Catheter needle for internally irradiating a tumor in a body part

• US 20070265486A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nucletron Operations BV
• Original Assignee: Isodose Control Intellectual Property B.V.
• Inventors: van 't Hooft, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,648,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy

Abstract

A catheter needle, for irradiating tumors, formed by an elongated plastic tube with parts partly unfoldable outwards which can lock themselves in the tissue, and a closed end. The closed end has a reinforced sharp pointed shape with which tissue can be punctured. In the improved version, therefore, a point from a harder material is provided which is provided in or around the plastic so that the catheter needle has sufficient sharpness like a conventional metal needle. Thus, the catheter needle can puncture the skin and harder, deeper-lying tissues directly without pre-puncturing or other aids.

Claims

1. A catheter needle for internally irradiating a tumor in a body part, characterized in that

the catheter needle is shaped as an elongated tube from a first material with closed end and a sharp point from a second material which is harder than the first material.

2. A catheter needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the first material is a plastic.

3. A catheter needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the sharp point is from metal.

4. A catheter needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the sharp point is from titanium.

5. A catheter needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the sharp point is from a hard plastic.

6. A catheter needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the sharp point is from ceramic material.

7. A catheter needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the sharp point is cased in the first material.

8. A catheter needle according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting element for connecting the end of the catheter needle with the sharp point.

9. A catheter needle according to claim 8, wherein the connecting element is sleeve-shaped for casing the end of the catheter needle.

10. A catheter needle according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting element and the point are in one piece.

11. A catheter needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the catheter needle has an unfoldable part which can lock the catheter in the tissue.

12. A catheter needle according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal point serves as a marker.

13. A catheter needle according to claim 2, characterized in that the metal point serves as a marker.