SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR DAMAGING CANCEROUS CELLS BY APPLICATION OF ENERGY TO THE ENTIRETY OF THE CANCEROUS CELLS AND THE AREA OF THE BODY IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING THE CANCEROUS CELLS

Abstract

An apparatus for damaging or killing cancer cells in a living human body comprising a temperature monitoring apparatus that allows a user to monitor the temperature of a tumor and the surrounding tissue, such that when the tumor is at a temperature greater than the surrounding tissue, either because that is the nature of the tumor or because the tumor temperature has been raised through the introduction of an organic substance, an energy source may be used to elevate the temperature of the tumor above a critical temperature that damages or kills the tumor, but does not kill the surrounding non-cancerous cells because they start off at a lower temperature and are never allowed to go above the critical temperature that damages or kills those non-cancerous cells.

Claims

1. A controlled heating apparatus for damaging or killing cancerous cells in a living human body, said apparatus being configured for: heating a portion of said living human body surrounding cancerous cells, such that said cancerous cells are damaged or killed, while detecting and monitoring a temperature of said cancerous cells; wherein glucose has been introduced to said portion of said living human body thereby raising said temperature of said cancerous cells more than a temperature of non-cancerous cells; wherein said heating is being carried out by bombardment of radiofrequency energy or ultrasonic energy to heat said cancerous cells containing said glucose to a temperature that is above a critical temperature that damages or kills said cancerous cells while keeping said non-cancerous cells below said critical temperature to avoid damaging or killing said non-cancerous cells.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured for heating of said portion of said human body by directing radio frequency waves into said portion of said human body, wherein specific frequencies of said radio waves are selected based upon a desired level of penetration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said glucose is introduced by injection.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said radio frequency waves comprise radio waves containing a number of different frequencies having a power level at each of the frequencies which provide a depth of penetration of said radio waves into said living human body at each frequency resulting in an even heating of said portion of said human body at a corresponding number of different depths.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic diathermy machine.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microwave diathermy machine.

7. A controlled heating apparatus for damaging or killing cancerous cells in a living human body, said apparatus being configured for: heating a portion of said living human body surrounding cancerous cells, such that said cancerous cells are damaged or killed, while detecting and monitoring a temperature of said cancerous cells; wherein said temperature of said cancerous cells is greater than a temperature of non-cancerous cells; wherein said heating is being carried out by bombardment of radiofrequency energy or ultrasonic energy to heat said cancerous cells to a temperature that is above a critical temperature that damages or kills said cancerous cells while keeping said non-cancerous cells below said critical temperature to avoid damaging or killing said non-cancerous cells.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said apparatus is configured for heating of said portion of said human body by directing radio frequency waves into said portion of said human body, wherein specific frequencies of said radio waves are selected based upon a desired level of penetration.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said radio frequency waves comprise radio waves containing a number of different frequencies having a power level at each of the frequencies which provide a depth of penetration of said radio waves into said living human body at each frequency resulting in an even heating of said portion of said human body at a corresponding number of different depths.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an ultrasonic diathermy machine.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a microwave diathermy machine.

12. A system for damaging or killing cancer cells in a living human body comprising: a temperature monitoring apparatus; and a controlled energy emitting apparatus; wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus is configured to monitor a plurality of temperatures in a human body, wherein said plurality of monitored temperatures comprises a temperature of a cancerous cells region and a temperature of a therapy region; wherein said therapy region comprises said cancerous cells region and a plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region; wherein said controlled energy emitting apparatus is configured to emit an energy that is directed to at least said cancerous cells region; and wherein said energy is configured to be changed in response to monitoring of said plurality of monitored temperatures.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of monitored temperatures further comprise said human body and a potential region of cancer; wherein said potential region of cancer comprises a plurality of tissue of said human body that is approximately adjacent to said cancerous cells region.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus is configured to control said controlled energy emitting apparatus to allow for one or more changes to said energy in response to one or more temperature changes of said plurality of monitored temperatures.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more changes to said energy controlled by said temperature monitoring apparatus are made automatically based on said one or more temperature changes of said plurality of monitored temperatures.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said one or more changes to said energy comprise one or more of: increase, decrease, turn on, and turn off

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus comprises one or more contact sensors.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus comprises one or more contactless sensors.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus comprises one or more advanced imaging technique devices.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said energy is a radiation treatment.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein said energy is a hyperthermy treatment.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein said energy is an electromagnetic wave hyperthermia therapy.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein an organic material is applied to said cancerous cells region.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said organic material is a glucose solution.

