Delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy using custom end spacing
First Claim
1. A method to create a plurality of pre-loaded needle assemblies, comprising:
- accepting a tissue treatment plan for the tissue to be treated; and
loading each of a plurality of needles with seeds separated from one another according to the treatment plan, each needle including a sharpened distal end intended to inserted into a patient;
wherein at least two of the plurality of needles are each loaded with a custom distal end spacer between the sharpened distal end of the needle and the treatment seed closest thereto, to thereby enable the treatment plan to be satisfied when the distal ends of the custom distal end spacers are implanted to the same depth using the needles implanted to the same depth; and
wherein the custom distal end spacers loaded in at least two of the needles have different lengths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy comprising a strand made of material, which is bio-absorbable in living tissue and a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed in a predetermined array within the strand. The strands can have custom end spacings, which allow the optimal placing of seeds within the treatment tissue by implanting a plurality of strands to the same depth. A plurality of these strands can be implanted at the same time by the use of a guiding device. In certain embodiments, a custom end spacing within a needle is not attached to the strand in the needle. In certain embodiments, the custom end spacing, seeds and spacers within a needle are loose, i.e., not part of a strand.
97 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method to create a plurality of pre-loaded needle assemblies, comprising:
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accepting a tissue treatment plan for the tissue to be treated; and
loading each of a plurality of needles with seeds separated from one another according to the treatment plan, each needle including a sharpened distal end intended to inserted into a patient;
wherein at least two of the plurality of needles are each loaded with a custom distal end spacer between the sharpened distal end of the needle and the treatment seed closest thereto, to thereby enable the treatment plan to be satisfied when the distal ends of the custom distal end spacers are implanted to the same depth using the needles implanted to the same depth; and
wherein the custom distal end spacers loaded in at least two of the needles have different lengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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11. A therapeutic kit, comprising:
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a plurality of needles;
wherein each needle is loaded with treatment seeds separated from one another in accordance with a treatment plan;
wherein each needle includes a sharpened distal end intended to inserted into a patient;
wherein at least two of the plurality of needles are each loaded with a custom distal end spacer between the sharpened distal end of the needle and the treatment seed closest thereto, to thereby enable the treatment plan to be satisfied when distal ends of the custom distal end spacers are implanted to the same depth using the needles; and
wherein the custom distal end spacers loaded in at least two of the needles have different lengths. - View Dependent Claims (12, 18)
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19. A method for treating a patient using a plurality of needles loaded with treatment seeds separated from one another according to a treatment plan, wherein at least two of the needles are each loaded with a custom distal end spacer between a sharpened distal end of the needle and the treatment seed located closest thereto, the method comprising:
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inserting the plurality of loaded needles to the same depth; and
implanting the contents of each needle such that a distal most end of the contents are implanted to the same depth;
wherein for each needle loaded with a custom distal end spacer, the distal most end of the contents of the needle is a distal end of the custom distal end spacer; and
wherein the custom distal end spacers loaded in at least two of the needles have different lengths, thereby causing the respective seeds located adjacent the custom distal end spacers to be implanted to different depths. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification