Treating cancer using intensity-modulated brachytherapy

A system for treating cervical and/or uterine cancers, the system comprising:

• a tandem assembly comprising a tandem and a tandem connector, the tandem configured for insertion into a cervix of a patient and the tandem connector configured to receive the tandem within an interior of the tandem connector along a longitudinal axis;
• an ovoid assembly comprising first and second adjustably inflatable ovoids and an ovoid support mechanism, wherein the ovoid assembly comprises first and second handles configured to support the respective first and second inflatable ovoids, wherein the handles are configured to allow for user manipulation to control the relative position of the ovoids, wherein the handles are configured to allow for user manipulation to control the relative position of the ovoids for insertion of the ovoids within the fornices of the patient, the first and second adjustably inflatable ovoids having a deflated configuration for insertion into the patient and one or more adjustably inflated configurations for positioning the ovoid assembly during treatment;
• first and second adjustably inflatable retractors configured to be releasably coupled to the ovoid assembly, the first and second inflatable retractors having a deflated configuration for insertion into the patient and an adjustably inflated configuration for retraction of tissue during treatment;
• and
• at least one wire comprising a metal having an atomic number of greater than 70, the wire configured to reduce an amount of radiation passing therethrough;
• wherein the ovoid support mechanism is configured to establish a position of the ovoid assembly relative to the tandem based on a coupling of the ovoid support mechanism with the tandem assembly, wherein the tandem and the first and second inflatable ovoids are configured to be coupled to a radioactive source to deliver an implant radiation dose suitable for cancer treatment at a cancerous cervical and/or uterus treatment site in the patient, wherein at least one of the tandem and the first and second inflatable ovoids is configured as a multi-lumen component;
• and
• wherein each multi-lumen component has a radiation lumen configured to receive a radiation source positioned therein during treatment, and wherein each multi-lumen component also has a shielding lumen configured to receive a wire of the at least one wire comprising a metal having an atomic number of greater than 70 positioned therein during treatment with substantially synchronous movement relative to the radiation source to provide radiation shielding in a direction of tissue not intended for radiation treatment.

A method for providing intensity-modulated thermoradiotherapy, the method comprising:

• providing a system comprising:
• a tandem assembly comprising a tandem and a tandem connector, the tandem configured for insertion into a cervix of a patient and the tandem connector configured to receive the tandem within an interior of the tandem connector along a longitudinal axis;
• an ovoid assembly comprising first and second adjustably inflatable ovoids and an ovoid support mechanism, wherein the ovoid assembly comprises first and second handles configured to support the respective first and second inflatable ovoids, wherein the handles are configured to allow for user manipulation to control a relative position of the ovoids, wherein the handles are configured to allow for user manipulation to control the relative position of the ovoids for insertion of the ovoids within the fornices of the patient, the first and second adjustably inflatable ovoids having a deflated configuration for insertion into the patient and one or more adjustably inflated configurations for positioning the ovoid assembly during treatment;
• first and second adjustably inflatable retractors configured to be releasably coupled to the ovoid assembly, the first and second inflatable retractors having a deflated configuration for insertion into the patient and an adjustably inflated configuration for retraction of tissue during the treatment;
• and
• at least one wire comprising a metal having an atomic number of greater than 70, the wire configured to reduce an amount of radiation passing therethrough;
• wherein the ovoid support mechanism is configured to establish a position of the ovoid assembly relative to the tandem based on a coupling of the ovoid support mechanism with the tandem assembly, wherein the tandem and the first and second inflatable ovoids are configured to be coupled to a radioactive source to deliver an implant radiation dose suitable for cancer treatment at a cancerous cervical and/or uterus treatment site in the patient, wherein at least one of the tandem and the first and second inflatable ovoids is configured as a multi-lumen component;
• and
• wherein each multi-lumen component has a radiation lumen configured to receive a radiation source positioned therein during the treatment, and wherein each multi-lumen component also has a shielding lumen configured to receive a wire of the at least one wire comprising the metal having an atomic number of greater than 70 positioned therein during the treatment with substantially synchronous movement relative to the radiation source to provide radiation shielding in a direction of tissue not intended for radiation treatment;
• inserting the tandem into the cervix of a patient
• inflating the ovoid assembly comprising the first and second adjustably inflatable ovoids with fluid;
• manipulating the handles of the ovoid assembly to control the relative position of the ovoids within the fornices of the patient;
• inflating the first and second adjustably inflatable retractors coupled to the tandem with fluid;
• and
• delivering the implant radiation dose suitable for the cancer treatment at the cancerous cervical treatment site in the patient, wherein each radiation lumen receives a respective radiation source positioned within each respective radiation lumen, and wherein each shielding lumen receives a respective wire of the at least one wire comprising the metal having an atomic number of greater than 70 positioned within each respective shielding lumen with the substantially synchronous movement relative to the respective radiation source to provide the radiation shielding in the direction of the tissue not intended for the radiation treatment.

A system for treating cervical and/or uterine cancers, the system comprising:

• a tandem configured for insertion into a cervix of a patient;
• an ovoid assembly configured to be coupled to the tandem via at least one groove on the tandem, the ovoid assembly comprising first and second inflatable ovoids and an ovoid support mechanism, wherein the ovoid assembly comprises first and second handles configured to support the respective first and second inflatable ovoids, wherein the handles are configured to allow for user manipulation to control the relative position of the ovoids with respect to each other, wherein the handles are configured to allow for user manipulation to control the relative position of the ovoids for insertion of the ovoids within the fornices of the patient, the first and second inflatable ovoids having a deflated configuration for insertion into the patient and one or more inflated configurations for positioning the ovoid assembly during treatment;
• wherein the ovoid support mechanism is configured to establish a position of the ovoid assembly relative to the tandem based on a coupling of the ovoid support mechanism with the tandem assembly, wherein the tandem and the first and second inflatable ovoids are configured to be coupled to a radioactive source to deliver an implant radiation dose suitable for cancer treatment at a cancerous cervical and/or uterus treatment site in the patient, wherein at least one of the tandem and the first and second inflatable ovoids is configured as a multi-lumen component;
• and
• wherein each multi-lumen component has a radiation lumen configured to receive a radiation source positioned therein during treatment, and wherein each multi-lumen component also has a shielding lumen configured to receive a wire comprising a metal having an atomic number greater than 70 positioned therein during treatment with substantially synchronous movement relative to the radiation source to provide radiation shielding in a direction of tissue not intended for radiation treatment.