Device and method for loading hollow implantation needles with chains of radiation sources for interstitial brachytherapy of tissue

• US 20040111004A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eckert & Ziegler Bebig GmbH (Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG)
• Original Assignee: Eurotope Enwicklungsgesellschaft Fur Isotopentenchnologien mbH
• Inventors: Loffler, Edgar, Mondry, Gunther, Muller, Andrcas, Bornschein, Florian
• Granted Patent: US 7,118,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1009 Apparatus for loading seeds into magazines or needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1011 Apparatus for permanent insertion of sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1023 Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for loading hollow implantation needles with radiation sources made of radiation source chains, and a radiation source chain for interstitial brachytherapy of tissue.

It is the object of the invention to develop a device and a method for packing and feeding of radiation sources made of radiation source chains as well as a radiation source chain for interstitial brachytherapy of tissue, whereby a precisely metered quantity of connected radiation sources (seeds) that has been predefined for implantation, and optionally of spacers, can be inserted without remnants into hollow needles located inside or all designed of tissue to be treated, by simple and reliable manipulation without manual intervention. The design safely guides the contiguous seeds through hollow needles with low-friction, reduces the risk of a malfunction and allows optimal cleaning and/or sterilization, while also reliably protecting the surroundings from radiation. The problem is solved, among others, by a device which has at least one supported, drivable cylindrical magazine (10) for winding the radiation source chain (1), at least one drive system for transporting the radiation source chain (1) from the magazine (10) into a guide system (12) and feeding the radiation source chain (1) into the tip of a hollow needle (19) coupled to the guide system (12). Also provided are a device (8) for separating/cutting the radiation source chain (1) at a defined location as well as a control device for preventing damage to the sheath of the radiation sources (seeds). All essential components of the device are surrounded by a radiation-absorbing housing.

Claims

1. Device for loading of hollow implantation needles with radiation sources from radiation source chains for interstitial brachytherapy of tissue,

characterized in that there is provided

at least one supported, drivable magazine (10) for winding the radiation source chain (1),

at least one drive system for transporting the radiation source chain (1) from the magazine (10) into a guide system (12) for feeding the radiation source chain (1) to the tip of a hollow needle (19) coupled to the guide system (12),

and a device (8) for separating the radiation source chain (1) at a defined location as well as

a control device for preventing damage to the sheath of the radiation sources (seeds), wherein all essential components of the device are enclosed by a radiation-absorbing housing:

2. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the drive system for transporting the radiation source chain (1) comprises at least one roller, which contacts the radiation source chain (1) and transports the same by friction without slippage from the magazine (10) into the guide system (12).

3. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the drive system for transporting the radiation source chain (1) comprises at least one gear wheel or a toothed rod, which contacts the radiation source chain (1) and by engagement of the teeth with the sheath of the radiation source chain (1) transports the radiation source chain without slippage from the magazine (10) into the drive system (12).

4. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the device (8) for separating the radiation source chain (1) cuts a preset length representing a portion of the unwound radiation source chain (1) (partial chain) at a defined location

5. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the control device comprises a window which may also be viewed via a mirror, through which the user can identify and thereby also control the location of the seeds and spacers.

6. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the control device comprises opto-electronic sensors for determining the position of the seeds and/or the spacers in the radiation source chain (1) and of the cutting location between the individual seeds of the radiation source chain (1) without damaging the sheath of the seeds.

7. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the control device comprises radiation detectors for determining the position of the seeds in the radiation source chain (1).

8. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the function of the control device is independent of the function of the drive system.

9. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the control device comprises means for disabling the cutting operation, which enables the cutting operation only after the correct position of the radiation source chain (1) under the cutting device has been determined.

10. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

an additional drivable push and/or guide element (20) is provided in conjunction with an additional guide element (21), which depending on the application merges with the guide system (12) before or after the cutting device through a switch.

11. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

an additional magazine (11) is provided with a drivable push and/or guide element (20) that is wound onto the additional magazine (11).

12. Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the magazine (10) for the radiation source chain (1) is formed by a cylinder with a groove (22), with the depth of the groove (22) matching the outside diameter of the radiation source chain (1), wherein the groove (22) is in the form of a spiral disposed on the surface of the cylinder.

13. Device according to claims 1 to 10,

characterized in that

in addition to the magazine drive (13) at least one additional drive (14) is provided for additional movement of the radiation source chain (1).

