Intraocular radiotherapy treatment

• US 7,220,225 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Retinalabs, Inc. (Iridex Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Retinalabs, Inc. (Iridex Corporation)
• Inventors: Hallen, Paul, Dejuan, Eugene Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krishnamurthy; Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US11/407,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 600 1- 8, 604/20, 604/21, 604/521, 604/294, 606/4
• US Class Current: 600/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1089 Electrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1017 Treatment of the eye, e.g. for "macular degeneration"

Abstract

A surgical device for localized delivery of beta radiation in surgical procedures, particularly ophthalmic procedures. Preferred surgical devices include a cannula with a beta radiotherapy emitting material at the distal end of the cannula. The surgical device is particularly suitable for use in the treatment of treat Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Claims

1. A method for treating tissue of the human eye, comprising:

inserting an ionizing radiation source into the vitreous chamber of the eye;

positioning the ionizing radiation source within the eye at a location spaced from tissue to be treated; and

exposing the tissue to radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the tissue comprises subretinal tissue.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2 in which the subretinal tissue comprises blood vessels.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the tissue is exposed to a therapeutically effective amount of radiation.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the tissue is exposed to radiation for a time period between about 1 minute and about 15 minutes.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the ionizing radiation source has an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate of about 50 cGy/sec to about 100 cGy/sec.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source comprises beta radiation.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the exposing comprises targeting the radiation only at the tissue to be treated.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the spacing is about 1 mm or more.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the spacing is about 3 mm or less.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the spacing is between about 1 mm and about 3 mm.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing a shield for shielding at least a portion of the ionizing radiation source.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 in which the shield and the radiation source are relatively movable so as to allow shielding of the ionizing radiation source when desired.

14. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the exposing comprises positioning the ionizing radiation source so that radiation emitted from the radiation source targets only selected tissue.

15. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising withdrawing the ionizing radiation source from the eye.

16. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the radiation source has an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate at least about 50 cGy/sec.

17. A method of radiotherapy for treating selected tissue of the human eye, comprising:

providing a radiation source delivery cannula having a distal end;

introducing the distal end of the cannula into the vitreous chamber of the human eye;

providing an ionizing radiation source at the distal end of the cannula;

positioning the ionizing radiation source within the eye at a location spaced from the selected tissue; and

exposing the selected tissue to radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the selected tissue comprises subretinal tissue.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the exposing comprises exposing the selected tissue for a time period sufficient to deliver a therapeutically effective amount of radiation.

20. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the exposing comprises exposing the selected tissue to the radiation for a time period between about 1 minute and about 15 minutes.

21. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source comprises beta radiation.

22. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the exposing comprises targeting the radiation only at the selected tissue.

23. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the spacing is about 1 mm or more.

24. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the spacing is about 3 mm or less.

25. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the positioning comprises positioning the ionizing radiation source at a location that is between about 1 mm and about 3 mm from the selected tissue.

26. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising providing a shield for shielding at least a portion of the ionizing radiation source.

27. The method in accordance with claim 26 in which the shield and the radiation source are relatively movable so as to allow shielding of the ionizing radiation source when desired.

28. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the exposing comprises positioning the ionizing radiation source so that radiation emitted from the radiation source targets only selected tissue.

29. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising withdrawing the ionizing radiation source from the eye.

30. The method in accordance with claim 17 in which the radiation source has an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate at least about 50 cGy/sec.

31. A method for treating tissue of the human eye, comprising:

inserting an ionizing radiation source into the vitreous chamber of the eye;

positioning the ionizing radiation source at a location about 3 mm or less from the tissue, the ionizing radiation source having an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate of at least about 50 cGy/sec; and

exposing the tissue to a therapeutically effective amount of radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source.

32. The method in accordance with claim 31 in which the tissue is exposed to radiation for a time period between about 1 minute and about 15 minutes.

33. The method in accordance with claim 31 in which the radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source comprises beta radiation.

34. The method in accordance with claim 31 in which the exposing comprises targeting the radiation only at selected tissue.

35. The method in accordance with claim 31 further comprising providing a shield for shielding at least a portion of the ionizing radiation source.

36. The method in accordance with claim 35 in which the shield and the ionizing radiation source are relatively movable so as to allow shielding of the ionizing radiation source when desired.

37. The method in accordance with claim 31 in which the exposing comprises positioning the ionizing radiation source so that radiation emitted from the radiation source targets only selected tissue.

38. The method in accordance with claim 31 further comprising withdrawing the ionizing radiation source from the eye.