Sentinel node identification using non-isotope means
AssigneeOncology Innovations, Inc.
InventorRobert G. Carroll
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for identifying a sentinel node is provided. The method includes injecting tumor-bearing tissue with a marking composition, radiating marking-agent-targeting energy into suspect tissues potentially harboring the sentinel node, and detecting a lymph node within the suspect tissues first infiltrated by the marking agent. The method is conducted without detecting radioactivity, and thus avoids the health and environmental problems posed by methods based on detecting radiolabels. Moreover, the method obviates the need for surgical dissection to initially detect potential sentinel nodes. Also provided are systems for performing the method and compositions for use in the method.
Claims35
A method for identifying a sentinel node, comprising:
- injecting tumor-bearing tissue with a marking composition comprising a marking agent;
- radiating marking-agent-targeting energy into suspect tissues potentially harboring said sentinel node;
- and
- detecting a lymph node first infiltrated by said marking agent to identify said sentinel node, said detecting being across a substantial thickness of said suspect tissues,
- wherein said method is conducted without detecting radioactivity.
A system for identifying a sentinel lymph node in a living being, said system comprising:
- means for introducing a marker composition substantially free of radioactive isotopes adjacent a suspected tumor site within said living being to enable a marker in said marker composition to be carried by the lymphatic system to a lymph node;
- and
- detection means adjacent the body of the living being, for detecting said sentinel lymph node into which said marker first infiltrates, said detection means being adapted to detect said sentinel node across a substantial thickness of tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.