Multicomponent vaginal cylinder system for low dose rate brachytherapy or gynecological cancers

• US 6,641,518 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miami University
• Original Assignee: University of Miami
• Inventors: Wu, Xiaodong, Wolfson, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, BINH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/840,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 600/1, 600/2, 600/3, 600/4, 600/5, 600/6, 600/7, 600/8, 604/515, 604/516, 604/517
• US Class Current: 600/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1016 Gynaecological radiation therapy

Abstract

A multicomponent vaginal cylinder system composed of a tandem capable of housing one or more radiation sources, one or more removable ovoid cartridges, each cartridge capable of housing a radiation source, and a vaginal cylinder structure having corresponding hollow cavities to accommodate the insertions of the tandem and the ovoid cartridges. Radiation shielding may be removably attached to portions of the vaginal cylinder structure to shield tissues from unwanted radiation. A method for using this vaginal cylinder system to treat gynecological cancers is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A multicomponent vaginal cylinder system comprising:

a tandem, said tandem configured to house at least one radiation source;

a vaginal cylinder structure having

a tandem slot into which said tandem is inserted so as to be slidably engaged with said vaginal cylinder structure;

one or more hollow cartridge spaces and

a proximal flared portion constructed and arranged to abut patient tissue;

and one or more removable ovoid cartridges constructed and arranged to house at least one radiation source, said cartridges further constructed and arranged to be inserted into said hollow cartridge spaces of said vaginal cylinder structure.

2. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more removable ovoid cartridges include at least one cavity constructed and arranged to house a radiation source.

3. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cavity of said one or more removable ovoid cartridges is forwardly positioned at proximal ends of the ovoids.

4. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one cavity of said one or more removable ovoid cartridges is cylindrical, extending perpendicular to a long axis of said one or more removable ovoid cartridges.

5. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 1, wherein said hollow cartridge spaces extend parallel to a long axis of said vaginal cylinder structure.

6. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 5, wherein said hollow cartridge spaces extend through a substantial portion of the length of said vaginal cylinder structure.

7. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 6, wherein said hollow cartridge spaces extend from openings formed in a distal surface of said vaginal cylinder to an interior wall formed at the origin of said proximal flared portion.

8. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 1, wherein said vaginal cylinder structure is molded from a biocompatible plastic.

9. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 8, wherein said biocompatible plastic is substantially transparent.

10. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 8, wherein said vaginal cylinder structure is disposable.

11. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 1, said vaginal cylinder structure further comprising shielding extending over at least a portion of said proximal flared portion.

12. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 11, wherein said shielding comprises steel plate constructed and arranged to be attached to said proximal flared portion.

13. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 1, wherein said tandem is fixedly engaged with said vaginal cylinder structure with a fastener.

14. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 13, wherein said fastener is a set screw.

15. The multicomponent vaginal cylinder system according to claim 1, wherein said one or more removable ovoid cartridges are fixedly secured within said vaginal cylinder structure by means of a fastener.

16. A vaginal cylinder structure having a proximal flared portion, comprising:

a tandem slot extending through the entire length of the vaginal cylinder structure;

one or more removable ovoid cartridges housing at least one radiation source; and

one or more hollow cartridge spaces, each housing an ovoid cartridge.

17. The vaginal cylinder structure according to claim 16, wherein the tandem slot is centrally positioned within the vaginal cylinder structure.

18. The vaginal cylinder structure according to claim 16, wherein the one or more removable ovoid cartridges comprise one or more radiation sources.

19. The vaginal cylinder structure according to claim 18, wherein the one or more radiation sources are forwardly positioned at proximal ends of the removable ovoid cartridges.

20. The vaginal cylinder structure according to claim 16, wherein the vaginal cylinder structure is molded from a biocompatible plastic.

21. The vaginal cylinder structure according to claim 20, wherein the plastic vaginal cylinder structure is disposable.

22. The vaginal cylinder structure according to claim 21, wherein the plastic vaginal cylinder structure is substantially transparent.

23. The vaginal cylinder structure according to claim 16, further comprising radiation shielding.

24. A method of treating a gynecological cancer comprising:

inserting a tandem housing one or more radiation sources into a patient'"'"'s vagina such that the tandem extends from a contact point within the patient'"'"'s body exteriorly through the patient'"'"'s vagina;

inserting a vaginal cylinder structure into the vagina such that the tandem is situated within a tandem slot of the vaginal cylinder structure and the vaginal cylinder structure surrounding the tandem proximally abuts cervical tissue; and

inserting one or more ovoid cartridges capable of housing one or more radiation sources into hollow cartridge spaces of the vaginal cylinder structure, the hollow cartridge spaces being adjacent to and extending in parallel to said tandem slot;

thereby irradiating targeted tissues to treat a gynecological cancer.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the vaginal cylinder structure comprises radiation shielding for protecting non-target tissues from irradiation.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the shielding comprises steel-type shielding.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising loading one or more radiation sources into proximal ends of the one or more ovoid cartridges prior to insertion into the hollow cartridge spaces of the vaginal cylinder.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the one or more radiation sources comprise Cesium-137.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein the one or more radiation sources deliver radiation to at least one target tissue selected from the group consisting of ovarian, vaginal, uterine and cervical tissue.