Expandable brachytherapy device
First Claim
1. A method for brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity of a breast, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a distal end of a brachytherapy device within the cavity, the brachytherapy device comprising an inner tube, and a plurality of source lumen tubes defining source lumens and which source lumen tubes are located around the inner tube and include distal ends secured together with the inner tube at the distal end of the device, the inner tube and source lumen tubes comprising proximal portions sufficiently long to extend outside the breast when the device is positioned for brachytherapy;
expanding a single expandable surface portion surrounding the distal portions of the source lumen tubes and within the cavity; and
positioning one or more sources of radiation within the plurality of the source lumens according to a brachytherapy treatment plan.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity of a breast including, positioning a distal end of a brachytherapy device within the cavity, expanding an expandable surface portion located between proximal and distal ends of the device within the cavity, the source lumen tubes defining a curved configuration within the cavity; and positioning a source of radiation sequentially within one or more source lumens of the source lumen tubes according to a brachytherapy treatment plan. The device includes an inner tube, and a plurality of source lumen tubes located around the inner tube and including distal ends secured together with the inner tube at the distal end disposed within the body cavity, the source lumen tubes comprising proximal portions sufficiently long to extend outside the breast.
170 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method for brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity of a breast, comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a distal end of a brachytherapy device within the cavity, the brachytherapy device comprising an inner tube, and a plurality of source lumen tubes defining source lumens and which source lumen tubes are located around the inner tube and include distal ends secured together with the inner tube at the distal end of the device, the inner tube and source lumen tubes comprising proximal portions sufficiently long to extend outside the breast when the device is positioned for brachytherapy; expanding a single expandable surface portion surrounding the distal portions of the source lumen tubes and within the cavity; and positioning one or more sources of radiation within the plurality of the source lumens according to a brachytherapy treatment plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A device for use in brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity of a breast comprising:
-
an inner tube comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion terminating in a distal end, and a source lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal end for receiving a source of radiation therein; a plurality of source lumen tubes located around the inner tube and comprising proximal portions and distal portions terminating at distal ends that are secured together at the inner tube distal end, the source lumen tubes defining source lumens that extend through the proximal portions to the distal ends of the source lumen tubes for receiving a source of radiation therein; and an expandable member located around the distal portions of the source lumen tubes to help sculpt tissue adjacent the cavity, and an attachment means which attaches a proximal end of the expandable member to the proximal portions of the source lumen tubes and the proximal portions of the source lumen tubes are sufficiently long to extend from the proximal end of the expandable member to a location outside the breast when the device is positioned for brachytherapy. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A device for use in brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity comprising:
-
an inner tube comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion terminating in a distal end, and a source lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal end for receiving a source of radiation therein; a plurality of source lumen tubes located around the inner tube and comprising proximal portions and distal portions terminating at distal ends that are secured together at the inner tube distal end, the source lumen tubes defining source lumens that extend through the proximal portions to the distal ends of the source lumen tubes for receiving a source of radiation therein; an expandable member located around the distal portions of the source lumen tubes to help sculpt tissue adjacent the cavity; and an outer tube surrounding the proximal portions of the inner tube and the proximal portions of the source lumen tubes, wherein the outer tube is provided with indicia identifying one or more of the source lumen tubes.
-
Specification