METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING PATIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR CANCER

• US 20100268078A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SNC Holdings Corp.
• Original Assignee: VTQ IP Holding Corporation
• Inventors: Mueller, Jeffrey, Nagle, H. Troy, Scarantino, Charles W., Hall, Lester C., Kermani, Bahram G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,662,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/436
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/507 for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1071 for verifying the dose delivered by the treatment plan
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

Oncology monitoring systems include: (a) a first plurality of radiation sensors configured to reside proximate a target tumor treatment site of a patient, the sensors being configured to provide radiation data associated with the tumor treatment site; and (b) a first portable receiver in communication with the plurality of sensors. The receiver is configured to obtain radiation data from the sensors at a plurality of different times. The receiver is in communication with a local and/or remote computer that tracks variation in the radiation data to provide dynamic tumor site information.

Claims

1. An oncology monitoring system, comprising:

a first plurality of radiation sensors configured to reside proximate a target tumor treatment site of a patient, wherein the sensors are configured to provide radiation data associated with an internally administered radioactive substance at the target tumor treatment site; and

a first portable receiver in communication with the plurality of sensors, the first receiver configured to obtain radiation data from the sensors at a plurality of different times, wherein the first receiver is in communication with a local and/or remote computer that tracks variation in the radiation data to provide tumor site information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are configured to obtain radiation data associated with beta radiation from the administered radioactive substance.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to be worn by the patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises electronic memory that stores the radiation data obtained at different times and is configured to transmit the radiation data to a clinical site.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the receiver is self-powered.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the receiver has a rechargeable power source.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the receiver is configured to engage a vehicle electrical power connection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors are wireless sensors that communicate with the receiver.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote computer in communication with the receiver that collects the obtained radiation data.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of sensors positioned on a second patient and a second receiver in communication with the second plurality of sensors, wherein the first and second receivers are configured to transmit respective radiation data to the remote computer.

11. A method of evaluating an oncology patient, comprising:

electronically obtaining radiation data proximate a tumor treatment site of a patient at a plurality of different times during at least one time period using a portable receiver while a patient is away from a clinical site, wherein the radiation data is associated with a radiolabeled substance administered to the patient;

electronically monitoring variation in the obtained radiation data over the at least one time period; and

evaluating a treatment strategy and/or the tumor treatment site based on the monitored radiation data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the obtaining step is carried out sufficiently often so that variation in radiation data at the tumor treatment site is identified.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the obtaining is carried out at least hourly for at least a portion of the at least one time period.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the obtaining step comprises obtaining the radiation data while a patient is at home.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising externally attaching the portable reader to a patient before the obtaining step.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the obtained radiation data on memory associated with the receiver, then electronically transmitting the obtained radiation data to a clinical site for the monitoring and/or evaluating step.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the obtaining step is carried out using a plurality of wireless sensors.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the obtaining step is carried out using a plurality of implantable wireless sensors.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one time period is at least one day.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one time period is a plurality of days.