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Abstract

Abstract: The recent trends toward early detection, image-guided surgery, and preference for minimally invasive treatments for prostate cancer have fostered continuing interest in cryotherapeutic approaches to prostate cancer. Cryosurgical treatment has fallen in and out of favor, due at least in part to the risk of damage to sensitive tissues in the urethra and rectal wall. The availability of transrectal ultrasound and urethral warmers improves the situation markedly, but the shape of the freeze zone remains challenging to control. The proposed cryosurgical probe provides direct control over the shape of the frozen region, protecting sensitive nearby tissues from thermal damage. It also includes sensors to measure the actual temperatures achieved across the freeze zone. In Phase I, a proof-of-principle probe will be fabricated and tested in vitro. In Phase II, a prototype probe will be built and tested in vivo. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The proposed cryotherapy probe has strong commercial potential. Our commercialization strategy is based on licensing the technology developed under this program to an existing vendor of medical equipment.

Thesaurus Terms:
biomedical equipment development, cryosurgery, prostate neoplasm, surgery material /equipment
cryoprotective agent, neoplasm /cancer surgery, reproductive system surgery, thermometry
bioengineering /biomedical engineering

Institution:	CREARE, INC.
	BOX 71, ETNA RD
	HANOVER, NH 03755
Fiscal Year:	2002
Department:
Project Start:	01-MAY-2002
Project End:	30-APR-2004
ICD:	NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
IRG:	ZRG1