Expandable brachytherapy device
First Claim
1. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus for treating tissue surrounding a cavity within a body, comprising:
- an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end configured for introduction into the cavity within the body;
a plurality of elongate tubes on the distal end comprising source lumens for receiving a source of radiation, the elongate tubes being movable from an unexpanded state for introduction into the cavity within the body, and an expanded state, thereby positioning at least a portion of the source lumens closely adjacent to tissue to be treated;
a radiation source introducible into the source lumens for delivering radiation to the tissue to be treated, andan outer tube associated with the elongate body, the entire outer tube being movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body for causing the elongate tubes to move from the unexpanded state to the expanded state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A brachytherapy device for the provision of brachytherapy is disclosed. The brachytherapy device has at least one source lumen located outside a movable surface of the device. The source lumen may be secured to the movable outer surface in a manner whereby relative movement of the source lumen relative to the movable outer surface is permitted. The brachytherapy device is inserted into a body cavity. After insertion, the movable surface is moved to position the at least one source lumen closer to the tissue boundary of the cavity. One or more sources of radiation are then placed within the at least one source lumen to provide a customizable treatment. Also disclosed are methods for providing brachytherapy via body cavities.
157 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus for treating tissue surrounding a cavity within a body, comprising:
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an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end configured for introduction into the cavity within the body; a plurality of elongate tubes on the distal end comprising source lumens for receiving a source of radiation, the elongate tubes being movable from an unexpanded state for introduction into the cavity within the body, and an expanded state, thereby positioning at least a portion of the source lumens closely adjacent to tissue to be treated; a radiation source introducible into the source lumens for delivering radiation to the tissue to be treated, and an outer tube associated with the elongate body, the entire outer tube being movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body for causing the elongate tubes to move from the unexpanded state to the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus for treating tissue surrounding a cavity within a body, comprising:
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an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end sized for introduction into the cavity within the body; a plurality of flexible tubes extending from the proximal end to the distal end and comprising source lumens for receiving a radiation source therein, the flexible tubes being movable from an unexpanded state for introduction into the cavity within the body, and an expanded state, thereby positioning at least a portion of the source lumens closely adjacent to tissue to be treated; a plurality of openings communicating with respective source lumens for inserting the radiation source into the source lumens; and an outer tube surrounding a proximal portion of the flexible tubes, the entire outer tube being movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body for moving the flexible tubes from the unexpanded state to the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A brachytherapy treatment apparatus for treating tissue surrounding a cavity within a body, comprising:
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an elongate control rod comprising a proximal end and a distal end sized for introduction into the cavity within the body; and a plurality of elongate tubes extending from the proximal end to the distal end and comprising source lumens for receiving a radiation source, the elongate tubes being movable from an unexpanded state extending substantially parallel to the control rod for introduction through tissue into a surgical cavity, and an expanded state, thereby positioning at least a portion of the source lumens located between the proximal and distal ends of the control rod further away from the control rod than when in the unexpanded state and closely adjacent to tissue to be treated, wherein the distal end of the control rod is secured to the elongate tubes via a cap, and further comprising an outer tube surrounding proximal portions of the elongate tubes, the control rod being fixed to the cap and free to slide axially inside the outer tube for moving the elongate tubes from the unexpanded state to the expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue adjacent a surgical cavity created by excision of a tumor within a breast, comprising:
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advancing an elongate body carrying a plurality of elongate flexible tubes via an incision in breast tissue into the surgical cavity with the elongate flexible tubes in an unexpanded state extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body, wherein the flexible tubes are secured to the elongate body at a distal portion of said flexible tubes; directing the elongate flexible tubes to an expanded state within the surgical cavity to position at least a portion of the elongate flexible tubes further away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body than in the unexpanded state, thereby positioning said portion of the elongate flexible tubes closely adjacent to the tissue to be treated;
positioning a source of radiation within one source lumen of the elongate flexible tubes to treat tissue adjacent the surgical cavity by irradiation of the tissue; andpositioning the source of radiation or another source of radiation within another source lumen of the elongate flexible tubes to treat tissue adjacent the surgical cavity by irradiation of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue adjacent a surgical cavity created by excision of a tumor within a breast, comprising:
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advancing an elongate body carrying a plurality of elongate members via an incision in breast tissue into the surgical cavity with the elongate members in an unexpanded state extending substantially parallel to a central control rod of the elongate body, which central control rod is surrounded by and positioned on a longitudinal axis located at a central position relative to all of the elongate members; directing the elongate members to an expanded state within the surgical cavity by moving the central control rod to position at least a portion of the elongate members further away from the control rod than in the unexpanded state, thereby positioning said portion of the elongate members closely adjacent to the tissue to be treated ; and delivering radiation via the elongate members to treat tissue adjacent the surgical cavity.
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24. A device for use in brachytherapy comprising:
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a plurality of source lumen tubes comprising distal ends and proximal ends sufficiently long to extend outside a body when the distal ends are positioned for brachytherapy in a body cavity, the source lumen tubes defining enclosed source lumens that extend from the proximal portion to the distal ends for sequentially receiving a source of radiation therein; a central control member secured to the distal ends of the source lumen tubes; and an actuator operatively associated with the source lumen tubes and the control member for movement of the control member in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said device to expand an expandable portion of the source lumen tubes between the proximal and distal ends from a first unexpanded state to a second expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A device for use in brachytherapy comprising:
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a plurality of source lumen tubes comprising distal ends and proximal ends sufficiently long to extend outside a body when the distal ends are positioned for brachytherapy in a body cavity, the source lumen tubes defining source lumens that extend from the proximal portion to the distal ends for receiving a source of radiation therein; a central control rod secured to the distal ends of the source lumen tubes, the control rod comprises a source lumen for receiving a source of radiation therein; and an actuator operatively associated with the source lumen tubes and the control rod for movement of the control rod in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said device to expand an expandable portion of the source lumen tubes adjacent the distal ends from a first contracted position to a second expanded position.
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Specification