Brachytherapy seed deployment system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A brachytherapy seed deployment system comprising:
- at least two seeds and a filament secured to the at least two seeds in a manner such that the exterior of the filament is secured to the exterior of the seeds and at least one anchor is located along the filament.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a brachytherapy seed deployment system for use in any of a variety of medical procedures such as radiation treatment of the prostate gland. The system includes at least two seeds secured together by a filament, which may be rigid or flexible. Also provided are methods of assembling the seeds and filaments, and methods of treating cancerous tissue using the seeds and filaments.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A brachytherapy seed deployment system comprising:
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at least two seeds and a filament secured to the at least two seeds in a manner such that the exterior of the filament is secured to the exterior of the seeds and at least one anchor is located along the filament. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A brachytherapy seed deployment system comprising:
- at least two seeds;
a filament; and
at least one anchor located along the filament, wherein the filament is secured to the at least two seeds;
a sleeve including a central lumen for containing the seeds and filament; and
a needle including a central lumen for containing the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
- at least two seeds;
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21. A method of assembling a brachytherapy seed deployment system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fixture including a longitudinal slot;
placing a filament within the slot;
pulling the filament taut;
sliding at least one cylindrical collar onto the filament;
inserting a seed into the at least one collar;
locating the seed and collar at a desired point along a length of the filament; and
securing the seed and collar to the filament. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- providing a fixture including a longitudinal slot;
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29. A method of implanting brachytherapy seeds, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a needle, the needle containing a sleeve, the sleeve containing at least two seeds tethered to one another by a filament;
penetrating a cancerous region with the needle; and
ejecting the seeds from the sleeve and implanting the seeds in the cancerous region. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
- providing a needle, the needle containing a sleeve, the sleeve containing at least two seeds tethered to one another by a filament;
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38. A brachytherapy seed deployment system comprising:
- at least two seeds;
a laminate encapsulating the at least two seeds; and
a filament having at least one anchor located thereon, wherein the filament is secured to the at least two seeds. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
- at least two seeds;
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42. A method of securing at least two brachytherapy seeds to a filament, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a filament having one or more collars located thereon; and
securing a first seed and a second seed to the filament with the collars in a manner such that the exterior of the filament is secured to the collars such that the two seeds are tethered to one another by the filament. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
- providing a filament having one or more collars located thereon; and
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47. A brachytherapy seed deployment system comprising:
at least two collars, a filament and at least two seeds;
wherein the at least two seeds are retained in the collars, and the collars are secured to the filament.- View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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51. A brachytherapy seed deployment system comprising:
at least two seeds;
at least one spacer; and
a filament secured to the at least two seeds in a manner such that the exterior of the filament is secured to the seeds, and the spacer is located between adjacent seeds.- View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54)
Specification