# US 2017/0252575 A1 · Customizable radioactive carriers and loading system

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- Number: US 2017/0252575 A1
- Document ID: US20170252575A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/383,724
- Filed: 2016-12-19
- Published: 2017-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2011-04-28
- Assignees: GammaTile LLC
- Applicants: GammaTile LLC
- Inventors: Peter Nakaji; David Brachman; Heyoung McBride; Emad Youssef; Theresa Thomas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170252575A1

## CPC

- A61N 5/1014: {Intracavitary radiation therapy}
- A61N 5/1007: {Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body}
- A61N 5/1027: {Interstitial radiation therapy}
- A61N 5/103: {Treatment planning systems}
- A61N 2005/1009: {Apparatus for loading seeds into magazines or needles}
- A61N 2005/101: {Magazines or cartridges for seeds}
- A61N 2005/1023: {Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers}
- A61N 2005/1024: {Seeds}
- 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)

## Abstract

Carriers for embodying radioactive seeds, as well as a device for loading and customizing brachytherapy carriers based on the principles of optimizing a more precise and predictable dosimetry, and adaptable to the geometric challenges of a tumor bed in a real-time setting. The present disclosure relates to a specialized loading device designed to enable a medical team to create a radionuclide carrier for each patient and tumor reliably, reproducibly and efficiently.

## Claims

### Claim 1

(canceled)

### Claim 2

A method comprising:
providing a loading device having
a planar support surface sized to receive a sheet of collagen; and
at least one guide channel sized and configured to receive and direct a guide tool;
positioning the sheet of collagen on the planar support surface, the sheet of collagen including at least four substantially equally sized sections, each section configured to receive a radionuclide seed, the sheet of collagen configured for separation into the at least four substantially equally sized sections after insertion of the radionuclide seeds into the sections;
for each of the at least four substantially equally sized collagen sections,
inserting a first end of the guide tool through at least one of the at least one guide channel and into the collagen section; and
moving a cylindrical radionuclide seed into the collagen section; and
separating the at least four substantially equally sized sections with cylindrical radionuclide seeds inserted therein into corresponding at least four substantially equally sized radionuclide carriers adapted to deliver radiation to a treatment area of a patient.

### Claim 3

A method comprising:
providing a loading device having a planar support surface sized to receive a collagen substrate having a thickness of about four millimeters, the collagen substrate having two or more sections each configured to receive one or more radionuclide seeds;
positioning the collagen substrate on the planar support surface;
for each of the two or more sections,
inserting a radionuclide seed into the section such that the radionuclide seed is embedded at an offset position within the about four millimeters thickness of the collagen substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
separating the two or more sections of the collagen substrate into corresponding two or more separately implantable radionuclide carriers.

### Claim 5

An implantable apparatus comprising:
a biocompatible substrate having a uniform thickness between a first surface and an opposing second surface, the substrate sized to receive a plurality of radioactive seeds into a corresponding plurality of sections of the substrate such that the substrate is separatable into the plurality of sections for independent use; and
a plurality of radioactive seeds each positioned at an offset position between the first surface and the opposing second surface of the substrate such that the radioactive seeds is closer to the first surface than to the second surface of the substrate.