Delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy

• US 20060069298A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theragenics Corporation (Juniper Investment Co. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Worldwide Medical Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Terwilliger, Richard A., Lamoureux, Gary A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1023 Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1024 Seeds
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/03 characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/151 Coating hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/157 Coating linked inserts, e.g. chains
• CPC Class Codes: G21G 4/08 specially adapted for medical application radiation therapy using radioactive sources A61N5/10

Abstract

A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy comprising a substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated member made of material, which is bio-absorbable in living tissue and a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed in a predetermined array within the member. The delivery system and method further customize the member based on a prescription.

Claims

1. A therapeutic kit for interstitial radiation therepy, comprising:

a plurality of compression molded elongated treatment strands adapted to be loaded into needles that are used to implant the strands into patient tissue;

a plurality of radioactive seeds encapsulated within each said compression molded elongated treatment strand; and

custom spacings, according to a treatment plan, provided between pairs of seeds in each said compression molded elongated treatment strand,

wherein said custom spacings cause said seeds located within each said compression molded elongated treatment strand to be spaced, according to the treatment plan, when said plurality of compression molded elongated treatment strands are implanted into patient tissue;

wherein at least two said custom spacings within one said compression molded elongated treatment strand have different lengths than one another; and

wherein at least one said custom spacing within one said compression molded elongated treatment strand differs in length from at least one said custom spacing in a second said compression molded elongated treatment strand.

2. The therapeutic kit of claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of compression molded elongated treatment strands have sufficient column strength along their longitudinal axis so that said strands can be urged out of needles during implantation without said strands folding upon themselves; and

said plurality of compression molded elongated treatment strands have sufficient radial flexibility such that said strands can flex following implantation, thereby enabling said strands to maintain implanted location accuracy as patient tissue swells and shrinks.

3. The therapeutic kit of claim 2, wherein the compression molded elongated treatment strands comprise a compression molded bio-absorbable polymeric material.

4. The therapeutic kit of claim 3, wherein the custom spacings are provided without the use of spacers.

5. The therapeutic kit of claim 3, wherein the custom spacings are not limited to any predefined lengths.

6. The therapeutic kit of claim 3, wherein the custom spacings are not limited to pre-defined locations fixed by a mold.

7. A therapeutic kit for interstitial radiation therepy, comprising:

a plurality of molded elongated treatment strands adapted to be loaded into needles that are used to implant the strands into patient tissue;

a plurality of radioactive seeds encapsulated within each said molded elongated treatment strand; and

custom spacings, according to a treatment plan, provided between pairs of seeds in each said molded elongated treatment strand,

wherein said custom spacings cause said seeds located within each said molded elongated treatment strand to be spaced, according to the treatment plan, when said plurality of molded elongated treatment strands are implanted into patient tissue;

wherein at least two said custom spacings within one said molded elongated treatment strand have different lengths than one another; and

wherein at least one said custom spacing within one said molded elongated treatment strand differs in length from at least one said custom spacing in a second said molded elongated treatment strand.

8. The therapeutic kit of claim 7, wherein:

said plurality of molded elongated treatment strands have sufficient column strength along their longitudinal axis so that said strands can be urged out of needles during implantation without said strands folding upon themselves; and

said plurality of molded elongated treatment strands have sufficient radial flexibility such that said strands can flex following implantation, thereby enabling said strands to maintain implanted location accuracy as patient tissue swells and shrinks.

9. The therapeutic kit of claim 8, wherein the molded elongated treatment strands comprise a molded bio-absorbable polymeric material.

10. The therapeutic kit of claim 9, wherein the custom spacings are provided without the use of spacers.

11. The therapeutic kit of claim 9, wherein the custom spacings are not limited to any predefined lengths.

12. The therapeutic kit of claim 9, wherein the custom spacings are not limited to pre-defined locations fixed by a mold.

13. A therapeutic kit for interstitial radiation therepy, comprising:

a plurality of molded elongated monofilament treatment strands adapted to be loaded into needles that are used to implant the strands into patient tissue;

a plurality of radioactive seeds encapsulated within each said molded elongated monofilament treatment strand; and

custom spacings, according to a treatment plan, provided between pairs of seeds in each said molded elongated monofilament treatment strand,

wherein said custom spacings cause said seeds located within each said molded elongated monofilament treatment strand to be spaced, according to the treatment plan, when said plurality of molded elongated monofilament treatment strands are implanted into patient tissue;

wherein at least two said custom spacings within one said molded elongated monofilament treatment strand have different lengths than one another; and

wherein at least one said custom spacing within one said molded elongated monofilament treatment strand differs in length from at least one said custom spacing in a second said molded elongated monofilament treatment strand.

14. The therapeutic kit of claim 13, wherein:

said plurality of molded elongated monofilament treatment strands have sufficient column strength along their longitudinal axis so that said strands can be urged out of needles during implantation without said strands folding upon themselves; and

said plurality of molded elongated monofilament treatment strands have sufficient radial flexibility such that said strands can flex following implantation, thereby enabling said strands to maintain implanted location accuracy as patient tissue swells and shrinks.

15. The therapeutic kit of claim 14, wherein the molded elongated monofilament treatment strands comprise a molded bio-absorbable polymeric material.

16. The therapeutic kit of claim 15, wherein the custom spacings are provided without the use of spacers.

17. The therapeutic kit of claim 15, wherein the custom spacings are not limited to any predefined lengths.

18. The therapeutic kit of claim 15, wherein the custom spacings are not limited to pre-defined locations fixed by a mold.