EXPANDABLE BRACHYTHERAPY APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USING THEM

• US 20100099939A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cianna Medical Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cianna Medical Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sutton, Doug, Hermann, George D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,771,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1018 with multiple channels for guiding radioactive sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1014 Intracavitary radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1015 Treatment of resected cavities created by surgery, e.g. lumpectomy

Abstract

Apparatus for delivering brachytherapy to a target tissue region includes an elongate body including a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a tissue tract and carrying a plurality of elongate members including pathways for receiving a source of radiation. The elongate members are movable between collapsed and expanded configurations. During use, a tract is created through tissue, and the elongate body carrying the elongate members is advanced through the tract into a target location with the elongate members in the collapsed configuration. The elongate members are directed to the expanded configuration at the target location, and radiation is delivered to treat tissue at the target location, e.g., by introducing one or more radiation sources along the pathways. The apparatus may include features to prevent overexpansion of the elongate members and/or to facilitate rapid collapse of the elongate members.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus, comprising:

an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end configured for introduction into a tract through tissue;

a plurality of elongate members on the distal end comprising pathways for receiving a source of radiation therealong, the elongate members being movable from a collapsed configuration for introduction through a tissue tract to a target location, and an expanded configuration; and

a plurality of marker devices removably receivable along the pathways of respective elongate members.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the marker devices comprise radiopaque material.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the pathways comprise lumens extending between proximal and distal ends of the elongate members, and wherein the marker devices are receivable within the lumens such that the marker devices extend through the lumens to the distal ends of the elongate members.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the marker devices end caps for engaging the proximal ends of the elongate members when the marker devices are received within the lumens to substantially seal the lumens.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the marker devices have sufficient strength to support the elongate members.

26. (canceled)

27. A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue within a body, comprising:

creating a tract through tissue to a target location adjacent to a cavity;

advancing an elongate body carrying a plurality of elongate members through the tract into the target location with the elongate members in a collapsed configuration;

directing the elongate members to an expanded configuration at the target location to position the elongate members away from a central axis;

delivering radiation to the target location to treat tissue at the target location; and

inserting marker devices into the elongate members.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein directing the elongate members to the expanded configuration comprises rotating an expansion tool in a first direction, and wherein, upon directing the elongate members to the expanded configuration, further rotation of the expansion tool in the first direction no longer expands the elongate members.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the marker devices are inserted into the elongate members before delivering radiation, the method further comprising imaging the apparatus, the marker devices enhancing imaging of the elongate members relative to the target location.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising developing a dose plan based at least on part on the enhanced imaging of the elongate members.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the marker devices are inserted into the elongate members after delivering radiation.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the elongate members comprise lumens for receiving one or more radiation sources, and wherein the marker devices are inserted into the elongate members to substantially seal the lumens.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the marker devices support the elongate members between radiation treatments.

29. (canceled)

35-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue within a body, comprising:

creating a tract through tissue to a target location adjacent to a cavity;

advancing an elongate body carrying a plurality of elongate members through the tract into the target location with the elongate members in a collapsed configuration;

directing the elongate members to an expanded configuration at the target location to position the elongate members away from a central axis;

inserting marker devices into the elongate members;

imaging the apparatus, the marker devices enhancing imaging of the elongate members in the expanded configuration relative to the target location;

developing a dose plan based at least on part on the enhanced imaging of the elongate members; and

delivering radiation to the target location to treat tissue at the target location according to the dose plan.

38. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus, comprising:

an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end configured for introduction into a tract through tissue;

a plurality of tubular members carried by the elongate body and comprising lumens extending between the proximal and distal ends for receiving a source of radiation therealong; and

a plurality of devices removably receivable along the pathways of respective tubular members, each device comprising an end cap for engaging a proximal end of a tubular member when the device is received within the lumen of the tubular device to substantially seal the lumen.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the devices comprise radiopaque material.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the devices are receivable within the lumens such that the devices extend through the lumens to the distal ends of the tubular members.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the devices have sufficient strength to support the tubular members.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the devices provide relatively strong yet flexible support when inserted into the tubular members to prevent kinking or other deformation or damage to the tubular members between treatments.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the tubular members are movable from a collapsed configuration for introduction through a tissue tract to a target location, and an expanded configuration.

44. A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue within a body, comprising:

advancing an elongate body carrying a plurality of tubular members through a tract into a target location within the body;

introducing one or more radiation sources into lumens of the tubular members to deliver radiation to treat tissue at the target location;

removing the one or more radiation sources from the lumens; and

inserting elongate devices into the tubular members, each elongate device comprising an elongate member inserted into a respective lumen of a tubular member, and an end cap for sealing a proximal end of the tubular member.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the elongate devices are inserted into the lumens of the tubular members before delivering radiation, the method further comprising imaging the apparatus, the elongate devices enhancing imaging of the tubular members relative to the target location.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the elongate devices are inserted into the tubular members after delivering radiation.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the elongate devices are inserted into the lumens of the tubular members to substantially seal the lumens between radiation treatments.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the elongate devices support the tubular members between radiation treatments.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the elongate devices provide relatively strong yet flexible support when inserted into the tubular members to prevent kinking or other deformation or damage to the tubular members between treatments.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein the end cap of each elongate device is seated over the proximal end of the tubular member to substantially seal the respective lumen.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein the elongate devices remain inserted into the tubular members between treatment, the method further comprising:

removing the elongate devices from the tubular members; and

thereafter, introducing one or more radiation sources into the lumens of the tubular members to deliver additional radiation to treat tissue at the target location.