# US 12,053,644 B2 · Radiation shielding apparatus for implantable radioactive seeds > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,053,644 B2 - Document ID: US12053644B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/936,149 - Filed: 2022-09-28 - Published: 2023-07-06 - Granted: 2024-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-30 - Assignees: Gt Medical Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Gt Medical Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: David Brachman; John Baker; Heidi Cole; Adam Turner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12053644B2 ## CPC - A61N 5/1007: {Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body} - A61N 5/1015: {Treatment of resected cavities created by surgery, e.g. lumpectomy} - G21F 3/00: Shielding characterised by its physical form, e.g. granules, or shape of the material - A61N 2005/1023: {Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers} - A61N 2005/1024: {Seeds} - A61N 2005/1094: {Shielding, protecting against radiation} - G21F 1/085: {Heavy metals or alloys} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02) ## Abstract The disclosure is directed to devices for use in radiation therapy. Various configurations of shielding materials within shielding layers, such as for use in shielding radiation from radioactive sources within implanted radioactive carriers, are discussed herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A carrier system for delivering directional radiation treatment to a tissue site according to a dosimetric plan, the carrier system comprising: a biocompatible carrier comprising collagen configured to be placed on an exposed treatment surface of a surgically-created cavity in mammalian tissue; and a wrapped seed assembly including: a plurality of wrapped seeds each comprising: a cylindrical radioactive seed; and a substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus having a length at least as long as the radioactive seed and having a central longitudinal cavity wherein the cylindrical radioactive seed is positioned, wherein the substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus includes a shielding layer extending along the length of the substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus, the shielding layer comprising a high-z material; and one or more connectors configured to secure and position respective pairs of wrapped seeds in a predetermined spaced-apart arrangement according to the dosimetric plan; wherein the wrapped seed assembly, including the plurality of wrapped seeds spaced apart by the one or more connectors, is positioned within the biocompatible carrier according to the dosimetric plan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein a respective substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus is configured to attach to a respective radioactive seed via snap fit or friction fit to cover at least a portion of an exterior surface of the respective radioactive seed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wrapped seeds comprises one or more protrusions configured to secure the wrapped seed assembly to the biocompatible carrier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wrapped seeds comprises one or more protrusions configured to increase a rotational inertia to reduce rotation of the wrapped seed assembly relative to the biocompatible carrier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the shielding layer comprises a plurality of individual, discrete layers of one or more high Z materials. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the shielding layer is embedded in an interior region of the substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the shielding layer is positioned on an exterior surface of the substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the shielding layer has a half value layer (HVL) of two. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus has a thickness of between 0.18 mm and 0.22 mm, and the shielding layer has a thickness of between 0.026 mm and 0.036 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the shielding layer has a thickness of between 0.01 mm and 0.06 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus comprises plastic or polymer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the one or more connectors are cylindrically shaped and have a diameter of 0.5 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein the one or more connectors comprise therapeutic agents. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The carrier system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more connectors comprise one or more protrusions visible from an exterior of the biocompatible carrier to indicate a direction in which radiation emitted from the radioactive seed is shielded by the shielding layer. ### Claim 15 A method for preparing a carrier to deliver directional radiation treatment to a tissue site according to a dosimetric plan, the method comprising: positioning a wrapped seed assembly within a biocompatible carrier comprising collagen according to a dosimetric plan; wherein the wrapped seed assembly includes: a plurality of wrapped seeds each comprising: a cylindrical radioactive seed; and a substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus having a length at least as long as the radioactive seed and having a central longitudinal cavity wherein the cylindrical radioactive seed is positioned, wherein the substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus includes a shielding layer extending along the length of the substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus, the shielding layer comprising a high-z material; and one or more connectors configured to secure and space respective pairs of wrapped seeds according to the dosimetric plan. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching a respective substantially cylindrically shaped apparatus to a respective radioactive seed via snap fit or friction fit to cover at least a portion of an exterior surface of the respective radioactive seed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the wrapped seeds comprises one or more protrusions configured to secure the wrapped seed assembly to the biocompatible carrier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the wrapped seeds comprise one or more protrusions configured to increase a rotational inertia to reduce rotation of the wrapped seed assembly relative to the biocompatible carrier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the shielding layer comprises a plurality of individual, discrete layers of one or more high Z materials.