Radioisotope-Functionalized Microspheres for Therapeutic Dose Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Therapeutic microparticles used in selective internal radiation therapy are not readily imageable, making it difficult to determine their distribution in the body, predict radiation doses, and assess potential harm to healthy areas, leading to inaccurate treatment and increased side effects.
Innovation Solution
Development of imageable microspheres functionalized with radioisotopes that can be visualized using imaging modalities, such as PET or SPECT, allowing for accurate tracking and dosimetry by serving as surrogates for therapeutic microspheres.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If therapeutic microparticles are used for radiation therapy, then cancer treatment is achieved, but the particles cannot be imaged to determine their distribution in the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs imageable microparticles as intermediary surrogates that mimic the behavior of therapeutic microparticles but can be detected by imaging modalities. These surrogate particles serve as mediators to track and predict the distribution of actual therapeutic particles without compromising treatment efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates imageable copies or surrogates of therapeutic microparticles that replicate their physical and flow characteristics. These copies can be imaged using various modalities to predict where therapeutic particles will lodge, enabling accurate dosimetry and distribution assessment.
2Power
If therapeutic microparticles are used, then radiation dose delivery is achieved, but accurate prediction of radiation dosing is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary imaging studies using imageable surrogate particles before actual therapeutic particle administration. This preliminary action allows prediction of particle distribution and radiation dosing, enabling accurate treatment planning and dose calculation before the therapeutic particles are delivered.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a feedback mechanism where imaging data from surrogate particles is used to predict and adjust therapeutic particle dosing. The imaging results provide feedback on expected distribution patterns, allowing clinicians to optimize the radiation dose before and during treatment.
3Reliability
If therapeutic microparticles are administered, then cancer treatment is provided, but assessment of harm to healthy areas is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary imaging with surrogate particles to predict the distribution of therapeutic particles before administration. This allows identification of potential off-target accumulation in healthy tissues, enabling clinicians to adjust dosing or treatment planning to minimize harm to healthy areas before radiation therapy begins.
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
Enables precise prediction of radiation dosing and reduces side effects by providing real-time imaging and distribution data for therapeutic microspheres, enhancing treatment efficacy and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
Particles functionalized with imageable radioisotopes
Implementation Method 2
imageable radioisotope that is viewable using an imaging modality
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments relate to imageable radioisotopic microspheres. In some embodiments, the imageable microspheres are radiolabeled with imageable radioisotopes. In some embodiments, the imageable radioisotope is directly coupled to a surface of a substrate of the microsphere. In some embodiments, the imageable microspheres can be used as surrogate particles to predict the distribution of therapeutic microspheres comprising radiotherapeutic isotopes.