25. The system of claim 12, further comprising: at least one remote controller; wherein said at least one remote controller is in communication with said temperature monitoring apparatus and said controlled energy emitting apparatus; and wherein said at least one remote controller is configured to control said controlled energy emitting apparatus to change said energy in response to one or more temperature changes of said plurality of monitored temperatures.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said controlled energy emitting apparatus is configured to emit an energy that is directed to said therapy region.

27. The system of claim 12, wherein monitoring of said plurality of monitored temperatures substantially prevents said temperature of said plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region from rising above 44 C while said temperature of said cancerous cells region is above 44 C.

28. The system of claim 12, wherein said controlled energy emitting apparatus heats said cancerous cells region to a temperature that is above a critical temperature that damages or kills said cancerous cells while keeping a plurality of non-cancerous cells in said plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region below said critical temperature to avoid damaging or killing said non-cancerous cells.

29. A temperature monitoring apparatus comprising: one or more advanced imaging technique devices; and a controller/communication module; wherein said one or more advanced imaging technique devices are configured to monitor a plurality of temperatures in a human body, wherein said plurality of monitored temperatures comprises a temperature of a cancerous cells region and a temperature of a therapy region; wherein said therapy region comprises said cancerous cells region and a plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region; wherein said controller/communication module is configured to control a controlled energy emitting apparatus that is configured to emit an energy that is directed at least said cancerous cells region; and wherein said controller/communication module is configured to make one or more changes to said energy in response to one or more changes in said plurality of monitored temperatures.

30. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 29, wherein said one or more changes to said energy that are made by said controller/communication module of said temperature monitoring apparatus are configured to be done automatically based on said one or more changes in said plurality of monitored temperatures.

31. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 29, wherein said one or more changes to said energy comprise one or more of: increase, decrease, turn on, and turn off

32. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 29, wherein said energy is a radiation treatment.

33. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 29, wherein said energy is a hyperthermy treatment.

34. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 29, wherein said energy is an electromagnetic wave hyperthermia therapy.

35. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 29, wherein an organic material is applied to said cancerous cells.

36. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 35, wherein said organic material is a glucose solution.

37. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 36, further comprising: at least one remote controller; wherein said at least one remote controller is in communication with said temperature monitoring apparatus and said controlled energy emitting apparatus; and wherein said at least one remote controller is also configured to control said controlled energy emitting apparatus to change said energy in response to said one or more changes to said plurality of monitored temperatures.

38. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 29, wherein said controlled energy emitting apparatus is configured to emit said energy at said therapy region.

39. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 38, wherein monitoring of said plurality of monitored temperatures substantially prevents said temperature of said plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region from rising above 44 C while said temperature of said cancerous cells region is above 44 C.

40. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 38, wherein monitoring of said plurality of monitored temperatures substantially prevents said temperature of said plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region from rising above a critical temperature that damages or kills said plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region while said temperature of said cancerous cells region is above said critical temperature that damages or kills a plurality of cancerous cells of said cancerous cells region.

41. A system for damaging or killing cancer cells in a living human body comprising: a temperature monitoring apparatus; a controlled energy emitting apparatus; and at least one remote controller; wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus comprises a controller/communication module; wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus is configured to monitor a plurality of temperatures in a human body, wherein said plurality of monitored temperatures comprises a temperature of a cancerous cells region and a temperature of a therapy region; wherein said therapy region comprises said cancerous cells region and a plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region; wherein said controlled energy emitting apparatus is configured to emit an energy that is directed to at least said cancerous cells region; wherein said controller/communication module and said remote controller are configured to control said controlled energy emitting apparatus; and wherein said controller/communication module and said remote controller are configured to make one or more changes to said energy in response to one or more changes in said plurality of monitored temperatures.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said plurality of monitored temperatures further comprise said human body and a potential region of cancer; wherein said potential region of cancer comprises a plurality of tissue of said human body that is approximately adjacent to said cancerous cells region.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein said one or more changes to said energy are made automatically based on said one or more temperature changes of said plurality of monitored temperatures.

44. The system of claim 414, wherein said one or more changes to said energy comprise one or more of: increase, decrease, turn on, and turn off

45. The system of claim 41, wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus further comprises one or more contact sensors.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus further comprises one or more contactless sensors.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus further comprises one or more advanced imaging technique devices.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein said energy is a radiation treatment.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein said energy is a hyperthermy treatment.

50. The system of claim 41, wherein said energy is an electromagnetic wave hyperthermia therapy.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein an organic material is applied to said cancerous cells region.

