Brachytherapy Ring Applicator Bracket Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brachytherapy applicators face challenges in precise and easy placement of radioactive sources due to complex support mechanisms within the patient, leading to misalignment issues and difficulty in cleaning and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A brachytherapy ring applicator system comprising a tandem, ring colpostat, and bracket assembly that locks securely without additional support within the patient, allowing for self-supporting configurations and easy separation for cleaning, with adjustable components to accommodate varying patient anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex support mechanisms are used within the patient to hold the radioactive source, then the placement precision may be improved, but the device complexity increases and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is divided into separate components: a tandem, a ring colpostat, and a bracket assembly. These segments can be assembled and disassembled outside the patient's body, eliminating the need for complex internal support structures while maintaining placement precision through the interlocking design of the segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The support mechanism is extracted from the internal patient environment and relocated to an external bracket assembly. This allows the support structure to be removed, sterilized, and stored externally, simplifying cleaning and maintenance while still providing the necessary support during the procedure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional support structures are placed within the patient, then the stability of the radioactive source placement is improved, but the ease of cleaning and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stable support structure is segmented into external components (bracket assembly, tandem, ring colpostat) that can be completely removed from the patient's body. This segmentation maintains placement stability during use while enabling complete removal for cleaning and sterilization, directly addressing the cleaning difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket assembly is designed to self-lock onto the tandem and ring colpostat through its locking mechanism, providing stable support without requiring additional internal support structures. The self-locking design maintains stability while the entire assembly can be easily removed for cleaning.
3Reliability
If a fixed locking mechanism is used to secure the tandem and ring colpostat, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the adaptability to varying patient anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly incorporates a dynamic locking mechanism that can accommodate varying anatomical configurations. The locking arms can adjust their position and the bracket can be configured at different angles to adapt to different patient anatomies while maintaining reliable connection through the locking action.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket assembly is designed as a universal component that can interface with different tandem and ring colpostat configurations. The locking mechanism serves multiple functions: securing the components together, accommodating anatomical variations, and maintaining connection reliability across different patients.
Data Source
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AI summary
A brachytherapy ring applicator, kit, and method of use is provided. The brachytherapy ring applicatory includes a tandem, ring colpostat, and a bracket assembly. The tandem has a connector on a proximal end of the tandem and a treatment end on a distal end. The ring colpostat includes a ring member on a distal end of the ring colpostat. The bracket assembly is configured to be locked to both a shaft of the tandem and to a shaft of the ring colpostat such that the distal end of the tandem is firmly maintained in a fixed position relative to the distal end of the ring colpostat, and each of the tandem and the colpostat are entirely self-supporting from the bracket assembly to their distal ends.