Methods, systems, and associated implantable devices for detecting radiation in patients undergoing treatment for cancer

• US 7,778,692 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SNC Holdings Corp.
• Original Assignee: Sicel Technologies, Inc., North Carolina State University (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: Mueller, Jeffrey, Nagle, H. Troy, Scarantino, Charles W., Hall, Lester C., Kermani, Bahram G.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US11/381,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 600/436, 600/302, 128/903, 378/65
• US Class Current: 600/436
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/507 for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1071 for verifying the dose delivered by the treatment plan
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

Methods and systems for evaluating external beam radiation therapy delivered to a subject include: (a) placing at least one wireless implantable sensor in a first subject at a target location; (b) administering a first dose of radiation therapy into the first subject; (c) obtaining radiation data from the at least one wireless implantable sensor; and (d) calculating a radiation dose amount received by the first subject at the target location based on the radiation data obtained from the at least one wireless sensor during and/or after exposure to the first administered dose of radiation to determine and/or verify a dose amount of radiation delivered to the target location.

Claims

1. An oncology treatment control system, comprising:

a radiation treatment source configured to provide radiation treatment to respective patients during radiation therapy sessions;

at least one chronically implantable wireless sensor configured to reside in an oncology patient proximate a target tumor treatment site, wherein the at least one wireless sensor is a radiation sensor configured to detect radiation data associated with exposure to radiation delivered during a radiation therapy session, and wherein the at least one radiation sensor comprises a MOSFET that is passively operated and/or unpowered during exposure to radiation;

a receiver in communication with the plurality of wireless sensors, the receiver configured to inductively power the at least one wireless sensor and telemetrically receive radiation data detected by the at least one wireless radiation implanted sensor; and

a controller with a physician interface in communication with the radiation treatment source and the receiver to electronically control at least one of power, dose or duration of a radiation treatment during the radiation therapy session, wherein the controller and receiver communicate in substantially real-time to control the radiation treatment source.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller and receiver comprise a feedback loop and communicate in substantially real-time to control the radiation treatment source based on the detected radiation data.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is a bedside unit.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is portable.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless sensor is a plurality of wireless sensors, wherein at least some of the implantable wireless sensors are configured to detect tumor oxygen data and the receiver is configured to telemetrically receive the tumor oxygen data, and wherein the system comprises a feedback loop circuit that controls delivery of radiation therapy from the radiation source based on detected measures of oxygenation and radiation received at the target tumor treatment site.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one implantable wireless sensor is a plurality of implantable wireless sensors, wherein at least one of the wireless sensors is configured to detect at least the following at the tumor treatment site:

temperature, oxygen, and the radiation, and wherein the receiver is also configured to telemetrically receive detected oxygen and temperature data, and wherein the system comprises a feedback loop circuit that controls delivery of radiation therapy from the radiation source based on the detected radiation and temperature data or radiation, temperature and oxygen data.

7. A method of controlling oncology treatments, comprising:

providing a radiation treatment source configured to provide radiation treatment to respective oncology patients during radiation therapy sessions;

inductively powering and telemetrically obtaining data from a plurality of spaced apart implantable wireless sensors residing in a respective oncology patient proximate to a target tumor treatment site, wherein at least one of the sensors is a radiation sensor with a MOSFET that is unpowered during exposure to radiation, and wherein the radiation sensor is configured to detect radiation associated with exposure to radiation delivered during the radiation therapy sessions;

electronically transmitting the obtained data to a remote controller with a physician interface; and

electronically controlling the radiation treatment source using the controller to control at least one of power, dose or duration of a radiation treatment during a radiation therapy session in response to the obtained data.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting and controlling steps are carried out to interact in substantially real time using a feedback loop.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the powering and telemetrically obtaining data step is carried out using a portable receiver, the method further comprising electronically transmitting the obtained data from the receiver to the controller in substantially real time.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising further detecting oxygen data and/or temperature data at the tumor treatment site using one or more of the sensors, and wherein the transmitting and controlling steps are interactive using a feedback loop circuit , and wherein the controlling step controls delivery of the radiation therapy based on at least one of temperature or oxygenation along with and radiation received at the target tumor treatment site.

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising further detecting at least one of temperature, oxygenation or pH at the target tumor treatment site using one or more of the sensors, and wherein the controlling step is based in part on the further detected parameters.