Remote temperature monitoring apparatus and technique

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention seeks to provide a relatively low cost, easy to use, wireless thermometry system which is useful, inter alia, in clinical hyperthermia.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a thermometry system comprising an implantable element having temperature dependent NMR properties, apparatus for applying an RF (radio frequency) electromagnetic field to the implantable element, and apparatus for sensing the temperature dependent NMR response of the implantable element and for providing an output indication of temperature of the implantable element.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a technique for in vivo temperature measurement of tissue comprising the steps of: implanting in living tissue an element having temperature dependendent NMR properties, applying an RF field to the element; sensing the temperature dependent NMR response of the element; and providing an output indication of temperature of the implantable element.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a clinical hyperthermia system comprising apparatus for selectably heating tissue in vivo, apparatus for monitoring the temperature of the tissue including at least one implantable element having temperature dependent NMR properties, apparatus for applying an RF field to the implantable element, and apparatus for sensing the temperature dependent NMR response of the implantable element and for providing an output indication of temperature of the implantable element.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a technique for localized heating of living tissue comprising the steps of: implanting in living tissue at least one element having temperature dependent NMR properties, selectably heating living tissue; applying an RF field to the element; sensing the temperature dependent NMR response of the element; and providing an output indication of temperature of the implantable element