Radioactive therapeutic seeds

• US 6,471,632 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Syntheon LLC
• Original Assignee: Syntheon LLC
• Inventors: Jahrmarkt, Scott L., Gordon, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/860,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 600/1-8
• US Class Current: 600/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1024 Seeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1001 using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy

Abstract

Radioactive therapeutic seeds include one or more carrier structures each carrying a radioactive isotope, a ceramic spacer or collar member, a metal ring about the ceramic member, and a capsule formed from two tubular parts, each part including a closed end, an open end, and an interior. The open ends of the capsule abut the metal ring and are preferably welded thereto to form a generally uniform capsule wall such that the carrier structure(s) and ceramic member are contained in the interior of the capsule. The ceramic spacer preferably is hollow and a radiopaque or MRI-visible marker extends therethrough. Each of the embodiments is designed to provide a substantially isotropic distribution of radiation.

Claims

1. A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising:

a) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope;

b) a ceramic collar member provided about said carrier structure;

c) a metal ring provided about said collar member; and

d) a capsule having two parts, each part including a closed end and an open end, said carrier structure with said collar member being disposed in said capsule with said open ends of said two parts of said capsule abutting said metal ring and said open ends of said two parts of said capsule and said metal ring being sealed over said ceramic collar member.

2. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1, wherein:

said parts do not overlap each other.

3. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1, wherein:

said carrier structure has an outer surface, and said radioactive isotope is provided on said outer surface.

4. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 3, wherein:

a silver layer is provided on said outer surface under said radioactive isotope.

5. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1, wherein:

said ceramic collar member includes a silver or gold portion.

6. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1, wherein:

said collar member includes a portion having an MRI-visible substance.

7. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1, wherein:

said two parts of said capsule and said ring are sealed together over said collar member with a weld.

8. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1, wherein:

said two parts each comprise substantially one half of said capsule.

9. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1, wherein:

said carrier structure is a tube.

10. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 9, wherein:

said tube has an inner surface and an outer surface and said radioactive isotope is provided on both said inner surface and said outer surface of said tube.

11. A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising:

a) at least two carrier structures each carrying a radioactive isotope;

b) a ceramic spacer member;

c) a metal ring about said ceramic spacer member; and

d) a capsule having two parts, each part including a closed end, an open end, and a wall defining an interior, at least one of said at least two carrier structures being provided in said interior of each part, with said open ends of said two parts of said capsule and said metal ring being sealed about said ceramic spacer.

12. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

said open ends of said two parts of said capsule and said ring are sealed together over said collar member with a weld.

13. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

said parts do not overlap each other.

14. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, further comprising:

e) a radiopaque marker,

wherein said ceramic spacer member is provided with a hollow, and said marker is provided in said hollow.

15. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, further comprising:

e) an MRI-visible marker,

wherein said ceramic spacer is provided with a hollow, and said marker is provided in said hollow.

16. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, further comprising:

e) two additional radiolucent spacing members, one of each being provided in each said interior of a respective part of said capsule between said carrier structure and said ceramic spacer.

17. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

each said carrier structure is a tube.

18. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 17, wherein:

each said tube has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and said radioactive isotope is provided on said interior and exterior surfaces.

19. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 17, wherein:

said tube is made from silver.

20. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

each said carrier structure is substantially spherically shaped.

21. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

each said carrier structure is radiolucent and provided with a silver coating over which said radioactive isotope is applied.

22. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

each said carrier structure is made from one of titanium, aluminum, and glass.

23. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 12, wherein:

wherein said ring is made from titanium.

24. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 12, wherein:

wherein said parts of said capsule are made from titanium.

25. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

wherein said ceramic spacer includes tapered ends.

26. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

said two parts each comprise substantially one half of said capsule.

27. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 11, wherein:

said closed ends of said capsule are each provided with an engagement means.

28. A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising:

a) at least one carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope; and

b) a capsule formed of a first part and a second part each having a closed end, an open end, and a wall defining an interior, and a third ring part, said first, second and third parts being formed from a substantially identical metal with said first and second parts abutting and welded to said third part which separates said first part and said second part, and said at least one carrier structure being located in said capsule.

29. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 28, wherein:

said wall has a first thickness and said ring has a second thickness, a difference between said first thickness and second thickness being less than 0.005 inches.

30. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 28, wherein:

said first part, said second part, and said ring are made of titanium.

31. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 28, further comprising:

c) a ceramic member on which said ring is carried.

32. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 31, further comprising:

d) a marker which is at least one of radiopaque and MRI-visible, wherein

said ceramic member is hollow, and said marker extends into said ceramic member.

33. A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising:

a) at least two carrier structures each carrying a radioactive isotope;

b) a ceramic spacer member between said at least two carrier structures; and

c) a capsule having two parts, each part including a closed end, an open end, and a wall defining an interior, at least one of said at least two carrier structures being provided in said interior of each part, with said open ends of said two parts of said capsule being sealed about said ceramic spacer.

34. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 33, wherein:

said ceramic spacer member is comprised of two parts, with respective of said two parts of said ceramic spacer member being located in respective of said two parts of said capsule.

35. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 34, further comprising:

d) a radiopaque or MRI-visible marker, wherein each of said two parts of said ceramic spacer member is provided with a hollow, and said marker is provided in said hollow of said two parts of said ceramic spacer member.

36. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 35, wherein:

said marker is comprised of two parts, with respective of said two parts of said marker being provided in respective said hollows of said respective two parts of said ceramic spacer member.

37. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 33, wherein:

said open ends of said two parts of said capsule are sealed together over said collar member with a weld.

38. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 33, wherein:

said open ends of said two parts of said capsule have wall thicknesses thinner than wall thicknesses of other parts of said capsule, and a first of said open ends extends over a second of said open ends such that said capsule wall is substantially uniform in thickness.

39. A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 38, wherein:

said open ends of said two parts of said capsule are welded or swaged together.