406 results about "Brachymetatarsals" patented technology

An instrument used for brachytherapy delivery in the treatment of cancer by radiation therapy including a handle having first and second handle actuators; an end effector; and an instrument shaft that connects the handle with the end effector. The end effector has first and second adjacent disposed staple mechanisms that each retain a set of staples. The first mechanism is for holding standard staples in a first array, and dispensing the standard staples under control of the corresponding first handle actuator. The second mechanism is for holding radioactive source staples in a second array, and dispensing said radioactive source staples under control of the corresponding second handle actuator. A holder is for receiving the first and second mechanisms in a substantially parallel array so that the standard staples close the incision at a surgical margin while the source staples are secured adjacent thereto.

A bioabsorbable brachytherapy device includes a tubular housing with sealed ends and an enclosed radioactive material. The radioactive material includes a radioisotope, such as palladium-103 or iodine-125. The tubular housing is made from a biocompatible and bioabsorbable polymeric material, and is sealed by means such as heat welding or solvent fixing. The device may further include a radiopaque medium and one or more therapeutic drugs.

Implantable medical device eluting drug locally and in prolonged period is provided, including several types of such a device, the treatment modes of implementation and methods of implantation. The device comprising of polymeric substrate, such as a matrix for example, that is used as the device body, and drugs, and in some cases additional scaffolding materials, such as metals or additional polymers, and materials to enhance visibility and imaging. The selection of drug is based on the advantageous of releasing drug locally and in prolonged period, where drug is released directly to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the diseased area such as tumor, inflammation, degeneration or for symptomatic objectives, or to injured smooth muscle cells, or for prevention. One kind of drug is the gene silencing drugs based on RNA interference (RNAi), including but not limited to si RNA, sh RNA, or antisense RNA / DNA, ribozyme and nucleoside analogs. The modes of implantation in some embodiments are existing implantation procedures that are developed and used today for other treatments, including brachytherapy and needle biopsy. In such cases the dimensions of the new implant described in this invention are similar to the original implant. Typically a few devices are implanted during the same treatment procedure.

A brachytherapy application device is described, which includes a tandem having a transparent region at its front end, and which is coupled with a fiber-optic illumination means and endoscope. This improved tandem assembly allows the user to guide the tandem into the uterus of a patient in a safer, more reproducible manner with the reduction in occurrence of uterine perforation during tandem advancement and placement.

The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously treating a tumor or cancerous growth with both hyperthermia and X-ray radiation using brachytherapy. The device includes a needle-like introducer serving as a microwave antenna. Microwaves are emitted from the introducer to increase the temperature of cancerous body tissue. The introducer is an inner conductor of a coaxial cable. The introducer contains a hollow core which houses an X-ray emitter. The X-ray emitter is connected to a high voltage miniature cable which extends from the X-ray emitter to a high voltage power source. The X-ray emitter emits ionizing radiation to irradiate cancerous tissue. A cooling system is included to control the temperature of the introducer. Temperature sensors placed around the periphery of the tumor monitor the temperature of the treated tissue.

A microwave hyperthermia apparatus that can be inserted into the body which includes a hollow central tube for the insertion of radioactive therapy sources. The use of a coaxial transmission line impedance transformation along the insertable portion of the coaxial cable enables a reduction in the characteristic impedance by increasing the outer diameter of the inner coaxial conductor so that the center conductor can be a metal tube. If the ratio of the outer coaxial conductor diameter vs. the inner coaxial conductor is decreased, the characteristic impedance of the transmission line is lowered. This enables the inner conductor diameter to increase sufficiently to make the central hollow opening large enough to receive standard radioactive sources therein. This provides for a good impedance match that improves microwave energy efficiency while at the same time permitting a large hollow center opening. The combination of the microwave antenna device and brachytherapy sources provides for enhanced effectiveness when the two treatments are delivered simultaneously or in close time proximity to each other.

An interstitial brachytherapy apparatus and method for delivering and monitoring radioactive emissions delivered to tissue surrounding a resected tissue cavity. The brachytherapy device including a catheter body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer spatial volume disposed proximate to the distal end of the body member. A radiation source is disposed in the outer spatial volume and a treatment feedback sensor is provided on the device. In use, the treatment feedback sensor can measure the radiation dose delivered from the radiation source.

