SINGLE-USE INTERNAL DOSIMETERS FOR DETECTING RADIATION IN MEDICAL PROCEDURES/THERAPIES

• US 20110121188A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VTQ IP Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: VTQ IP Holding Corporation
• Inventors: Widener, Steven R., Mann, Gregory Glenwood, Lehman, Phillip M., Black, Robert D., Carroll, John
• Application Number:
  US13/017,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20110121188A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/370.07
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1072 taking into account movement of the target
• 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: G01T 1/026 Semiconductor dose-rate meters

Abstract

Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products include positioning single-use radiation internal dosimeters with MOSFETs into a patient to evaluate the radiation dose delivered during a medical procedure or treatment session. The MOSFETs can be unpowered during irradiation.

Claims

1. An internal single-use radiation dosimeter, the dosimeter comprising:

at least one radiation sensor circuit with a MOSFET having an associated threshold voltage that changes when exposed to radiation to provide quantifiable radiation exposure data, wherein the radiation sensor circuit is unpowered during irradiation;

electronic memory having radiation calibration data for the MOSFET; and

a reader contact zone on the dosimeter configured to allow a portable reader to electrically engage the dosimeter to obtain the radiation exposure and calibration data, wherein the radiation dosimeter is a single-use dosimeter configured for use during a single medical treatment session.

2. An internal radiation dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the calibration data comprises a zero temperature coefficient.

3. An internal radiation dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the electronic memory comprises electronic instructions for automatically controlling how a remote reader communicates with the dosimeter.

4. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the electronic memory is configured to store patient specific data and radiation exposure data.

5. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the radiation dosimeter is configured to inhibit re-use of the dosimeter.

6. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein, in operation, the dosimeter electronic memory is configured to allow a portable reader to write patient specific data and radiation exposure calculation values to the electronic memory once.

7. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the dosimeter is sized and configured to reside in a natural body lumen with the MOSFET of the radiation sensor circuit held a distance in the natural body lumen and the reader contact zone held external of the body.

8. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the dosimeter is sized and configured as a transcutaneous or subcutaneous dosimeter probe with the MOSFET of the radiation sensor circuit held at a subsurface depth in tissue in the body and with the reader contact zone residing external of the body.

9. An internal dosimeter according to claim 7, wherein the dosimeter comprises an elongate flex circuit with the radiation circuit MOSFET held on a distal end portion thereof and the reader contact zone held on an opposing proximal portion, and with at least one electrical trace extending therebetween.

10. An internal dosimeter according to claim 9, wherein the elongate flex circuit is held inside a flexible elastomeric elongate probe body.

11. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the dosimeter comprises an elongate flex circuit with a plurality of axially spaced apart radiation sensor circuits, each radiation sensor circuit comprising a single operative MOSFET, and wherein the radiation sensor circuits comprise separate electrical traces that extend from a respective MOSFET to terminate at the reader contact zone.

12. An internal dosimeter according to claim 11, wherein the dosimeter is configured to provide data from each radiation sensor circuit for determining maxima, minima and average exposure.

13. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the internal dosimeter contact zone is configured and sized to enter a port in the portable dose-reader to transmit the voltage threshold data and the calibration data.

14. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the internal dosimeter is configured and sized to reside in a natural mouth cavity with the MOSFET of the radiation sensor circuit held a distance in the natural body lumen and the reader contact zone held external of the body.

15. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the dosimeter is integrated in and/or on a mouthpiece.

16. An internal dosimeter according to claim 15, wherein the mouthpiece is a bite block that includes at least one externally extending tab portion that defines the reader contact zone, and wherein at least one tab portion is configured to enter into a port in the reader to electronically engage the reader with the radiation sensor circuit and the electronic memory.

17. An internal dosimeter according to claim 16, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to hold a plurality of spaced apart radiation sensor circuits, each with a respective MOSFET, each having a separate outwardly extending tab for allowing contact with the portable reader.

18. An internal dosimeter according to claim 17, wherein the tab portions comprise a removeable cover that remains in position when the bite block is in a mouth cavity during irradiation, and is removeable for electronic access thereto after irradiation.

19. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the internal dosimeter has a body that is configured as a generally conformable nose cavity plug.

20. An internal dosimeter according to claim 19, wherein the nose cavity plug includes a tab portion that defines the reader contact zone and is configured to enter a port in the reader to electronically engage the reader with the radiation sensor circuit and the electronic memory.

21. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the internal dosimeter has a body that is configured as a generally conformable ear plug.

22. An internal dosimeter according to claim 21, wherein the ear plug includes an outwardly extending tab portion that defines the reader contact zone and is configured to enter a port in the portable reader to electronically engage the reader with the radiation sensor circuit and the electronic memory.

23. An internal dosimeter according to claim 22, wherein the dosimeter is held in and/or on a flexible male genourinary catheter.

24. An internal dosimeter according to claim 23, wherein the dosimeter comprises a flex circuit with a MOSFET held at a distal end portion of the catheter and a tab portion located at a proximal end portion of the catheter that defines the reader contact zone and is configured to enter a port in the portable reader to electronically engage the reader with the radiation sensor circuit and the electronic memory.

25. An internal dosimeter according to claim 24, wherein the catheter comprises an expandable balloon that is expanded during irradiation to position the MOSFET in at least one of the at least one radiation sensor circuits proximate a prostate of a male patient above the urinary sphincter.

26. An internal dosimeter according to claim 25, wherein the flex circuit is configured to be slidably received in the catheter to allow in situ axially adjustable placement of at least one of the radiation sensor circuits.

27. An internal dosimeter according to claim 26, wherein the flex circuit comprises a plurality of axially spaced apart radiation sensor circuits that include electrical traces that terminate at the tab portion.

28. An internal dosimeter according to claim 27, wherein the dosimeter is configured to obtain radiation data during brachytherapy and/or external radiation beam therapy.

29. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the dosimeter has a body that is configured as a flexible female genourinary probe.

30. An internal dosimeter according to claim 29, wherein the probe is sized and configured as a vaginal probe.

31. An internal dosimeter according to claim 29, wherein the probe is sized and configured as a urethral probe.

32. An internal dosimeter according to claim 29, wherein the dosimeter includes a tab portion that defines the reader contact zone and is configured to enter a port in the portable reader to electronically engage the reader with the radiation sensor circuit and the electronic memory.

33. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the dosimeter has a body that is configured as a rectal probe.

34. An internal dosimeter according to claim 33, wherein the rectal probe includes an outwardly extending tab portion that defines the reader contact zone and is configured to enter a port in the portable reader to electronically engage the reader with the radiation sensor circuit and the electronic memory.

35. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the dosimeter is biocompatible and sterilized and held in a sealed package for medical use.

36. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one radiation circuit is configured to detect radiation doses in the range of at least one of:

from about 20 to about 1500 cGy, from about 20-500 cGy, and from about 500-1500 cGy.

37. An internal dosimeter according to claim 1, wherein the radiation sensor circuit includes a MOSFET that is devoid of floating gate structures and is unbiased during radiation.