Rectal balloon apparatus with pressure relieving lumen and sensors

• US 8,679,147 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiadyne LLC (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Isham, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, Tom
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TIN DUC
• Application Number:
  US13/299,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 606/197, 606/193, 606/192, 606/190, 600/427, 600/560, 600/423, 604/98.01, 604/103.01, 604/103.06
• US Class Current: 606/197
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 Immobilising; Stabilising
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1097 Means for immobilizing the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/00 Measuring X-radiation, gamma radiation, corpuscular radiation, or cosmic radiation G01T3/00, G01T5/00 take precedence

Abstract

A rectal balloon apparatus comprises a shaft having a fluid passageway extending therethrough. A rectal gas relieving lumen may be positioned with the shaft for removal of rectal gas. A motion detecting sensor and a radiation detecting sensor may be positioned with the balloon, the shaft, and/or the rectal gas release lumen.

Claims

1. A method of prostate cancer treatment by external beam radiation therapy, comprising:

a. inserting a prostate immobilizing balloon into the rectum of a male patient,

said prostate balloon having;

i. a proximal end and a distal end and having a generally laterally flat seating area on a top surface thereof and a bottom rounded surface;

ii. a shaft having a fluid passageway extending therethrough and a valve;

iii. said balloon affixed over an end of said shaft such that said fluid passageway communicates with an interior of said balloon;

iv. said valve being closable so as to maintain an inflated configuration;

v. a lumen having a second fluid passageway therein and extending from past said proximal end of said balloon to past said distal end of said balloon, said lumen having a capped distal tip and one or more ports adjacent said capped distal tip and distal to said distal end of said balloon;

b. properly positioning said prostate on said seating area, and inflating said balloon to immobilize a said prostate in said patient;

c. treating said prostate with external beam radiation therapy; and

d. allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports during treatment.

2. A method of prostate cancer treatment by external beam radiation therapy, comprising:

a. inserting a prostate immobilizing balloon into the rectum of a male patient,

said prostate balloon having;

i. a proximal end and a distal end and having a generally laterally flat seating area on a top surface thereof and a bottom rounded surface;

ii. a shaft having a fluid passageway extending therethrough and a valve;

iii. said balloon affixed over an end of said shaft such that said fluid passageway communicates with an interior of said balloon;

iv. said valve being closable so as to maintain an inflated configuration;

v. a lumen having a second fluid passageway therein and extending from past said proximal end of said balloon to past said distal end of said balloon, said lumen having a capped distal tip with a fiducial marker on said distal tip, and one or more ports adjacent said distal tip and distal to said distal end of said balloon;

b. properly positioning said prostate on said seating area, and inflating said balloon to immobilize said prostate in said patient;

c. determining the position of said fiducial marker to ensure repeatable balloon positioning;

d. treating said prostate with external beam radiation therapy; and

e. allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports during treatment.