52. The system of claim 41, wherein said organic material is a glucose solution.

53. The system of claim 41, wherein said controlled energy emitting apparatus is configured to emit said energy at said therapy region.

54. The system of claim 41, wherein monitoring of said plurality of monitored temperatures substantially prevents said temperature of said plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region from rising above 44 C while said temperature of said cancerous cells region is above 44 C.

55. The temperature monitoring apparatus of claim 41, wherein monitoring of said plurality of monitored temperatures substantially prevents said temperature of said plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region from rising above a critical temperature that damages or kills said plurality of tissue of said human body that approximately surrounds said cancerous cells region while said temperature of said cancerous cells region is above said critical temperature that damages or kills a plurality of cancerous cells of said cancerous cells region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] The drawings show illustrative embodiments, but do not depict all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition to or instead of the illustrative embodiments. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted for the purpose of saving space or for more effective illustrations. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without some or all components or steps provided in the illustrations. When different drawings contain the same numeral, that numeral refers to the same or similar components or steps.

[0076] FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram of one embodiment of the system for damaging cancerous cells by application of energy while monitoring the temperatures of cancerous cells and the surrounding tissue.

[0077] FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram of another embodiment of the system for damaging cancerous cells by application of energy while monitoring the temperatures of cancerous cells and the surrounding tissue.

[0078] FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram of embodiment of the system for damaging cancerous cells by application of energy while monitoring the temperatures of cancerous cells and the surrounding tissue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0079] Before the present device, methods, and systems are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the methods and systems are not limited to specific device and methods, specific components, or to particular implementations. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0080] As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

[0081] “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

[0082] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word “comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intended to exclude, for example, other components, integers or steps. “Exemplary” means “an example of” and is not intended to convey an indication of a preferred or ideal embodiment. “Such as” is not used in a restrictive sense, but for explanatory purposes.

[0083] Disclosed are components that may be used to perform the disclosed methods and systems. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutation of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods and systems. This applies to all embodiments of this application including, but not limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that may be performed it is understood that each of these additional steps may be performed with any specific embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosed methods.

[0084] The present methods and systems may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the examples included therein and to the Figures and their previous and following description.

[0085] In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments. For purposes of the specification, unless otherwise specified, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, in one embodiment, an object that is “substantially” located within a housing would mean that the object is either completely within a housing or nearly completely within a housing. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is also equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.

[0086] As used herein, the terms “approximately” and “about” generally refer to a deviance of within 5% of the indicated number or range of numbers. In one embodiment, the term “approximately” and “about”, may refer to a deviance of between 0.001-40% from the indicated number or range of numbers.

[0087] As used herein, “ul” refers to microliter, “ml” refers to milliliter, and “ng” refers to nanogram.

[0088] Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. It may be evident, however, that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate describing these embodiments.

[0089] Various embodiments presented in terms of systems may comprise a number of components, modules, and the like. It is to be understood and appreciated that the various systems may include additional components, modules, etc. and/or may not include all of the components, modules, etc. discussed in connection with the figures. A combination of these approaches may also be used.

[0090] The temperature monitoring, which includes taking temperature measurements, may be accomplished by probes, sensors, or advanced imaging techniques. The temperature monitoring of the tumor and surrounding tissue may preferably be done in real time during a heat treatment via the probes, sensors, and/or advanced imaging techniques.

[0091] Generally, temperature sensors measure the amount of heat or energy that is generated by an object or system, allowing observers to detect any change to that temperature by producing either an analogue or digital output. There are many different types of temperature sensors that may be used. Various temperature sensors may have different characteristics depending upon their structure and application. The two basic temperature sensor types are contact and contactless. A contact temperature sensor requires physical contact with the object being sensed and they generally may use conduction to monitor changes in temperature. Non-contact temperature sensors may use convection and/or radiation to monitor changes in temperature. Contact temperature sensors may include temperature probes.

[0092] Generally, there are three groups of temperature sensors, electro-mechanical (such as a thermostat, bimetallic thermostat), resistive (thermistor, resistive temperature detector), and electronic (thermocouple). Other types and groups of sensors may comprise semiconductor junction sensors, infra-red and thermal radiation sensors, medical type thermometers, indicators and color changing inks or dyes. The temperature monitor of the present disclosure may use any type or group of temperature sensors.

