Brachytherapy needle with impedance measurement apparatus and methods of use
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for depositing radioactive seeds into a patient'"'"'s prostate in the vicinity of a patient'"'"'s bladder, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongated needle having first and second conductive traces, proximal and distal ends, and a lumen extending therebetween, the lumen adapted to accept a column of radioactive seeds and spacers, each of the first and second conductive traces having a tip region disposed at the distal end; and
circuitry coupled to the tip regions of the first and second conductive traces for detecting whether the distal end of the elongated needle projects into the patient'"'"'s bladder.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for depositing radioactive seeds into a patient'"'"'s prostate are provided that include impedance measuring circuitry for detecting whether the distal end of an elongated needle extends into a patient'"'"'s bladder. The elongated needle includes two conductive traces and a lumen adapted to receive a column of radioactive seeds and spacers. The impedance measuring circuitry is coupled to the conductive traces of the elongated needle and provides a display indicative of the monitored impedance.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for depositing radioactive seeds into a patient'"'"'s prostate in the vicinity of a patient'"'"'s bladder, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated needle having first and second conductive traces, proximal and distal ends, and a lumen extending therebetween, the lumen adapted to accept a column of radioactive seeds and spacers, each of the first and second conductive traces having a tip region disposed at the distal end; and
circuitry coupled to the tip regions of the first and second conductive traces for detecting whether the distal end of the elongated needle projects into the patient'"'"'s bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for depositing radioactive seeds into a patient'"'"'s prostate in the vicinity of the patient'"'"'s bladder, the method comprising:
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providing a device comprising a needle having proximal and distal ends, and a lumen extending therebetween and adapted to accept a column of radioactive seeds and spacers, and means for detecting whether the distal end of the needle projects into the patient'"'"'s bladder;
inserting the needle through the patient'"'"'s prostate until the means for detecting indicates that the distal end is disposed in the bladder;
withdrawing the needle proximally until the means for detecting indicates that the distal end is no longer disposed in the bladder; and
operating the needle to deposit the column of radioactive seeds and spacers into the patient'"'"'s prostate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for treating prostate cancer comprising:
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providing a needle having a lumen, proximal and distal ends, first and second conductive traces, and means for detecting a tissue boundary coupled to the first and second conductive traces;
inserting the needle into a patient'"'"'s prostate;
measuring an impedance of tissue disposed between the first and second conductive traces using the means for detecting a tissue boundary;
monitoring the impedance measured by the means for detecting a tissue boundary to determine when the distal end penetrates a boundary between the patient'"'"'s prostate and an adjacent mucosa of the patient; and
withdrawing the needle from the mucosa so that the distal end is disposed fully within the patient'"'"'s prostate.
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17. Apparatus for treating prostate cancer, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated needle having a lumen, proximal and distal ends, first and second conductive traces; and
means for detecting a tissue boundary coupled to the first and second conductive traces. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification