IMPROVED DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERSTITIAL RADIOTHERAPY USING HOLLOW SEEDS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A therapeutic element comprising:
- radioactive seed elements;
said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape with a bore;
an elongate member;
said elongate member being inserted inside said bore of said radioactive seed elements and the member is heated in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy uses a seed strand composed of a plurality of tubular shaped, hollow radioactive seeds with a bore. The seed strand as assembled with a material provided in the bore and between the spaced seeds is axially stiff and radially flexible and is bioabsorbable in living tissue.
31 Citations
80 Claims
-
1. A therapeutic element comprising:
-
radioactive seed elements;
said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape with a bore;
an elongate member;
said elongate member being inserted inside said bore of said radioactive seed elements and the member is heated in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 34)
-
-
20. A therapeutic element comprising:
-
radioactive seed elements that are tubular in shape with a bore;
an elongate member comprised of a polymer;
said elongate member being inserted inside said bore of said tubular radioactive seed elements and the member is heated to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 68, 69)
-
-
36. A therapeutic element comprising:
-
radioactive seed elements;
said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape;
an elongate member;
said elongate solid member being inserted inside said radioactive seed elements;
and said radioactive seed elements dispersed along said elongate member, and the member is heated in order to cause the seed element to be captured at intervals, wherein the seed elements and member so assembled are axially rigid and radially flexible.
-
-
37. A method for making a therapeutic element comprising:
-
using radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape with a hollow bore;
inserting an elongate member into said hollow bore of said radioactive seed elements; and
heating said elongate member to capture said radioactive seed elements at intervals.
-
-
38. A method for making a therapeutic element including the steps of:
-
using radioactive seed elements that are tubular in shape with a hollow bore;
flowing a material through the bores and between the radioactive seed elements to assemble the radioactive seed elements together at desired intervals; and
allowing the material to cool.
-
-
39. A therapeutic element comprising:
-
radioactive seed elements;
said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape with a bore;
an elongate member;
said elongate member being inserted inside said bore of said radioactive seed elements and the member is crimped in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals, where at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 71)
-
-
57. A therapeutic element comprising:
-
radioactive seed elements that are tubular in shape with a bore;
an elongate member comprised of a polymer;
said elongate member being inserted inside said bore of said tubular radioactive seed elements and the member is crimped to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals, where at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, 72)
-
-
73. A therapeutic element comprising:
-
radioactive seed elements;
said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape;
an elongate member;
said elongate solid member being inserted inside said radioactive seed elements and said radioactive seed elements dispersed along said elongate member, and the member is crimped in order to cause the seed element to be captured at intervals, wherein the seed elements and member so assembled are axially rigid and radially flexible, and wherein at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length.
-
-
74. A method for making a therapeutic element comprising:
-
using radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape with a hollow bore;
inserting an elongate member into said hollow bore of said radioactive seed elements; and
crimping said elongate member to capture said radioactive seed elements at intervals, wherein at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length.
-
-
75. A prescription method of treating tissue comprising the steps of:
-
first accepting a tissue treatment plan for the tissue to be treated, which treatment plan specifies a number and spacing of treatment seeds to be provided in a strand;
second creating a treatment strand by threading treatment seeds onto a material; and
third fixing the seeds at intervals on the material, wherein at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
-
Specification