A staple delivery applicator for delivering radioactive staples during brachytherapy medical treatment has an actuating device for at source staples located distally from the actuating device. The actuating device is removably attachable to an actuator arm on a proximal end. A staple applicator cartridge holder is attached to the actuator arm on a distal end. The staple applicator cartridge is mountable in the holder and having a plurality of slots for mounting of radioactive source staples therein. An anvil therein crimps the staples. The staple applicator cartridge holder is removably mountable in a connector and the connector is also removably mounted to a surgical staple holder. A trigger device being one of the actuating devices has a control for closing the anvil of the cartridge holder and for firing of the source staples in the cartridge therein to cause the staples to crimp, and a control for opening the anvil and releasing the trigger device from the actuator arm.

A brachytherapy device may include an expandable outer cage, an expandable inner cage positioned within the outer cage and configured to receive radioactive material at its perimeter, and a movable actuator configured to cause the outer and inner cages to expand simultaneously in response to movement of the actuator between certain positions while maintaining a substantially constant separation distance between the outer and inner cages.

Featured is a robot and a needle delivery apparatus. Such a robot comprises a plurality of actuators coupled to control locating any of number of intervention specific medical devices such as intervention specific needle injectors. Such a robot is usable with image guided interventions using any of a number of types of medical imaging devices or apparatuses including MRI. The end-effector can include an automated low needle delivery apparatus that is configured for dose radiation seed brachytherapy injection. Also featured is an automated seed magazine for delivering seeds to such an needle delivery apparatus adapted for brachytherapy seed injection.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for deterministic calculation of radiation doses, delivered to specified volumes within human tissues and organs, and specified areas within other organisms, by external and internal radiation sources. Embodiments of the present invention provide for creating and optimizing computational mesh structures for deterministic radiation transport methods. In general these approaches seek to both improve solution accuracy and computational efficiency. Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for planning radiation treatments using deterministic methods. The methods of the present invention may also be applied for dose calculations, dose verification, and dose reconstruction for many different forms of radiotherapy treatments, including: conventional beam therapies, intensity modulated radiation therapy (“IMRT”), proton, electron and other charged particle beam therapies, targeted radionuclide therapies, brachytherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (“SRS”), Tomotherapy®; and other radiotherapy delivery modes. The methods may also be applied to radiation-dose calculations based on radiation sources that include linear accelerators, various delivery devices, field shaping components, such as jaws, blocks, flattening filters, and multi-leaf collimators, and to many other radiation-related problems, including radiation shielding, detector design and characterization; thermal or infrared radiation, optical tomography, photon migration, and other problems.

An apparatus for determining a distribution of a selected therapy in a target volume is provided. A three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captures volume data from the target volume. A computing device is in communication with the three-dimensional ultrasound transducer for receiving the volume data and determining the distribution of the selected therapy in the target volume along a set of planned needle trajectories using the volume data. At least one of the needle trajectories is oblique to at least one other of the planned needle trajectories.

An anchoring mechanism and method for anchoring a device within a biological conduit include an expandable element configured for retaining the device at a desired angle relative to a central axis of the biological conduit. A steering mechanism is preferably provided for orienting the device prior to operation of the anchoring mechanism. The anchoring mechanism and method are employed in drug delivery devices, brachytherapy devices or for anchoring a catheter or sheath to provide a working channel for reliable guidance of a wide range of tools to a target location within the body.

The present invention is directed to a brachytherapy seed delivery system which includes a seed cartridge including a central channel, a plurality of brachytherapy seeds disposed within the central channel and a plurality of absorbable, dimensionally stable spacers disposed within the central channel, wherein the absorbable, dimensionally stable spacers are interspersed between the brachytherapy seeds. The present invention is further directed to a method of loading a brachytherapy seed delivery system including the steps of: providing a seed cartridge including a central channel; placing at least two brachytherapy seeds into the central channel of the seed cartridge; placing at least one absorbable, dimensionally stable spacer in the central channel between the brachytherapy seeds; connecting the brachytherapy seed cartridge to a brachytherapy needle including a cannula; and forcing the seeds out of the brachytherapy seed cartridge into the cannula. The present invention is further directed to an improved brachytherapy method including the steps of: providing a seed cartridge including a central channel; placing at least two brachytherapy seeds into the central channel of the seed cartridge; placing at least one absorbable, dimensionally stable spacer in the central channel between the brachytherapy seeds; connecting the brachytherapy seed cartridge to a brachytherapy needle including a cannula; forcing the seeds out of the brachytherapy seed cartridge into the cannula; inserting the brachytherapy needle into a human organ; and forcing the seeds and the spacer through the cannula and into the human organ.

