Delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy

• US 20030171637A1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theragenics Corporation (Juniper Investment Co. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Biocompatibles Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Terwilliger, Richard A., Lamoureux, Gary A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1023 Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1024 Seeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/03 characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/151 Coating hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/157 Coating linked inserts, e.g. chains
• CPC Class Codes: G21G 4/08 specially adapted for medical application radiation therapy using radioactive sources A61N5/10

Abstract

A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy comprising a substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated member made of material, which is bio-absorbable in living tissue and a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed in a predetermined array within the member. The delivery system and method further customize the member based on a prescription.

Claims

1. A prescription method of treating tissue comprising the steps of:

first creating a tissue treatment plan for the tissue to be treated, which treatment plan specifies the a number and spacing of treatment seeds to be provided in a strand; and

second creating a treatment strand by molding treatment seeds in a material.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said first creating step is performed by a person treating a patient; and

said second creating step is performed by an entity that fills prescriptions by forming the strand, which entity fills prescriptions from a plurality of patients.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

wherein said first creating step specifies radioactive seeds and optimal spacings between each pair of seeds; and

wherein said second creating step creates strands to the specified optimal spacings prescribed.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

said second creating step is performed positioning radioactive seeds in a mold at the optimal spaces and pouring in a material to mold the radioactive seeds in place.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

said material that is poured is a bio-absorbable material.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

said material that is poured in is a polymer material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said first creating step uses imaging devices for creating a treatment plan.

8. The method of claim 1 including:

receiving said treatment strand and implanting the treatment strand adjacent to the tissue to be treated.

9. The method of claim 1 including the step of using heated treatment seeds.

10. A prescription method of treating tissue comprising the steps of:

first accepting a tissue treatment plan for the tissue to be treated, which treatment plan specifies the spacing of treatment seeds to be provided in a strand; and

second, creating a treatment strand during which in the second step the spacing between treatment seeds can be independently set.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said creating step creates a treatment strand by molding treatment seeds in a material.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said treatment plan specifies the treatment seed type.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said creating step creates a strand to the optimal spacing prescribed in the treatment plan.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said accepting step accepts a treatment plan created using an imaging device to image the tissue for which the treatment plan is prescribed.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the first accepting step accepts a tissue treatment plan created by a computer program.

16. A prescription method of treating tissue comprising the steps of:

first accepting a tissue treatment plan for the tissue to be treated, which treatment plan specifies a number and spacing of treatment seeds to be provided in a strand; and

second creating a treatment strand by molding treatment seeds in a material.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

said first accepting step accepts a tissue treatment plan created by a computer program.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

wherein said first accepting step accepts a treatment plan that specifies radioactive seeds and optimal spacings between each pair of seeds; and

wherein said second creating step creates strands to the specified optimal spacings prescribed.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:

said second creating step is performed positioning radioactive seeds in a mold at the optimal spaces and pouring in a material to mold the radioactive seeds in place.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein:

said material that is poured is a bio-absorbable material.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein:

said material that is poured in is a polymer material.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein:

said first accepting step uses a tissue treatment plan created using an imaging device.