Positioning needle guide for brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease and methods of use

• US 20030139642A1
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neose Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neose Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hogendijk, Michael, Boucher, Ryan P.
• Application Number:
  US10/273,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139642A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3411 with a plurality of holes, e.g. holes in matrix arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/166 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1012 Templates or grids for guiding the introduction of sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for improved brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease. The apparatus provides for angular reorientation of a needle template with respect to an ultrasound probe during brachytherapy administration. Angular reorientation is expected to beneficially overcome anatomical constraints, such as skeletal structures, that may limit a medical practitioner'"'"'s ability to deliver radioactive brachytherapy seeds into a prostate in proper alignment.

Claims

1. Apparatus for improved positional control during administration of brachytherapy, the apparatus comprising:

a needle guide body having a needle guide channel sized to slidably receive a standard brachytherapy needle;

a support for securing the needle guide body to a brachytherapy apparatus; and

means for disposing the needle guide body at a selected angular and positional orientation relative to the brachytherapy apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the needle guide body comprises a socket configured to allow angular reorientation of the needle guide channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support further comprises means for vertically repositioning the needle guide channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support further comprises means for horizontally repositioning the needle guide channel.

5. Apparatus for improved positional control during administration of brachytherapy, the apparatus comprising:

a needle guide body having a plurality of needle guide channels, each one of the needle guide channels sized to slidably receive a standard brachytherapy needle; and

a support for securing the needle guide body to a brachytherapy apparatus, wherein the needle guide body is configured for angular and positional orientation relative to the brachytherapy apparatus having an ultrasound probe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plurality of needle guide channels are oriented substantially normal to proximal and distal surfaces of the needle guide body.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the needle guide body.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of needle guide channels are arranged in an orthogonal grid array.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the needle guide body is composed of a malleable material.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the needle guide body further comprises a plurality of sections coupled together with hinges.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the brachytherapy apparatus further comprises slots adapted to slidably receive the needle guide body.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the needle guide body is selectively positionable within the slots to angularly reorient the needle guide body with respect to the ultrasound probe.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the needle guide body is rotatably affixed to the brachytherapy apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein proximal and distal surfaces of the needle guide body are repositionable with respect to each other while remaining substantially parallel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the needle guide channels further comprise means for rotating the proximal and distal surfaces relative to the plurality of needle guide channels.

16. A method for administering brachytherapy, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising an ultrasound probe, a frame rigidly disposed in relation to the ultrasound probe, a needle guide body comprising at least one needle guide channel, the needle guide body affixed to the frame such that the needle guide channel may be angularly orientated with respect to the probe;

longitudinally positioning the ultrasound probe through the patient'"'"'s rectum to facilitate imaging of the patient'"'"'s prostrate and reference plane; and

angularly orienting the needle guide channel at a desired angle in real-time with respect to the ultrasound probe.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising guiding the sharpened distal tip of a needle containing brachytherapy seeds through the needle template and into a target location within the patient'"'"'s prostate until it is aligned with the reference plane.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising retracting the needle in a manner that delivers the brachytherapy seeds into the prostate.