Methods And Apparatus for Intraocular Brachytherapy

• US 20110004045A1
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oraya Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oraya Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Trip, Roelof, Fritz, Eberhard, Pintaske, Rainer, Humayun, Mark S., deJuan, Eugene, Willenkamp, Sabine, Phillipps, Gerd T., Larsen, Charles E., Hillstead, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1017 Treatment of the eye, e.g. for "macular degeneration"

Abstract

A method for performing intraocular brachytherapy and an apparatus for performing the same is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a hand-held delivery device that advances a radiation source into an associated cannula or probe that is positioned adjacent the target tissue. The handpiece provides for shielded storage of the radiation source when retracted from the cannula and includes a slider mechanism for advancing and retracting the radiation source. The radiation source is mounted to a wire that has a flexible distal end and a relatively stiffer proximal end. A positioning system for the cannula is also disclosed.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A radioactive source wire having a distal end and a proximal end for local delivery of radiation to a target tissue comprising:

a relatively stiff proximal portion;

a relatively flexible distal portion joined to the proximal portion; and

a radioactive source secured to the distal end of the source wire.

22. The radioactive source wire of claim 21 wherein the distal portion is sufficiently flexible to allow unimpeded mechanical transport through a cannula around a radius of curvature of from 4 to 8 mm.

23. The radioactive source wire of claim 22 wherein the proximal and distal portions comprise steel braided wire with a connection therebetween and a sleeve for reinforcing the connection of the proximal portion to the distal portion.

24. A radioactive source wire having a proximal end and distal end comprising:

a leading strand at the distal end having sufficient flexibility so as to allow unimpeded mechanical transport through a cannula around a radius of curvature of from 4 to 8 mm;

a handle strand at the proximal end having greater stiffness then the leading strand;

a tubular sleeve for securing the leading strand to the handle strand and secured to the leading strand and handle strand by welding;

a radioactive source comprising a canister holding a radioactive seed secured to the distal end of the leading strand;

a reinforcing sleeve at the junction of the canister and the leading strand for securing the canister to the leading strand; and

a reinforcing tubing at the proximal end of the handle strand.