EXPANDABLE BRACHYTHERAPY DEVICE

• US 20070142695A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theragenics Corporation (Juniper Investment Co. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Theragenics Corporation (Juniper Investment Co. LLC)
• Inventors: GRIFFITH, NATHAN, GOVIL, AMIT, STEPHENS, DAVID, MILLAGE, KYLE, WHITE, JACK, BERGMAN, JOSHUA
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1008 Apparatus for temporary insertion of sources, e.g. afterloaders
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1018 with multiple channels for guiding radioactive sources
• 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 5/1015 Treatment of resected cavities created by surgery, e.g. lumpectomy

Abstract

A brachytherapy device for the provision of brachytherapy is disclosed. The brachytherapy device has at least one source lumen located outside a movable surface of the device. The source lumen may be secured to the movable outer surface in a manner whereby relative movement of the source lumen relative to the movable outer surface is permitted. The brachytherapy device is inserted into a body cavity. After insertion, the movable surface is moved to position the at least one source lumen closer to the tissue boundary of the cavity. One or more sources of radiation are then placed within the at least one source lumen to provide a customizable treatment. Also disclosed are methods for providing brachytherapy via body cavities.

Claims

1. A brachytherapy device comprising:

a proximal portion;

a grip;

a plurality of arms operatively connected to said grip;

a portion of each of said arms is movable from a first position at a first radial distance from a longitudinal axis of said device, to a second expanded position wherein said movable portion of each of said arms is located at a greater radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the device than the radial distance from each said movable portion of each said arm to the longitudinal axis of the device when said arms are in the first position; and

a plurality of source lumen tubes each defining at least one source lumen, each said source lumen tube extending a sufficient distance into said proximal portion of said device to allow insertion of a radioactive source into said at least one source lumen when said device is positioned for brachytherapy treatment, and each said source lumen tube being associated with one said arm such that movement of said movable portion of said arms moves portions of said source lumen tubes from a first position to a second treatment position that is at a greater radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the device than a radial distance from each said portion of said source lumen tube to the longitudinal axis of the device when said portion of said source lumen tubes are in said first position.

2. The brachytherapy device of claim 1, comprising at least four source lumen tubes which define at least four source lumens.

3. The brachytherapy device of claim 2, wherein each said source lumen tube is attached to one said arm.

4. The brachytherapy device of claim 3, further comprising a rod operatively associated with said arms such that relative movement of said rod and said grip causes movement of the movable portions of said arms between the first position and the second expanded position.

5. The brachytherapy device of claim 4, wherein the rod is connected to distal ends of said arms.

6. The brachytherapy device of claim 5, wherein a portion of the rod passes through said grip and the rod is axially movable relative to the grip in a substantially longitudinal direction.

7. The brachytherapy device of claim 6, further comprising a plunger operatively associated with a proximal portion of said rod, whereby movement of said plunger causes axial movement of said rod.

8. The brachytherapy device of claim 5, wherein movement of said rod in a proximal direction relative to said grip causes said movable portions of said arms to move between the first position and the second expanded position.

9. The brachytherapy device of claim 4, wherein slack is provided in a proximal portion of each source lumen tube.

10. The brachytherapy device of claim 4, wherein each source lumen extends to proximate a distal end of said device.

11. The brachytherapy device of claim 4, further comprising at least one internal source lumen into which a radiation source may be inserted for providing brachytherapy treatment.

12. The brachytherapy device of claim 4, further comprising a flap attached to said device at a location proximal to said movable portion of said arms to restrict motion of the device at an entry site of the body cavity.

13. A brachytherapy system comprising the brachytherapy device of claim 1 and at least one source of radiation for insertion into said at least one source lumen, said source of radiation being selected from the group consisting of iridium-192, palladium-103, iodine-125, cesium-131, rhenium-183, tungsten-181, thulium-170, ytterbium-169, terbium-161, dysprosium-159, gadolinium-153, samarium-145 and xenon-127.

14. A method for brachytherapy in a body cavity comprising the steps of:

positioning a brachytherapy device as claimed in claim 1 relative to said body cavity;

expanding a portion of said brachytherapy device in said body cavity by movement of a part of said device operatively associated with said arms relative to said grip to thereby exert a compressive force on said arms sufficient to cause expansion of said portion of said brachytherapy device, to thereby locate a portion of each of a plurality of source lumen tubes in a treatment position in said body cavity; and

positioning said source of radiation in at least one said source lumen within said body cavity to provide brachytherapy in said body cavity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of expanding the portion of the device comprises moving said part of said device in a longitudinal direction relative to said grip.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of expanding the portion of the device comprises the step of moving a rod in a longitudinal direction towards a proximal end of said brachytherapy device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said expanding step causes a portion of said source lumen tubes to move from a first position to a second position that is at a greater distance from the longitudinal axis of the device than a distance from said portion of said source lumen tubes to the longitudinal axis of the device when said source lumen tubes are in said first position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein in said expanding step, the compressive force is exerted on a distal end of said arms.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of returning the expanded portion of said brachytherapy device to an unexpanded state upon completion of said brachytherapy.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of returning the expanded portion of said brachytherapy device to an unexpanded state comprises movement of said rod in a distal direction along the longitudinal axis of said device.