IRRADIATORS FOR TREATING THE BODY

• US 3,750,653 A
• Filed: 09/08/1970
• Issued: 08/07/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Norman Simon
• Original Assignee: Norman Simon
• Inventors: Simon, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US05/070,311
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1.1,1.2,130-131,260,264,214.4,348
• US Class Current: 600/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1011 Apparatus for permanent insertion of sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1025 Wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1016 Gynaecological radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy

Abstract

This application discloses apparatus and a technique for the treatment of cancer of the fundus of the uterus and of other portions of the human body. A capsule is provided which comprises a thin-walled narrow tube, on the lead end of which may or may not be provided an elongated and enlarged bulbous body portion. The inner diameter of the lead end of the tube is sufficient to accommodate a source of radioactive material. The tube is arranged so as to permit the insertion of a radioactive source into the lead end of the tube through the trailing portion thereof. The outside diameter of the tube is no greater than 2 mm. so as to permit the tube to be retained within and tolerated by a portion of the human body into which the tube is to be inserted. Furthermore, due to the aforementioned small diameter of the tube, the portion of the human body may be packed with a number of such capsules. Due to the small internal diameter of the tube, a radioactive source whose specific activity is higher than that of radium is implanted in the tube by being introduced through the trailing end thereof.

Claims

1. A capsule adapted to be inserted in and retained by the uterus, comprising an elongated and enlarged bulbous body portion with a cavity therein, said cavity being disposed generally longitudinally within said body portion and having a diameter sufficient to accommodate a source of radioactive material therein, a thin-walled narrow tube connected to said body portion and arranged coaxially with said cavity so as to permit insertion of a radioactive source into said cavity through said tube, the outside diameter of said tube being not greater than 2 mm. so as to permit said capsule to be retained within and tolerated by the uterus with said tube projecting through the cervical os so that said source may be inserted into the cavity after the capsule is positioned in the uterus.

2. A capsule as described in claim 1, implanted in an array of similar capsules, with respective tubes passing through and tolerated by the cervical os.

3. A device as described in claim 1 in which the tube outside diameter is about 1.6 mm.

4. A device as described in claim 1 in which the tube and the cavity in said bulbous portion have an inside diameter of at least about 1 mm. so as to receive an effective radiation source of iridium-192.

5. A device as described in claim 1 in which said tube is made of nylon.

6. A device as described in claim 1 in which the outside diameter of said bulbous portion is about 6 - 10 mm.

7. A device as described in claim 1 in which said cavity contains as a radioactive source, a charge of radioactive isotope of the group consisting of iridium-192, cesium-137 and cobalt-60, about 0.3 mm. in diameter and about 15 mm. long implanted in a tube introduced into said cavity through said thin-walled tube.

8. A device as described in claim 1 in which said bulbous portion is about 3 mm. outside diameter and 4 to 5 cm. long, is normally curved substantially to conform to the shape of the inside wall of the uterus, and has an elastic memory.

9. The combination of the capsule described in claim 1 and a radioactive source having dimensions adapted to fit within said cavity in said bulbous body portion of said capsule, said source being mounted at the end of a long tube or rod having an outside diameter small enough to fit within said thin-walled narrow tube and long enough to reach from said cavity to the open end of said last-mentioned tube so that said source may be inserted through said last-mentioned tube into said cavity.

10. The combination described in claim 9 in which said source is a charge of radioactive isotope whose specific activity is greater than that of radium.

11. The combination described in claim 10 in which said source is a charge of radioactive isotope of the group consisting of iridium-192, cesium-137 and cobalt-60.

12. The combination described in claim 11 in which said source has an outside diameter of about 0.3 mm. and a length of about 15 mm.

13. A device adapted to be inserted in and retained by the uterus, comprising a thin-walled narrow tube including an inside diameter sufficient to accomodate a source of radioactive material therein and further including an outside diameter not greater than 2 mm. so as to permit the device to be inserted into the uterus without excessive pain and to be tolerated while it remains in the uterus, with the trailing portion of the tube projecting outwardly from the uterus so that the source of radioactive material may be inserted into the tube after the device is positioned in the uterus.

14. Devices in accordance with claim 13 implanted in an array with respective tubes being retained in and tolerated by the uterus.

15. A device in accordance with claim 13 including an elongated stiffening member which is adapted to be inserted into the tube before the latter is inserted into the uterus and withdrawn before the radioactive source is inserted into the tube.

16. A device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the outside diameter of the tube is about 1.6 mm.

17. A device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the inside diameter of the tube is at least about 1 mm. so as to receive an effective radioactive source.

18. A device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the tube is made of nylon.

19. A device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the tube contains as a radioactive source a charge of radioactive isotope whose specific activity is higher than radium, implanted in a tube introduced through the Trailing end of the thin-walled tube.

20. A device in accordance with claim 19 wherein the charge of radioactive isotope is a member of the group consisting of iridium-192, cesium-137 and cobalt-60.

21. The combination of the device described in claim 13 and a radioactive source having dimensions adapted to fit within the thin-walled tube, the source being mounted at the end of a long tube or rod having an outside diameter small enough to fit within the thin-walled narrow tube and being long enough to reach from the lead end thereof to the open end thereof so that the source may be inserted through the thin-walled tube to a point within the human body.

22. The combination in accordance with claim 21 wherein the radioactive source is a charge of radioactive isotope whose specific activity is higher than radium.

23. The combination in accordance with claim 22 wherein the charge of radioactive isotope is of the group consisting of iridium-192, cesium-137 and cobalt-60.

24. The method for treating diseases of the uterus which comprises dilating the cervical os, introducing therein the bulbous end of a capsule comprising an elongated and enlarged bulbous body portion with a cavity therein, said cavity being disposed generally longitudinally within said body portion and having a diameter sufficient to accommodate a source of radioactive material therein, said body portion being connected to a thin-walled narrow tube, said tube being arranged coaxially with said cavity so as to permit insertion of a radioactive source into said cavity through said tube, the outside diameter of said tube being small so as to permit said capsule to be retained within and tolerated by the uterus with said tube projecting through the cervical os, leaving said tube lying in the os and the vagina introitus, and thereafter introducing a radioactive source to the cavity of said bulbous body through said tube.

25. The method as described in claim 24 in which the implantation of capsules is repeated until the uterine cavity is substantially filled, and multiple implantations of radioactive sources are made through respective tubes.