US 5,084,001 AGranted

Method and apparatus for effecting radioactive therapy in an animal body

AssigneeEric Van't Hooft

InventorsEric Van't Hooft, Libbe Van Zwol

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for effecting radiation therapy by placing at least one guide tube through an orifice in an animal body and disposing the end portion of the guide tube near the site of intended therapy. The other end of the guide tube is connected to a channel in a shielding block. A high dose radiation source assembly is moved from the channel to the end portion and positioned a plurality of times at each of a series of preselected positions lying in the end portion to effect a plurality of pulsed radiations. The effects of low dose radiation can be duplicated by the high dose radiation source, the radiation field can be patterned, and when the repeated pulsed radiations are within repair times of healthy cells, cancer cells are destroyed and healthy cells survive.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A method for effecting radiation therapy of a site of intended therapy in an animal body comprising:

(1) placing at least one guide tube through at least one orifice in the body such that an end portion of the guide tube is disposed near the site of intended therapy;
(2) connecting an other end of the guide tube to a channel of a radiation shielding block;
(3) moving a radioactive source assembly, and controlling the movement thereof with a computer, such that the source assembly is moved from a standby position toward said end portion of the guide tube and positioning the source assembly a plurality of times at each of a series of preselected positions lying within the guide tube and allowing the source assembly to remain at each of the preselected positions for a plurality of time spaced apart variable residence times such that each position experiences a plurality of time spaced apart variable radiations by said source assembly;
and
(4) withdrawing the source assembly from said guide tube;
and
wherein said preselected positions and the plurality of residence times at each preselected position are in combination sufficient for the source assembly to produce therapeutic radiation of the site of intended therapy.

4 more elements

An apparatus for effecting radiation therapy of a site of intended therapy in an animal body comprising:

(1) a radiation shielding block having a channel therein;
(2) at least one guide tube having an end portion disposable through at least one orifice in the body and positionable such that the end portion is near the site of intended therapy and an other end is connected to said channel of the radiation shielding block;
(3) a radioactive source assembly disposed at a standby position in said channel;
(4) moving means for moving the source assembly from said channel toward said end portion;
(5) computer control means for controlling the moving means, which control means performs functions:
(a) causing the source assembly to be moved from the standby position toward the end portion of the guide tube and positioned a plurality of times at each of a series of preselected positions lying within the guide tube such that preselected positions are radiated;
(b) allowing the source assembly to remain at each of the preselected positions for a plurality of time spaced apart variable residence times such that each position experiences a plurality of time spaced apart variable radiations by said source assembly;
and
(c) causing the source assembly to be withdrawn from said guide tube.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/564,526Filed 9 Aug 1990 · continuation in part
Priority: NL 860180810 Jul 1986
Granted: 28 Jan 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F16C 1/18
Arrangements for transmitting movement to or from the flexible member: in which the end portion of the flexible member is laid along a curved…
A61N 5/1007
Using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy: arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
A61N 2005/1008
Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body: apparatus for temporary insertion of sources, e.g. afterloaders
F16C
Shafts

Family

Serial71,835Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Jul 1987
Serial436,877Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Nov 1989
US 5,030,194 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,881,937 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,084,001 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.