Intraocular radiotherapy treatment for macular degeneration

• US 20060142629A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eugene Dejuan Jr, Paul Hallen
• Original Assignee: Eugene Dejuan Jr, Paul Hallen
• Inventors: DeJuan, Eugene Jr., Hallen, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,223,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1089 Electrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1017 Treatment of the eye, e.g. for "macular degeneration"

Abstract

A surgical device for localized delivery of beta radiation in surgical procedures, particularly ophthalmic procedures. Preferred surgical devices include a cannula with a beta radiotherapy emitting material at the distal end of the cannula. The surgical device is particularly suitable for use in the treatment of treat Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A method for treating macular degeneration in the human eye, comprising:

inserting an ionizing radiation source into the eye;

positioning the ionizing radiation source at a distance of about 1 mm to about 3 mm from subretinal tissue associated with macular degeneration; and

exposing the subretinal tissue to radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source.

44. The method in accordance with claim 43 in which the subretinal tissue comprises tissue of the sub-macular region.

45. The method in accordance with claim 43 in which the subretinal tissue comprises blood vessels.

46. The method in accordance with claim 43 in which the subretinal tissue is exposed to a therapeutically effective amount of radiation to treat neovascularization.

47. The method in accordance with claim 43 in which the subretinal tissue is exposed to radiation for a time period between about 1 minute and about 15 minutes.

48. The method in accordance with claim 43 in which the ionizing radiation source has an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate of about 50 cGy/sec to about 100 cGy/sec.

49. The method in accordance with claim 43 in which the radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source comprises beta radiation.

50. The method in accordance with claim 43 in which the exposing comprises targeting the radiation only at selected subretinal tissue.

51. A method of radiotherapy for macular degeneration, comprising:

inserting into the eye an ionizing radiation source having an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate of about 50 cGy/sec to about 100 cGy/sec; and

exposing subretinal tissue to a radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source.

52. The method in accordance with claim 51 in which the subretinal tissue comprises blood vessels.

53. The method in accordance with claim 51 in which the exposing comprises exposing the subretinal tissue for a time period sufficient to treat neovascularization.

54. The method in accordance with claim 51 in which the exposing comprises exposing the subretinal tissue to the radiation for a time period between about 1 minute and about 15 minutes.

55. The method in accordance with claim 51 in which the radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source comprises beta radiation.

56. The method in accordance with claim 51 in which the exposing comprises targeting the radiation only at selected subretinal tissue.

57. The method in accordance with claim 56 in which the selected tissue comprises blood vessels.

58. The method in accordance with claim 51 in which the exposing comprises exposing the subretinal tissue to a therapeutically effective amount of radiation sufficient to treat neovascularization.

59. A method for treating macular degeneration, comprising:

inserting an ionizing radiation source into the eye;

positioning the ionizing radiation source about 1 mm to about 3 mm from subretinal choroidal blood vessels, the ionizing radiation source having an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate of about 50 cGy/sec to about 100 cGy/sec.; and

exposing the choroidal blood vessels to a therapeutically effective amount of radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source to treat neovascularization.

60. The method in accordance with claim 59 in which the choroidal blood vessels are exposed to radiation for a time period between about 1 minute and about 15 minutes.

61. The method in accordance with claim 59 in which the radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source comprises beta radiation.

62. The method in accordance with claim 59 in which the exposing comprises targeting the radiation only at defective choroidal blood vessels.