Brachytherapy Seed Fixation via Tissue-Interlocking Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brachytherapy seeds often migrate and rotate within the body after implantation, leading to inadequate radiation delivery and potential damage to surrounding tissues, due to the larger needle track size compared to the seed diameter, which results in trauma and adverse effects on dosimetry.
Innovation Solution
The development of a seed and component assembly with cavity or opening features that interact with tissue to fix the seed in place, preventing migration and rotation, and a delivery device with a smaller needle track to minimize tissue trauma and seed movement, using components with bioabsorbable materials and heat or liquid-activated adhesives for enhanced fixation and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a standard needle delivery device is used, then the seed can be delivered to the target location, but the needle track size is larger than the seed diameter, causing seed migration and rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The seed is nested within a delivery needle that has a diameter matching the needle track. The seed's outer diameter is designed to be substantially equal to the needle's outer diameter, ensuring the seed fits tightly within the needle track and prevents migration or rotation after implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the seed and delivery system. The seed's outer diameter is specifically designed to match the needle's outer diameter, creating a tight fit that prevents seed movement. This parameter matching resolves the contradiction between delivery capability and retention stability.
2Ease of operation
If the needle track is made larger to accommodate the seed, then the seed can be delivered, but tissue trauma and gland swelling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the needle and seed diameter parameters to achieve a tight fit. By matching the needle's outer diameter to the seed's outer diameter, the needle track size is minimized, reducing tissue trauma and gland swelling while maintaining successful seed delivery.
3Ease of operation
If the seed diameter is made smaller to fit through the needle, then delivery is easier, but the seed becomes more prone to migration and rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sets the seed's outer diameter equal to the needle's outer diameter, creating an optimal balance. This parameter selection ensures the seed can be delivered through the needle while preventing migration or rotation, as the seed fits tightly within the needle track without being overly small.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces seed migration and rotation, minimizes tissue trauma, and improves dosimetry by securely anchoring the seeds in place, allowing for more precise and effective radiation delivery while reducing gland swelling and morbidity.
Implementation Method 1
The seed and component assembly may be coated with a water/liquid or heat activated adhesive to fix it in place upon implantation in tissue.
Data Source
AI summary
Brachytherapy seed insertion and fixation devices and systems to decrease implanted brachytherapy seed migration within tissue and minimize trauma. Component(s) with cavity or opening features are attached to a brachytherapy seed or series of seeds. The cavity or opening features interact with the patient's tissue to fix the seed and component assembly in place and inhibit movement/migration of the seed(s). The cavity or opening features may optionally be filled with an adhesive or other beneficial material. The seed(s) or seed and component assembly may be inserted using a delivery device having a needle through which the seed(s) or assembly are implanted and a stylet extending through the needle to cut tissue and facilitate insertion of the needle. The stylet has a reduced diameter cutting tip to cut a narrow hole in tissue, and a tapered region that stretches the narrow hole to accommodate insertion of the larger diameter needle.