Directional-ionizing energy emitting implant

Abstract

The directional-ionizing energy emitting implant is for attachment either to natural tissue or a prosthetic device, and delivers a prescribed dosage of energy to targeted tissue. The insert device includes an energy-source material within the insert device that delivers the prescribed dosage of energy to the targeted tissue, while minimizing exposure of nontargeted tissue. The targeted tissue has a known energy-response profile and is adjacent to the targeted tissue. The energy-source material in combination with the prosthetic device defines an actual energy-delivery distribution field. The energy-delivery distribution field has a configuration similar to the known energy-responsive profile of the targeted tissue. The prescribed dosage of energy is applied from energy-source material within the insert device and directed to the targeted tissue. The prescribed energy dosage is determined by using known characteristics of the energy-source material, and by the placement of the energy-source material relative to the targeted tissue. The implant system reduces any occurrence of heterotopic ossification caused by the implant, inhibits growth or migration of benign or malignant living cells, and minimizes or even eliminates infectious processes or delayed keloid or scar formation induced from surgical placement of a functional prosthesis or fixation device, in tissue within or about the device due to its targeted therapeutic energy emission effects.

Description

FIELD OF USE [0001] The present invention relates to an implanted apparatus having an insert device that is additive to or the replacement for an anatomic body structure or joint for the purpose of delivering a prescribed dosage of energy to targeted tissue to inhibit growth or migration of benign or malignant living cells and to minimize or even eliminate infectious or inflammatory processes, scarring, and fibrosis in tissue within or about the device due to its targeted energy effects. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Total or partial prosthetic replacements are now common orthopedic surgical procedures. As the age of the general population increases, the number of such replacements is also increasing. Common symptoms generally can be caused by progressive degenerative osteoarthritis, prior localized trauma, previous local surgical procedures within the region, ankylosing spondylitis, and idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. [0003] A common delayed complication following such repla...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a directional-ionizing energy emitting implant system and method for delivering a prescribed dosage of radiation to targeted tissue. The system includes a prosthetic device that functionally replaces or is additive to a body structure or joint, and radio source material that delivers the prescribed dosage of energy to the targeted tissue. The system is designed to minimize or eliminate infectious or inflammatory processes, delayed keloid or scar formation, and heterotopic ossification caused by surgical placement of a functional prosthesis or fixation device. The system offers numerous medical, safety, and economic advantages over conventional radiotherapy, including improved radiation efficacy, reduced risk of radiation exposure to medical personnel and healthy tissue, and minimization of functional impairment to the prosthesis or fixation devices. The system promotes more routine use of prophylactic radiation to prevent heterotopic ossification and minimize infectious, inflammatory, or scarring processes in such tissue."

Problems solved by technology

This complication results from excessive migration, replication, or differentiation of local primitive mesenchymal cells which are stimulated by the surgical trauma.

These osteoblastic cells then produce osteoid which is eventually transformed into calcified deposits or bone tissue, but in undesirable locations.

Heterotopic ossification causes varying degrees of debilitating pain, functional or mobile impairment, and increases the likelihood of repeat procedures after a period of time from several months to a few years.

External beam radiation therapy is often not prescribed because of the time required for set-up and treatment, the availability of single fraction treatments and variations in prescribed dose, patient discomfort and side effects, the need to irradiate tissue outside the target field, and economic considerations.

In addition, many patients are not considered for radiation treatment until late in the recovery process, which further limits treatment options.

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