Intraocular radiotherapy treatment for macular degeneration

• US 7,223,225 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• 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:
  US11/282,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 600 1- 8, 606/4, 604/294
• 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 macular degeneration in the human eye, comprising:

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

positioning the ionizing radiation source at a location within the vitreous chamber spaced from subretinal tissue associated with macular degeneration; and

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

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the subretinal tissue comprises tissue of the sub-macular region.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the subretinal tissue comprises blood vessels.

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

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the subretinal 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 selected subretinal tissue.

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 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 ionizing radiation source has an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate greater than or equal to about 50 cGy/sec.

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

16. A method of radiotherapy for macular degeneration, comprising:

providing a radiation source delivery cannula having a distal end portion;

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

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

positioning the ionizing radiation source at a location spaced from subretinal tissue; and

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

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the subretinal tissue comprises tissue of the sub-macular region.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the exposing comprises exposing the subretinal tissue for a time period sufficient to treat neovascularization.

19. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the exposing comprises exposing the subretinal tissue to the radiation for a time period between about 1 minute and about 15 minutes.

20. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source comprises beta radiation.

21. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the exposing comprises targeting the radiation only at selected subretinal tissue.

22. The method in accordance with claim 16 which the subretinal tissue comprises blood vessels.

23. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the exposing comprises exposing the subretinal tissue to a therapeutically effective amount of radiation sufficient to treat neovascularization.

24. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the spacing is about 1 mm or more.

25. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the spacing is about 3 mm or less.

26. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the spacing is between about 1 mm and about 3 mm.

27. The method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising providing a shield for shielding at least a portion of the radiation source.

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

29. The method in accordance with claim 16 in which the ionizing radiation source has an energy sufficient to provide a dose rate greater than or equal to about 50 cGy/sec.

30. The method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising withdrawing the ionizing radiation source from the eye.

31. A method for treating macular degeneration, comprising:

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

positioning the ionizing radiation source at a location within the vitreous chamber about 3 mm or less from subretinal choroidal blood vessels; and

exposing the choroidal blood vessels to a therapeutically effective amount of radiation emitted from the ionizing radiation source to treat neovascularization.

32. The method in accordance with claim 31 in which the choroidal blood vessels are 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 defective choroidal blood vessels.

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 further comprising withdrawing the ionizing radiation source from the eye.