Brachytherapy system for dispensing medication
First Claim
1. A method of performing a brachytherapy procedure, comprising:
- inserting a brachytherapy needle to a desired location in a patient along an insertion path extending from a proximal initial insertion point to a distal needle endpoint;
dispensing at least one radiation source from the brachytherapy needle to a location in the insertion path; and
dispensing medication from the brachytherapy needle to a location in the insertion path before the brachytherapy needle is removed from the insertion path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery system for interstitial radiation therapy that uses a brachytherapy needle assembly for simultaneously dispensing an effective amount of medicine, such as anti-inflammatory agents, along with radioactive seeds. Medicine can be stored in and dispensed from a reservoir attached to a needle hub or to a stylet handle or it can be injected into the needle via a three-way fitting. Alternatively, medication can be added directly to the needle cannula. Additionally, the brachytherapy needle or the radioactive seeds and spacers can be coated with medication that would be absorbed by the body upon implantation.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of performing a brachytherapy procedure, comprising:
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inserting a brachytherapy needle to a desired location in a patient along an insertion path extending from a proximal initial insertion point to a distal needle endpoint;
dispensing at least one radiation source from the brachytherapy needle to a location in the insertion path; and
dispensing medication from the brachytherapy needle to a location in the insertion path before the brachytherapy needle is removed from the insertion path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A brachytherapy system, comprising:
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a brachytherapy needle having a cannula with a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen defined by an inner wall surface, the lumen sized to receive radiation sources and implant those sources at a desired location within a patient; and
a medication dispensing structure, comprising a reservoir constructed to store liquid medication in fluid communication with the lumen;
whereby the system is constructed and arranged to dispense both medication and radiation sources to the same location in the patient, through the lumen, without removing the needle from the patient. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification