Peripheral Brachytherapy Applicator for Protruding Organs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current brachytherapy methods are invasive and inefficient for treating deep-seated tumors or tumor beds, particularly in protruding organs like the breast, due to limitations in precise alignment and radiation distribution, leading to sub-therapeutic doses to targeted areas and excessive exposure to surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive peripheral brachytherapy approach using a distributed radiation source pattern with divergent beams from multiple sources positioned around the organ, guided by imaging techniques to ensure precise alignment and superposition of radiation fields, delivering a therapeutic dose to the targeted volume while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive brachytherapy methods (interstitial, intra-luminal, intra-cavitary) are used to treat deep-seated tumors, then the radiation source can be placed close to the target, but the procedure requires surgical intervention and tissue invasion
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the radiation source inside the body cavity or tissue (invasive approach), the patent inverts the approach by positioning the source externally against the skin surface. The radiation penetrates outward from the source through the skin and underlying tissues to treat the tumor, eliminating the need for surgical insertion while maintaining close proximity to the target
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the radiation source into multiple discrete sources arranged in a grid pattern on the applicator surface. Each source delivers radiation to a specific region, and the collective effect treats the entire tumor volume. This segmentation allows precise dose distribution without requiring a single invasive internal source
2Device complexity
If a single radiation source is used for brachytherapy, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to deliver uniform therapeutic dose to deep-seated tumors is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple radiation sources arranged in a grid pattern on the applicator surface. Each source contributes to the overall dose distribution, allowing uniform therapeutic dose delivery to deep-seated tumors through the superposition of multiple radiation fields. This multi-source configuration achieves dose uniformity that a single source cannot provide
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple radiation sources into a single integrated applicator device. The sources are positioned at predetermined locations on the applicator surface, and their combined radiation fields merge to create a uniform dose distribution throughout the treatment volume, achieving both complex dosimetry and simplified device operation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If teletherapy with remote x-ray sources is used to treat deep-seated tumors, then non-invasive treatment is achieved, but precise alignment is difficult to maintain during patient movement such as breathing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device - the applicator - that is placed in direct contact with the skin surface over the tumor. This applicator serves as a stable reference frame that moves with the patient's skin and underlying tissues during breathing, maintaining constant geometric relationship between the radiation sources and the target while eliminating the need for complex real-time alignment corrections
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fixing the patient to a treatment table and adjusting remote beams to track moving organs (teletherapy approach), the patent inverts the approach by fixing the radiation sources to the patient's skin surface. The applicator and sources move together with patient motion, maintaining constant alignment with the underlying tumor without requiring active tracking or recalibration
4Manufacturing precision
If Gamma Knife with multiple collimated beamlets is used to treat brain tumors, then precise focal dose delivery is achieved, but rigid immobilization of the patient head is required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rigidly immobilizing the patient's head and using complex mechanical systems to position multiple remote sources (Gamma Knife approach), the patent inverts the approach by placing the radiation sources directly on the patient's skin surface. The applicator conforms to the body contour and moves with natural patient motion, eliminating the need for rigid immobilization devices while maintaining precise focal dose delivery through the geometric arrangement of sources
Data Source
AI summary
A system for and method of applying non-invasive brachytherapy to a targeted volume within a protruding organ of a patient, employs an applicator constructed so as to be positioned relative to the organ so that an enhanced dose of divergent radiation is deliverable from at least two locations at or very near the periphery of the organ transcutaneously to the targeted volume of the protruding organ from at least two directions so that a higher dose is delivered to the targeted volume than to tissue surrounding the targeted volume. The treatment planning, and image guidance techniques are also described.