US 6,293,899 B1Granted

Transmutable radiotherapy device

AssigneeRadioMed Corporation

InventorsPiran Sioshansi, Raymond J. Bricault

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Abstract

A general purpose radiotherapy device can be fabricated to net or near-net shape and then made radioactive in a single activation step. The device is made at least partially of a transmutable material which is transformable to a radioisotope-containing material upon activation by an accelerated beam of charged particles, such as protons, deuterons or alpha particles. The transmutable material is preferably rhodium and the radioisotope preferably comprises palladium-103. The beam energy and device dimensions are selected so that energy from the beam in the range which is most likely to produce a desired transmutation reaction in the device is absorbed, while at least a portion of the energy which is insufficient to effect the desired transmutation reaction is not retained in the device.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An implantable interstitial radiotherapy device for in situ delivery of radiation to tumorous tissue, comprising:

a net or near net shape interstitial radiotherapy delivery structure made substantially of rhodium, wherein a portion of the rhodium is transformed into palladium-103 upon activation by a beam of charged particles including protons having energy above a predetermined threshold energy, at least a portion of the energy in excess of the predetermined threshold energy being captured within the radiotherapy delivery structure and used to form the palladium-103 and at least a portion of the energy below the predetermined threshold energy not being retained in the radiotherapy delivery structure, wherein the protons have an energy of at least approximately 4 MeV, wherein the predetermined threshold energy of the charged particles is at least approximately 6 MeV, and wherein transformation of the radiotherapy delivery structure, and heat production within the structure, are functions of initial energy of the beam of charged particles entering the structure and thickness of the structure in the direction of beam penetration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/187,659Filed 6 Nov 1998 · continuation in part
Priority: 24 Mar 1998
Granted: 25 Sep 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G21G 1/10
Outside nuclear reactors or particle accelerators: by bombardment with electrically charged particles
A61N 5/1001
X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy: using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
G21G 4/08
Characterised by constructional features: specially adapted for medical application
A61N 5/1027
Using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy: interstitial radiation therapy