After-loader for positioning implants for needle delivery in brachytherapy and other radiation therapy

• US 20070265488A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG S.A (Eckert & Ziegler AG)
• Original Assignee: Worldwide Medical Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Lamoureux, Gary A., Johnston, Warren W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1008 Apparatus for temporary insertion of sources, e.g. afterloaders
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body

Abstract

In one embodiment an after-loader for providing an implant to a hollow needle, the after-loader comprising a body having a distal end including a bevel for receiving a hub of a seed lock needle, and a bore therethrough for receiving a hub of a MICK® needle; a proximal end having a funnel shaped opening; a shield adapted to be provided over the body; and wherein the distal end further includes a taper along a portion of a distance from the distal end to the proximal end for providing a friction fit to a shield. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of the invention.

Claims

1. An after-loader for providing an implant to a hollow needle, the after-loader comprising:

a body having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end including a bevel and a bore;

wherein the bevel is adapted to receive a hub of a first type of brachytherapy needle and the bore is adapted to receive a hub of a second type of brachytherapy needle.

2. The after-loader of claim 1, wherein:

the bore is a first bore; and

further comprising a second bore extending through the after-loader; and

wherein a portion of the second bore has an expanding funnel shape toward the proximal end.

3. The after-loader of claim 1, further comprising:

A radiation shield adapted to be provided over at least a portion of the body; and

wherein the distal end further includes a taper along a portion of a distance from the distal end to the proximal end for providing a friction fit to the shield.

4. The after-loader of claim 2, wherein the second bore is narrower than the first bore.

5. The after-loader of claim 1, wherein:

the bevel is adapted to receive a hub of a seed lock needle; and

the bore is adapted to receive a hub of a MICK needle.

6. The after-loader of claim 2, wherein the second bore is adapted to receive a stylet.

7. A system for positioning implants within a body of a patient, the system comprising:

a needle having a hub;

an afterloader including a body, the body having;

a distal end including a bevel and a first bore;

a proximal end; and

a second bore extending approximately from the proximal end to the first bore;

wherein the bevel and the first bore are selectable for receiving a hub of a needle; and

a stylet receivable within the second bore.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a portion of the second bore has an expanding funnel shape toward the proximal end.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a radiation shield adapted to be provided over at least a portion of the body; and

wherein the distal end further includes a taper along a portion of a distance from the distal end to the proximal end for providing a friction fit to the shield.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the second bore is narrower than the first bore.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the bevel is adapted to receive a hub of a seed lock needle; and

the first bore is adapted to receive a hub of a MICK needle.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the stylet has a distal end and a proximal end;

the proximal end includes a hub adapted to be gripped; and

the distal end of the stylet has sufficient length to extend in a distal direction through the needle and afterloader at least to a distal end of the needle.

13. A method for positioning an implant within a body of a patient, the method comprising:

positioning a hollow needle at a desired location within the body;

selecting an after-loader adapted to be mated with a hub of the needle so that the hub can be received over a distal end of the after-loader or within the distal end of the after-loader;

mating the hub of the hollow needle with a distal end of the after-loader;

inserting a stylet into the proximal end of the after-loader;

urging the stylet toward the distal end of the after-loader until the implant is loaded into the needle.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

retracting the stylet from the after-loader;

separating the distal end of the after-loader from the hub of the hollow needle;

urging the stylet toward the distal end of the needle until the implant is positioned substantially at the distal end of the needle; and

retracting the needle with the stylet held in position so that the implant is deposited at the desired location.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

urging the stylet toward the distal end of the needle until the implant is positioned substantially at the distal end of the needle; and

retracting the needle and after-loader with the stylet held in position so that the implant is deposited at the desired location.

16. An after-loader for providing an implant to a hollow needle, the after-loader comprising:

a body having a distal end and a proximal end and a bore extending therebetween;

at least one implant stored in the bore;

wherein the distal end is configured to be mated to a hub of a hollow needle;

wherein the proximal end is configured to accept a stylet.

17. The after-loader of claim 16, further comprising:

a pair of removable plugs to keep the at least one implant within the bore until the plugs are removed.

18. The after-loader of claim 16, further comprising:

a radiation shield adapted to be provided over at least a portion of the body; and

wherein the distal end further includes a taper along a portion of a distance from the distal end to the proximal end for providing a friction fit to the shield.