Echogenic spacers and strands
First Claim
1. An apparatus adapted to separate treatment seeds for use in brachytherapy from one another, the apparatus comprising:
- a spacer having an axial length, the spacer including at least two strings twisted together to define an outer surface and an inner surface of the spacer; and
a chamber within the inner surface having a generally helical shape defined by the two or more strings extending along at least a portion of the axial length, the chamber adapted to improve ultrasound visibility.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Echogenic strands and spacers are provided for use in brachytherapy. Methods of making the strands and spacers are also provided. An echogenic strand for use in brachytherapy and a method for making the strand includes an encapsulating material, a seed disposed within the encapsulating material, and a spacer disposed within the encapsulating material and arranged adjacent to the seed. The spacer has an axial length, an outer surface and an inner surface. A chamber is formed along the axial length, the chamber being defined by the inner surface. The chamber is adapted to improve ultrasound visibility relative to the spacer.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus adapted to separate treatment seeds for use in brachytherapy from one another, the apparatus comprising:
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a spacer having an axial length, the spacer including at least two strings twisted together to define an outer surface and an inner surface of the spacer; and a chamber within the inner surface having a generally helical shape defined by the two or more strings extending along at least a portion of the axial length, the chamber adapted to improve ultrasound visibility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A strand for use in brachytherapy, comprising:
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polymeric encapsulating material; a seed disposed within the polymeric encapsulating material; a spacer disposed within the polymeric encapsulating material and arranged adjacent to the seed, the spacer including at least two strings twisted together to define an outer surface and inner surface of the spacer and having an axial length; and a chamber having a generally helical shape defined by the inner surface extending along at least a portion of the axial length, the chamber adapted to improve ultrasound visibility. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A spacer adapted to separate treatment seeds for use in brachytherapy from one another, the spacer comprising:
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at least two strings helically arranged around a cylindrical space; wherein the at least two strings each have a length such that when the at least two strings are helically arranged, the arrangement has an axial length adapted to substantially define a space between two treatment seeds; and the at least two helical grooves formed by the at least two strings, at least two helical grooves extending from the cylindrical space, wherein the at least two helical grooves and the cylindrical space form a chamber that improves ultrasound visibility of the spacer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A spacer adapted to separate treatment seeds for use in brachytherapy from one another, the spacer comprising:
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a center string having an axial length; at least two outer strings helically arranged about the center string so that the center string is enclosed along the axial length by the at least two outer strings; and at least two helical grooves formed by the at least two strings, the at least two helical grooves forming corresponding at least two chambers to improve ultrasound visibility of the spacer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A strand for use in brachytherapy, comprising:
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polymeric encapsulating material; a seed disposed within the polymeric encapsulating material; a spacer having an axial length disposed within the polymeric encapsulating material and arranged adjacent to the seed, the spacer including; at least two strings helically arranged about a cylindrical space; and at least two helical grooves formed by the at least two strings, the at least two helical grooves extending from the cylindrical space, wherein the at least two helical grooves and the cylindrical space form a chamber that improves ultrasound visibility of the spacer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A spacer adapted to separate treatment seeds for use in brachytherapy from one another, the spacer comprising:
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three polymeric strings helically arranged around a cylindrical space so that the spacer has an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface, wherein the three polymeric strings each have a length such that when the three polymeric strings are helically arranged, the arrangement has an axial length adapted to substantially define a space between two treatment seeds; and three helical grooves, each helical groove being formed in the inner circumferential surface where two of the three polymeric strings abut, wherein the three helical grooves extend from the cylindrical space so that the three helical grooves and the cylindrical space form a single chamber that improves ultrasound visibility of the spacer. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification