US 6,440,058 B1Granted

Radioactive seeds and method for using same

AssigneeNorth American Scientific, Inc.

InventorL. Michael Cutrer

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Abstract

A system and method of treating an affected region of diseased tissue in a patient is described. A plurality of first radioactive seeds and a plurality of second radioactive seeds are implanted in the affected region. The first radioactive seeds each have one or more X-ray detectable markers providing a first X-ray detectable signature and the second radioactive seeds have one or more X-ray detectable markers providing a second X-ray detectable signature. An X-ray image of the affected region, including the first and second radioactive seeds implanted therein, provides representations of the first and second X-ray signatures which are visibly distinguishable. Representations of the first X-ray signature may then be associated with implanted seeds having a radioisotope source or dosage of the first radioactive seeds and representations of the second X-ray signature may then be associated with implanted seeds having a radioisotope source or dosage of the second radioactive seeds.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of treating an affected region of diseased tissue in a patient, the method comprising:

implanting a plurality of first radioactive seeds in the affected region, each of the first radioactive seeds having a sealed housing with an internal cavity, at least one carrier body disposed within the cavity for maintaining a first radioisotope source and at least one X-ray detectable marker placed along a length of the cavity to provide a first X-ray signature;
implanting a plurality of second radioactive seeds in the affected region, each of the second radioactive seeds having a sealed housing with an internal cavity, at least one carrier body disposed within the cavity for maintaining a second radioisotope source and one or more X-ray detectable markers placed along a length of the cavity to provide a second X-ray signature distinguishable from the first X-ray signature;
generating an X-ray image of the affected region including the first and second radioactive seeds implanted therein, the X-ray image providing representations of the first and second X-ray signatures which are visibly distinguishable;
and
associating each representation of the first X-ray signature with a seed having the first radioisotope source and associating each representation of the second X-ray signature with a seed having the second radioisotope source.

2 more elements

A method of treating an affected region of diseased tissue in a patient, the method comprising:

implanting a plurality of first radioactive seeds in the affected region, each of the first radioactive seeds having a sealed housing with an internal cavity, at least one carrier body disposed within the cavity for maintaining a first radioisotope source at a first dosage and at least one X-ray detectable marker placed along a length of the cavity to provide a first X-ray signature;
implanting a plurality of second radioactive seeds in the affected region, each of the second radioactive seeds having a sealed housing with an internal cavity, at least one carrier body disposed within the cavity for maintaining a second radioisotope source at a second dosage and one or more X-ray detectable markers placed along a length of the cavity to provide a second X-ray signature distinguishable from the first X-ray signature;
generating an X-ray image of the affected region including the first and second radioactive seeds implanted therein, the X-ray image providing representations of the first and second X-ray signatures which are visibly distinguishable;
and
associating each representation of the first X-ray signature with a seed having the first dosage and associating each representation of the second X-ray signature with a seed having the second dosage.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/648,849Filed 25 Aug 2000 · continuation in part
Priority: 1 Aug 1997
Granted: 27 Aug 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61K 49/0409
X-ray contrast preparations: physical forms of mixtures of two different X-ray contrast-enhancing agents, containing at least one X-ray…
A61K 51/1282
Characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsion, microcapsules, liposomes , characterized by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions,…:…
A61N 5/1027
Using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy: interstitial radiation therapy
G21G 4/06
Radioactive sources other than neutron sources: characterised by constructional features