14. Device according to claims 1 to 14,

characterized in that

the cutting device (8) is formed of a metal disk (28) that performs an eccentric circular motion, such that the bio-resorbable spacer (3) of the radiation source chain (1) is reliably cut in the center without damaging the metal sheath of the seeds (2).

15. Device according to claims 1 to 14,

characterized in that

the cutting device (8) is formed by a knife-like or scissor-like element with a linear cutting motion.

16. Device according to claims 1 to 14,

characterized in that

a thermal cutting action is provided.

17. Device according to claims 1 to 16,

characterized in that

the guide system (12) has on the side of the guide facing the needle an adapter (17) for connection to a hollow implantation needle (19), wherein the exit of the guide system (12) is secured by the adapter (17) in such a way that the interior of the guide passageways is opened and the components of the radiation source chain (1) can reach the needle channel only when a hollow needle (19) is connected.

18. Device according to claims 1 to 17,

characterized in that

a modular construction is provided so that components which are subject to biological contamination when used directly on a patient can be easily removed and/or cleaned/sterilized, as the section of the guide system oriented towards the hollow needle and.

19. Device according to claim 18,

characterized in that

a cutting system is provided before the switch and the separated partial section of the radiation source chain is transported past the switch to the needle by an additional drive located between the cutting system and the switch.

20. Device according to claim 18,

characterized in that

a cutting system that faces the needle is provided following the switch of the guide system, wherein the further advance of the partial chain into the hollow needle is effected from here on by the additional push and/or guide element (20).

21. Device according to claim 18,

characterized in that

the cutting device according to claim 18 also cuts the push and/or guide element and thereby makes it possible to remove the section of the push and/or guide element which can be biologically contaminated.

22. Method for packing and introducing radiation sources (seeds) into a tissue, wherein a defined quantity of radiation sources is introduced into a radiation source chain with spacers and fed to a hollow implantation needle for implantation into the tissue,

characterized in that

a device (8, 9) for feeding and cutting of radiation source chains (1) from a magazine (10) is coupled to the hollow needle (19), wherein the radiation source chain according to the desired number of seeds is withdrawn from the magazine (10) and fed to the cutting device (8), where the radiation source chain is cut and introduced into the hollow needle as a defined partial chain.

23. Method according to claim 22,

characterized in that

the motion of the radiation source chain (1) is controlled so that the radiation source chain (1) is positioned at the previously defined location relative to the cutting device.

24. Method according to claim 22,

characterized in that

the radiation source chain (1) is advanced in a sequence of discrete steps up to their previously defined cutting location.

25. Method according to claim 22,

characterized in that

components, such as a sensor and/or detector (29), are employed for monitoring and adjusting the cutting location, which only enable the cutting process after the predetermined cutting location has been reached and no seeds are located in the cutting region.

26. Method according to claim 22,

characterized in that

the cutting device is disabled until the cutting process is released.

27. Method according to claims 22 to 26,

characterized in that

a push and/or guide element (20) is controlled from a magazine (11) via at least one drive (15) so that the element (20) reaches an inlet (16) to the hollow needle (19) only after the packaged partial chain (2).

28. Method according to claims 22 to 27,

characterized in that

the packaged length, as determined by the number of seeds contained therein, is preselected and the depth of the advance of the push/guide element is determined therefrom when the partial chain is inserted into the hollow needle.

29. Radiation source chain (1) comprising radiation sources (2) and bio-resorbable spacers (3) in an alternating arrangement, held together by a likewise bio-resorbable sheath (4),

characterized in that the spacers (3) have a particular shape and that the sheath of the chain (1) is differently colored or marked at the respective positions of radiation sources (2) and spacers (3), so that the position of the spacers (3) within the chain (1) can be unambiguously identified optically.

30. The radiation source chain according to claim 29,

characterized in that

the spacers (3) are essentially cylindrical and have a diameter which is equal to at most the diameter of the employed radiation sources (2), with the length of the spacers (3) guaranteeing that the distance between the radiation sources (2) corresponds to the therapeutic standard.

31. The radiation source chain according to claim 29,

characterized in that

the spacers (3) are provided with a throat, i.e., have at their center a smaller diameter than at their ends.

32. The radiation source chain according to claim 31,

characterized in that

the spacers (3) have a conical shape from their ends towards their center.

33. The radiation source chain according to claim 29,

characterized in that

the spacers (3) have a tubular shape.