BRACHYTHERAPY APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USING THEM

• US 20100204537A1
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cianna Medical Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cianna Medical Inc. (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Than, Lebovic, Gail S., Hermann, George D., Ritchart, Mark A., Cole, Mark A., Chi Sing, Eduardo
• Granted Patent: US 8,858,415 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 5/1015 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.

Claims

1. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus for treating tissue at a target location within a body, comprising:

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

one or more coil members on the distal end, each coil member comprising a spiral pathway for receiving a source of radiation therealong, the one or more coil members movable between a collapsed configuration for introduction through a tissue tract to a target location, and an expanded configuration at the target location; and

a source of radiation introduceable along each spiral pathway for delivering radiation to the target location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hub coupled to a proximal end of each of the one or more coil members, the hub being movable relative to the elongate body to direct the one or more coil members between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each coil member comprises a distal end coupled to a distal tip of the elongate body, the apparatus further comprising a hub coupled to a proximal end of the coil member, the hub being movable relative to the elongate body to direct the one or more coil members between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hub comprises an outer member coupled to the proximal end of the coil member, the outer member slidably disposed around the elongate body.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each coil member comprises a stiffening member for maintaining the coil member in a desired orientation when the one or more coil members are moved between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more coil members comprise a single coil member wound about the elongate body distal end.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more coil members comprise a plurality of coil members wound about the elongate body distal end such that the coil members define a three dimensional array in the expanded configuration that provides multiple layers of radiation when the source of radiation is introduced into the coil members.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more coil members comprise first and second coil members, the first coil member spaced apart about a central axis of the elongate body such that the first coil member defines a first maximum diameter in the expanded configuration, the second coil member spaced apart about the central axis such that the second coil member defines a second maximum diameter in the expanded configuration that is less than the first maximum diameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more coil members comprise one or more tubular members, each comprising a lumen defining a spiral pathway.

6-7. -7. (canceled)

12. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus for treating tissue at a target location within a body, comprising:

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

a plurality of coil members on the distal end comprising lumens for receiving a source of radiation therein, the coil members movable between a collapsed configuration for introduction through a tissue tract to a target location, and an expanded configuration for providing a three dimensional array of spiral pathways at the target location;

a plurality of openings communicating with respective lumens for inserting the source of radiation into the lumens; and

a hub coupled to proximal ends of the coil members, the hub being movable relative to the elongate body to direct the coil members between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an actuator for moving the hub relative to the distal end of the elongate body to direct the coil members between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the actuator is movable axially for moving the hub axially to direct the one or more coil members between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the actuator is movable rotationally for rotating the hub to direct the one or more coil members between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, the coil members being spaced apart in the expanded configuration such that tissue at the target location invaginates between the coil members.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the coil members comprise a three dimensional array in the expanded configuration that provides multiple layers of radiation when the source of radiation is introduced into the coil members.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the coil members comprise first and second coil members, the first coil member spaced apart about a central axis of the core member such that the first coil member defines a first maximum diameter in the expanded configuration, the second coil member spaced apart about the central axis such that the second coil member defines a second maximum diameter in the expanded configuration that is less than the first maximum diameter.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each coil member comprises an elongate tube and a stiffening member for maintaining the coil member in a desired orientation when the coil members are moved between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the elongate tube comprises a first lumen defining the lumen for receiving a source of radiation therein, and wherein the shaping member is contained in a second lumen of the elongate tube.

21. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus for treating tissue at a target location within a body, comprising:

an elongate core member comprising a proximal end and a distal end sized for introduction into a tract through tissue;

a first coil member wound about the distal end of the core member, the first coil member comprising a proximal end, a distal end coupled to the core member, and a lumen for receiving a source of radiation therein; and

an actuator coupled to the proximal end of the first coil member, the actuator movable relative to the core member to direct the first coil member between a collapsed configuration for introduction through a tissue tract to a target location, and an expanded configuration for providing a spiral pathway at the target location.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the actuator is movable axially to direct the first coil member between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the actuator is movable rotationally to direct the first coil member between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the actuator comprises a hub coupled to a proximal end of the first coil member.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the actuator further comprises a sleeve disposed around the core member and coupled to the hub, the sleeve extending to the core member proximal end such that the sleeve extends outside the patient'"'"'s body when the first core member is positioned at the target location.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first coil member comprises a stiffening member for maintaining the first coil member in a desired orientation when the first coil member is moved between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a source of radiation introduceable along the lumen for delivering radiation to the target location.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a second coil member wound about the core member, the second coil member coupled to the actuator to direct the second coil member between the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration together with the first coil member.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first coil member is spaced apart about a central axis of the core member such that the first coil member defines a first maximum diameter in the expanded configuration, and wherein the second coil member is spaced apart about the central axis such that the second coil member defines a second maximum diameter in the expanded configuration that is less than the first maximum diameter.

28. (canceled)

31. A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

creating a tract through tissue to a target location within the patient'"'"'s body;

advancing an elongate body carrying one or more coil members through the tract into the target location with the one or more coil members in a collapsed configuration;

directing the one or more coil members to an expanded configuration at the target location to position the one or more coil members away from a central axis of the elongate body; and

delivering radiation to the target location to treat tissue at the target location.

32-42. -42. (canceled)