Radioactive sources, preferably radioactive seeds, for use in brachytherapy comprising a radioisotope within a sealed biocompatible container, wherein at least one part of the outer surface of the container is grooved, preferably with a curved groove. The grooved outer surface is preferably substantially free from angularities. Such grooves enhance the echogenicity of the source using medical ultrasound at a greater range of angles to the ultrasound probe, thus enhancing the ultrasound visibility of the source. Preferred radioisotopes are palladium-103 and iodine-125.

A bioabsorbable brachytherapy device includes a tubular housing with sealed ends and an enclosed radioactive material. The radioactive material includes a radioisotope, such as palladium-103 or iodine-125. The tubular housing is made from a biocompatible and bioabsorbable polymeric material, and is sealed by means such as heat welding or solvent fixing. The device may further include a radiopaque medium and one or more therapeutic drugs.

An apparatus and method for shielding non-target tissues and organs during thermotherapy, brachytherapy or other treatment of a diseased target tissue. The apparatus includes a catheter shaft having input and output lumens and at least one inflatable balloon. A plurality of input lumens within the catheter shaft allows the passage of liquid or gas through an input port and into the interior of the balloon thereby inflating the balloon. The gas or liquid can then be cycled through the inflated balloon through an output port and output lumen and out of the catheter shaft. Temperature sensors or other sensors may be attached to the balloon or catheter to monitor temperature or other conditions at the treatment site. The catheter is positioned between the target tissue or organ and sensitive non-target tissues in proximity to the target tissue and inflated causing a physical separation of tissues as well as a physical shield.

A radioactive member for use in brachytherapy comprising a molded elongate, bioabsorbable carrier material with spaced radioactive sources disposed therein, and methods for the manufacture thereof. The radioactive members may be used in treatment of, for example, prostate cancer.

A modified Fletcher-Suit tandem tube applicator includes a balloon which can be inflated to both positionally secure the applicator within the vaginal canal and to distend the confronting vaginal wall thereby increasing the distance of such tissue from the radioactive source contained in the tandem tube of applicator and correspondingly reducing radiation damage to nearby tissues and organs such as the rectum and bladder.

A method and system for monitoring loading of radiation into an insertion device for use in a radiation therapy treatment to determine whether the treatment will be in agreement with a radiation therapy plan. In a preferred embodiment, optical sensors and radiation sensors are used to monitor loading of radioactive seeds and spacers into a needle as part of a prostate brachytherapy treatment.

The invention is a novel adaptive CT-compatible brachytherapy applicator with remotely-controlled radial and longitudinal motion radioactive source lumen shields that can be manipulated by the radiation oncologist to optimize the dose distribution to the target and normal tissue structures for brachytherapy procedures.

Methods and apparatus are provided for loading therapeutic materials into brachytherapy needles. The apparatus comprises an apparatus with chambers, and radioactive seed and spacer cartridges received therein. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a standard brachytherapy needle coupled to the distal end of the apparatus. The plunger dislodges seeds and spacers from the cartridge chambers to load the needle with a predetermined packing arrangement.

A method and apparatus for the in vivo location and tracking of a radioactive seed source during and after brachytherapy treatment. The method comprises obtaining multiple views of the seed source in a living organism using: 1) a single PSPMT detector that is exposed through a multiplicity of pinholes thereby obtaining a plurality of images from a single angle; 2) a single PSPMT detector that may obtain an image through a single pinhole or a plurality of pinholes from a plurality of angles through movement of the detector; or 3) a plurality of PSPMT detectors that obtain a plurality of views from different angles simultaneously or virtually simultaneously. The plurality of images obtained from these various techniques, through angular displacement of the various acquired images, provide the information required to generate the three dimensional images needed to define the location of the radioactive seed source within the body of the living organism.

Brachytherapy applicators incorporate various forms of selective shielding devices for controlling the direction and intensity of radiation directed at a patient's tissue. In some forms the applicators include a retractable sheath, in some a series of retractable fingers. In other forms the applicator, having an inflatable balloon, has a shield which is retractable from a position adjacent to the balloon or retracted from the balloon, or a shield can itself be inflatable, separately or together with the balloon.

A modified Fletcher-Suit tandem tube applicator includes a balloon which can be inflated to both positionally secure the applicator within the vaginal canal and to distend the confronting vaginal wall thereby increasing the distance of such tissue from the radioactive source contained in the tandem tube of applicator and correspondingly reducing radiation damage to nearby tissues and organs such as the rectum and bladder.