[0093] Because tumors may be at a temperature that is elevated with respect to the surrounding non-cancerous tissue, if the tumor and the surrounding tissue are heated up, the tumor which is already hotter, will rise to a higher temperature than the surrounding non-cancerous tissue. Eventually, the tumor will be heated high enough to kill the tumor/cancerous cells, but the surrounding non-cancerous tissue will not be heated high enough to be killed.

[0094] FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram of one embodiment of the system for damaging cancerous cells by application of energy while monitoring the temperatures of cancerous cells and the surrounding tissue. As shown in FIG. 1, the system may comprise a temperature monitor apparatus 106, remote electronic data processing unit controller 150 (remote controller), and a controlled energy emitting apparatus 101. The controlled energy emitting apparatus may be controlled by temperature monitor apparatus 106 or the remote controller 150. The controlled energy emitting apparatus may apply energy to the entirety of the cancer cells 105 so that the cancer cells 105 are damaged or killed, but the surrounding tissue in the human body 102, 103 is not damaged or killed. As shown in FIG. 1, a human body 102 may have or is suspected of having cancer cells within an area 105. The cancerous area 105 may be within a region 104 identified as a potential region of cancer. A therapy region 103, which may surround regions 104, 105, may have energy 107 applied to it.

[0095] In one embodiment, the energy 107 can be a form of radiation, hyperthermy, or electromagnetic wave treatment, such as radionuclide therapy, proton therapy, laser therapy, light, heat, x-ray therapy, magnetic resonance thermography, infrared thermography, radionuclide therapy, proton therapy, hyperthermy, and/or electromagnetic wave therapy.

[0096] FIG. 1 shows that the temperature monitor apparatus 106 may comprise contact temperature sensors (such as probes) 110, contactless temperature sensors 112, advanced imaging technique devices 114, and controller/communication module 116. The temperature monitor apparatus 106 may be configured to monitor the temperatures of one, more, or, as preferred all of, the body 102, the therapy region 103, the potential region of cancerous cells 104, and cancerous cells 105. The monitoring of the temperature 108a of the body 102 may be done via contact temperature sensors 110, contactless temperature sensors 112, and or advanced imaging technique devices 114. The monitoring of the temperature 108b of the therapy region 103 may be done via contact temperature sensors 110, contactless temperature sensors 112, and or advanced imaging technique devices 114. The monitoring of the temperature 108c of the potential region of cancer 104 may be done via contact temperature sensors 110, contactless temperature sensors 112, and or advanced imaging technique devices 114. The monitoring of the temperature 108d of the cancerous cells 105 may be done via contact temperature sensors 110, contactless temperature sensors 112, and or advanced imaging technique devices 114.

[0097] The controller/communication module 116 may be configured to allow the temperature monitor apparatus 106 to dynamical monitor/measure the temperatures 108a-d, record the temperatures, and display the temperatures to a user. The displaying of the temperatures 108a-d may be one via a display that is part of the controller/communication module 116, or by communicating the temperatures 108a-d to a remote device, such as remote controller 150, which itself may be a smart phone. In addition to monitoring temperatures 108a-d, the controller/communication module 116 may also communicate with an electronic data processing unit, and/or the controlled energy emitting apparatus 101. In various embodiments, either or both of the electronic data processing unit and the temperature monitor apparatus 106 may use the monitored temperature data to control the delivery of energy 107 from the controlled energy emitting apparatus 101 to the regions 103, 104, 105. The energy 107 may be turned off, turned on, turned up, turned down, or the type of energy delivered by be changed (radiation v. radiant heat, for example). This allows the system to keep the temperature of the tissue surrounding the cancerous cells from experiencing cellular death, even though the tumor is killed via the monitoring of the temperatures 108a-d, the temperatures of regions 102 and 103 may be kept under 44° C. (111° F.).

[0098] The monitoring allows this to happen even though the temperature of regions 105 and 104 may exceed 44° C. (111° F.), which causes death to the tumor cells. In some embodiments it may be that the tumor might have a critical temperature that damages or kills them that is below 44 C. If that is the case, then the temperature of the tumor may be raised until that critical temperature is reached. The monitoring ensures that the surrounding tissue is kept at a lower temperature than the tumor and does not go above the critical temperature that damages or kills those non-cancerous cells of the surrounding tissue. In some cases, the tumor might have a critical temperature that damages or kills them that is above 45 C. If that is the case, then the temperature of the tumor may be raised until that critical temperature is reached. The monitoring ensures that the surrounding tissue is kept at a lower temperature than the tumor and does not go above the critical temperature that damages or kills those non-cancerous cells of the surrounding tissue, which may be 44C, higher, or lower.

