Dual gynecological balloon packing system

• US 8,500,618 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiadyne LLC (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Isham, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorna, Carrie R
• Application Number:
  US12/709,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 600 1- 8, 600/424, 600/427, 604/20, 604/21, 604/921
• US Class Current: 600/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/4241 Instruments for manoeuvring or retracting the uterus, e.g. during laparoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1016 Gynaecological radiation therapy

Abstract

A gynecological balloon apparatus has a first balloon and a second balloon disposed with a gynecological brachytherapy applicator. The first and second balloons are each movable between an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The first and second balloons may conform to a shape of a vaginal cavity when in their inflated conditions. A radiation detecting sensor and a motion detecting sensor may be positioned with the apparatus.

Claims

1. A vaginal balloon apparatus for use with a separate brachytherapy applicator, comprising:

first and second balloons, each balloon comprising a first material welded to a second material to form said balloon, said first material being thicker or less elastic than said second material;

each balloon further comprising a lumen with a single passageway in fluid communication with said balloon and a valve on said lumen for introducing a fluid into said balloon through said single passageway;

each lumen further comprising an attachment clip having a first end groove sized to fit an outside diameter of said lumen, and a second end groove sized to fit either an outside diameter of a separate brachytherapy applicator or the outside diameter of the other lumen,

said first and second balloons being movable between a deflated condition and an inflated condition, wherein in said inflated condition said first material forms a flatter surface than said second material, and said second material conforms to the shape of a vaginal cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fiducial marker with at least one of said balloons or lumens.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said fiducial marker being a radio-opaque material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motion detecting sensor positioned with a surface of said first balloon.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a radiation detecting sensor positioned with a surface of said first balloon.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said radiation detecting sensor being a semiconductor type sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, said radiation detecting sensor being a scintillating fiber optics type sensor.

8. A method of gynecological brachytherapy, comprising attaching the first and second balloons of any of claims 1-7 to a separate brachytherapy applicator via said attachment clips, inserting said brachytherapy applicator and said first and second balloons into a patient, inflating said first and second balloons and treating said patient with brachytherapy.