/or neoplastic tissue or disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
spraying oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue in the subject with a cryogen, or using the cryogen to create an isotherm in proximity to oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue, wherein the oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue comprises the benign or malignant tumors or lesions, dysplastic tissue, and/or neoplastic tissue or disease tissue.
69 . A method according to claim 68 , wherein the cryogen is a liquid gas.
70 . A method according to claim 69 , wherein the liquid gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, a nitrogen oxide, nitrogen and argon.
71 . A method according to claim 68 , wherein the cryogen is carbon dioxide.
72 . A method according to claim 68 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to initiate a tissue response.
73 . A method according to claim 68 , wherein a proximal end of a catheter is connected to a cryogen source and a distal end of the catheter is placed in proximity to the tissue and cryogen flows from the source through the distal end to the tissue.
74 . A method according to claim 73 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is guided to the tissue using a guiding device.
75 . A method according to claim 74 , wherein the guiding device comprises a video camera and the distal end of the guiding device and/or the catheter is guided to the tissue by observing the distal end of the catheter and/or guiding device on a video monitor.
76 . A method according to claim 68 , wherein the tissue is sprayed with cryogen or is maintained in proximity to the isotherm for a period of time sufficient to freeze the tissue.
77 . A cryotherapy system adapted for spraying oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue in the subject with a cryogen, or to create an isotherm in proximity to oral, nasal, pharyngeal and/or laryngeal tissue, comprising:
an endoscope, a catheter and a source of cryogen attached to said catheter.
78 . The cryotherapy system of claim 77 , wherein a proximal end of said catheter is connected to said cryogen source and a distal end of the catheter is placed in proximity to the tissue and cryogen flows from the source through the distal end to the tissue.
79 . The cryotherapy system of claim 78 , wherein the distal end of said catheter is guided to the tissue using a guiding device.
80 . The cryotherapy system of claim 79 , wherein the guiding device comprises a video camera and the distal end of the guiding device and/or the catheter is guided to the tissue by observing the distal end of the catheter and/or guiding device on a video monitor.
81 . The cryotherapy system of claim 78 , wherein the distal end of the catheter is adapted to spray the cryogen in a radial direction relative to the axis of the catheter.