[0099] Remote controller 150 may be a dedicated piece of hardware or may be a computer, such as a laptop or smartphone, that is running specific software that allows it to communicate with the temperature monitor apparatus 106 and/or controlled energy emitting apparatus 101. The remote controller 150 may also be a server or otherwise cloud based. The remote controller 150 may have a display and user interface (touch screen, mouse, keyboard, and the like) that allows a user to monitor the temperatures 108a-d and then control or modify the energy 107 in order to kill the cells in regions 104, 105, but not kill the cells in regions 102, 103. In some embodiments the temperature monitor apparatus 106 and/or the remote controller 150 may have a program that automatically adjusts the energy 107 in response to the monitored temperatures 108a-d.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 1, the controlled energy emitting apparatus 101 may have communication module 122, which allows it to communicate with, and/or be controlled by, apparatus 106 and remote controller 150. The controlled energy emitting apparatus 101 may have a hyperthermy emitter 124 and/or radiation emitter 126 for providing energy 107 to a therapy region 103. The controlled energy emitting apparatus 101 may have power source 128, which may be substantially any source of power, including a battery.

[0101] The devices of the system may be in wired or wireless communication.

[0102] FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram of another embodiment of the system for damaging cancerous cells by application of energy while monitoring the temperatures of cancerous cells and the surrounding tissue. FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram of another embodiment of the present disclosure in which the temperature monitor apparatus 106 and the remote controller 150 are the same as shown and described in FIG. 1, but they are in communication with a controlled electromagnetic wave source 201, which may be configured to bombard the cancerous cells 105 (and/or regions 103 and 104) with energy via electromagnetic waves 207 so that the cancer cells 105 are damaged or killed, but the surrounding living tissue 102, 103 is not damaged or killed. This heating of the temperature 108c via electromagnetic waves 207 of the potential region 104 of cancerous cells above a normal body temperature raises the temperature of the cancerous cells 105 to a temperature 108d at which the tumor 105 are damaged or killed. The temperature monitor apparatus 106 operates to monitor and or measure variations in the temperatures 108a-d of the human body 102, the heated region 103, the potential region of cancer 104, and the cancer cells 105. The temperature monitor apparatus 106 then provides variational feedback to the controlled electromagnetic wave source 201, allowing the controlled electromagnetic wave source 201 to target the cancerous cells 105 more efficiently. The depth of penetration 210 of the electromagnetic waves 207 may be adjusted by selecting a frequency, via the frequency settings 224 for the electromagnetic waves 207 produced by electromagnetic source 201.

[0103] In another embodiment, the controlled electromagnetic wave source 201 emits electromagnetic waves 207 from emitter 226 at a plurality of selected frequencies 224, thus causing the cancerous cells 105 to be heated by waves 207 to a temperature (typically over 111 C) that causes destruction or damage to at least a portion of the cancerous cells 105. The frequencies of the plurality of frequencies 224 are optionally selected based upon prior predetermined measurements and studies carried out in a conventional manner to determine a predicted level or depth of penetration 210 into living tissue, and then selecting one or more of a plurality of frequencies to achieve maximum heating in the area or at the depth of penetration 210 known to contain the cancerous cells 105.

[0104] The controlled electromagnetic wave source 201 may have a communications module 222 and power source 228, which may be substantially similar to the communications module 122 and power source 128.

[0105] FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram of embodiment of the system for damaging cancerous cells by application of energy while monitoring the temperatures of cancerous cells and the surrounding tissue. FIG. 3 is essentially identical to FIG. 1, but shows the addition of the optional element of an infusion (or injection) of an organic agent 301, such as glucose, or any other organic agent that induces exothermic heating of cancerous cells. The organic agent 301 application may act as a temperature biasing component, causing an increase in the temperature of the cancerous cells 105 as a result of hyperactive metabolism of certain organic agents in cancerous tissues. This in turn allows the temperature monitor apparatus 106 to more precisely locate the cancer cells 105 for the controlled energy emitting apparatus 101. Organic agents can also be used with electromagnetic wave. Because the temperature of the cancer cells 105 has increased relative to the surrounding human body tissue 102, the cancer cells 105 are more easily perceptible to the temperature monitor apparatus 106 and are more susceptible to the applied energy 107 from the controlled energy emitting apparatus 106.

[0106] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description. These embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of protection. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more embodiments may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment shall not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection. It is intended that the scope of protection not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.

[0107] Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent, to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.

[0108] The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0109] Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; the number or type of embodiments described in the specification.

[0110] It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope or spirit. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.