Intraluminal radiation treatment system

• US 6,610,003 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Best Vascular, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Novoste Corporation (Novt Corporation)
• Inventors: Tobias, Martin B., Bonnoitt, George K. Jr., Hillstead, Richard A., Meloul, Raphael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US09/444,234
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 600/1-8
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1008 Apparatus for temporary insertion of sources, e.g. afterloaders
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1002 Intraluminal radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body

Abstract

A transfer device and catheter assembly for the delivery of treatment elements to a selected location within the intraluminal passageways of a patient as part of an intraluminal radiation system. The transfer device includes a gate member that permits the treatment elements to have the transfer device only if the catheter is attached thereto. A pressure indicator provides a visual indication of the fluid pressure within the transfer device, and provides for a release of the fluid if the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. The catheter also includes detents to secure it to the transfer device and which must be manually activated to remove the catheter from the transfer device. The transfer device includes circuiting that determines whether the treating elements reside within the transfer device based upon the reflectivity of the treating elements. A method for determining whether treating elements reside in the catheter is also disclosed.

Claims

1. In a system used for the intraluminal treatment of a selected site in the body including a catheter adapted for intraluminal positioning in the body and a transfer device external to the body for storing one or more treating elements and introducing the treating elements into the catheter, a method for detecting whether the treating elements reside within the transfer device comprising:

encapsulating the treating elements in a material having known reflectivity characteristics;

shining first and second lights of different wavelengths and having known reflected intensities into an area in the transfer device where the treating elements are stored before and after being introduced into the catheter;

measuring the reflected intensities of the first and second lights reflected off of the area in the transfer device;

forming a ratio of the reflected intensities of the reflected first and second lights;

comparing the ratio of the reflected intensities of the reflected first and second lights with the known reflectivity characteristics of the encapsulating material for the treating elements;

determining whether the measured ratio of reflected intensities is substantially the same as the known reflectivity characteristics; and

indicating whether the treating elements reside within the transfer device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second lights are flashed in turn onto an area of the transfer device where the treating elements are stored.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

assembling said treating elements in a linear array, said treating elements being encapsulated in stainless steel;

placing a marker element at at least one end of said linear array of treating elements, said marker element being encapsulated in gold; and

shining said first and second lights onto the area in the transfer device where the marker element is stored before and after the treating elements are introduced into the catheter, said first light being blue and said second light being red.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

creating signals corresponding to the reflected intensities of the lights reflected off the area in the transfer device;

filtering out any signals created by ambient light; and

comparing the signals created by said first and second reflected lights to signals corresponding to the known reflectivity characteristics of the encapsulating material at different wavelengths.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

creating a signal having a null output voltage for the lights reflected off said marker element.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said null output voltage for the lights reflected off said marker element is created by adjusting the reflected intensities of the lights.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating a light of a first color visible exterior to the transfer device when the measured ratio of reflected intensities is not substantially the same as the known reflectivity characteristics.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

creating signals corresponding to the reflected intensities of the lights reflected off the area in the transfer device;

filtering out any signals created by reflected ambient light; and

comparing the signals created by said first and second reflected lights to signals corresponding to the known reflectivity characteristics of the encapsulating material at different wavelengths for said first and second lights.