DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR INTENSITY MODULATED HIGH DOSE RATE BRACHYTHERAPY WITH INTERMEDIATE ENERGY BRACHYTHERAPY ISOTOPES
First Claim
1. A delivery system for radiation shielded brachytherapy, the delivery system being adapted to receive an input of radionuclide from an afterloader, the delivery system comprising:
- a drive assembly having a drive mechanism and connectors rotatable by the drive mechanism, each of the connectors having one of two or more shield assemblies detachably coupled thereto for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the respective shield assembly, each of the shield assemblies including a needle having a tubular body defining an outer surface and a bore longitudinally extending between opposite ends of the tubular body, the bore being adapted to receive therethrough the input of radionuclide for delivery to a target site, a radiation shielding material extending about a circumferential portion of the tubular body of the needle and disposed radially outwardly of the bore; and
an interlocking system operatively mounted to the drive assembly, the interlocking system engaging a group of the two or more shield assemblies via their respective connectors, wherein the interlocking system transmits a rotational input received from the driving mechanism to the group of shield assemblies and synchronously rotates each of the shield assemblies of the group about its respective longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery system and method for radiation shielded brachytherapy comprises a drive assembly, and a plurality of shield assemblies, pivotally mounted to the drive assembly, each having a tubular body defining an outer surface and a bore longitudinally extending between opposite ends of the tubular body. Each of the shield assemblies comprises radiation shielding material extending about a circumferential portion of the tubular body and disposed between the outer surface and the cavity. An interlocking system is operatively mounted to the rotating assembly, and engages a group of the plurality of shield assemblies. The interlocking system is configured for transmitting a rotational input received from a driving mechanism to the group of shield assemblies, for synchronously rotating each shield assembly of the group about their respective longitudinal axis.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A delivery system for radiation shielded brachytherapy, the delivery system being adapted to receive an input of radionuclide from an afterloader, the delivery system comprising:
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a drive assembly having a drive mechanism and connectors rotatable by the drive mechanism, each of the connectors having one of two or more shield assemblies detachably coupled thereto for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the respective shield assembly, each of the shield assemblies including a needle having a tubular body defining an outer surface and a bore longitudinally extending between opposite ends of the tubular body, the bore being adapted to receive therethrough the input of radionuclide for delivery to a target site, a radiation shielding material extending about a circumferential portion of the tubular body of the needle and disposed radially outwardly of the bore; and an interlocking system operatively mounted to the drive assembly, the interlocking system engaging a group of the two or more shield assemblies via their respective connectors, wherein the interlocking system transmits a rotational input received from the driving mechanism to the group of shield assemblies and synchronously rotates each of the shield assemblies of the group about its respective longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for directing radiation to target site of a tumour in brachytherapy, comprising:
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inserting a group of radiation shield assemblies proximate the tumour, the group of radiation shield assemblies each having a tubular body with a bore longitudinally extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis, a radiation shielding material extending about a circumferential portion of the tubular body; and synchronously rotating each of the radiation shield assemblies of the group about the respective longitudinal axis until the circumferential portion of at least one radiation shield assembly of the group is disposed on an opposite side of the tubular body from the target site of the tumour; and providing an input of radionuclide from an afterloader through the bore of the tubular body of said at least one shield assembly and directing the radiation from the input of radionuclide toward the target site of the tumour and restricting the radiation to the target site. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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13. (canceled)
Specification