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US 6,471,631 B1Granted
Implantable radiation therapy device having controllable radiation emission
AssigneeSyntheon, LLC
InventorsCharles R. Slater, Scott L. Jahrmarkt, Scott T. Smith, Kevin W. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implantable radiation therapy device includes a biocompatible radiotranslucent outer capsule containing a radiation shielding element and a radioactive isotope at least partially shielded by the shielding element. When the device is at or below body temperature, radiation is prevented or limited from being transmitted through the outer capsule by the shielding element. When non-ambient energy is applied to the device, the shielding element and radioactive isotope are reconfigured such that an increased level of radiation is transmitted through the outer capsule and emitted by the device.
Claims43
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a biocompatible outer capsule having a wall adapted to transmit radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive material located inside said outer capsule and emitting radiation;
- and
- c) control means inside said capsule for controllably altering an amount of said radiation transmitted through said outer capsule,
- wherein said radioactive material and said control means are irremovable from inside said capsule without opening said capsule.
2 more elements
A radiation therapy device implantable within a human body, comprising:
- a) a biocompatible outer capsule having a wall adapted to transmit radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive material located inside said outer capsule;
- and
- c) a radiopaque shield located inside said outer capsule,
- wherein when said device is in a first state, said radiopaque shield and said radioactive material are configured to allow a first amount of radiation transmission through said outer capsule, and
- wherein upon application of non-ambient energy to said device, said device enters into a second state in which said radioactive material and said radiopaque shield are otherwise configured to permit a second amount of radiation transmission through said outer capsule, said second amount being different than said first amount,
- wherein when said device is implanted in the human body, said non-ambient energy is appliable without physical contact between said device and an instrument controllable from outside the human body.
4 more elements
A radiation therapy device implantable within a human body, comprising:
- a) an implantable container having a wall adapted for the transmission of radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive isotope which emits radiation and which is provided in said container;
- and
- c) a movable shield provided in said container for increasing the radiation transmitted through said container relative to the radiation emitted by said isotope when an amount of energy is applied to said device,
- wherein when said device is implanted in the human body, said amount of energy is appliable without physical contact between said device and an instrument controllable from outside the human body.
2 more elements
A radiation therapy device implantable within a human body, comprising:
- a) an implantable container having a wall adapted for the transmission of radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive isotope which emits radiation and which is provided in said container;
- and
- c) a movable element provided in said container which moves when an amount of energy is applied to said device,
- wherein when said device is implanted in the human body, said amount of energy is appliable without physical contact between said device and an instrument controllable from outside the human body.
2 more elements
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a biocompatible outer capsule having a wall adapted to transmit radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive material located inside said outer capsule and emitting radiation;
- and
- c) control means for controllably altering an amount of said radiation transmitted through said outer capsule, said control means including a collapsible sleeve.
1 more element
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a biocompatible outer capsule having a wall adapted to transmit radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive material located inside said outer capsule and emitting radiation, said radioactive material including a carrier with radioactive elements suspended therein and said carrier melting at a temperature between body temperature and a relatively higher temperature which does not exceed a temperature will cause severe damage to body tissue;
- and
- c) control means for controllably altering an amount of said radiation transmitted through said outer capsule.
1 more element
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a biocompatible outer capsule having a wall adapted to transmit radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive material located inside said outer capsule and emitting radiation, said radioactive material being in a liquid state at body temperature;
- and
- c) control means for controllably altering an amount of said radiation transmitted through said outer capsule.
1 more element
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a biocompatible outer capsule having a wall adapted to transmit radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive material located inside said outer capsule;
- c) a radiopaque shield located inside said outer capsule;
- and
- d) an inner capsule provided in said outer capsule, said inner capsule being made of a radiopaque material, and including at least one opening and defining an interior,
- wherein when said device is in a first state, said radiopaque shield and said radioactive material are configured to allow a first amount of radiation transmission through said outer capsule, said radioactive material being substantially provided in said interior of said inner capsule, and
- wherein upon application of non-ambient energy to said device, said device enters into a second state in which said radioactive material and said radiopaque shield are otherwise configured such that said radioactive material is at least partially located outside said interior of said inner capsule to permit a second amount of radiation transmission through said outer capsule, said second amount being different than said first amount.
4 more elements
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a biocompatible outer capsule having a wall adapted to transmit radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive material located inside said outer capsule, said radioactive material being in a liquid state at body temperature;
- and
- c) a radiopaque shield located inside said outer capsule,
- wherein when said device is in a first state, said radiopaque shield and said radioactive material are configured to allow a first amount of radiation transmission through said outer capsule, and
- wherein upon application of non-ambient energy to said device, said device enters into a second state in which said radioactive material and said radiopaque shield are otherwise configured to permit a second amount of radiation transmission through said outer capsule, said second amount being different than said first amount.
3 more elements
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a biocompatible outer capsule having a wall adapted to transmit radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive material located inside said outer capsule;
- c) a radiopaque shield located inside said outer capsule;
- and
- d) a covering over said radioactive material, said covering having a surface on which said radiopaque shield is provided,
- wherein when said device is in a first state, said radiopaque shield and said radioactive material are configured to allow a first amount of radiation transmission through said outer capsule,
- and wherein said radioactive material adapted to melt upon application of said non-ambient energy, and said covering is at least one of elastic and heat-shrinkable, such that when said non-ambient energy is applied to said seed, said radioactive material melts and said covering contracts forcing said melted radioactive material from said cover to at least partially surround said radiopaque material so that said device enters into a second state in which a second amount of radiation transmission is permitted through said outer capsule, said second amount being different than said first amount.
4 more elements
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a container having a wall adapted for the transmission of radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive isotope which emits radiation and which is provided in said container;
- and
- c) a movable shield provided in said container for increasing the radiation transmitted through said container relative to the radiation emitted by said isotope when heat at a temperature above body temperature applied to said device.
1 more element
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a container having a wall adapted for the transmission of radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive isotope which emits radiation and which is provided in said container;
- c) a member having a portion upon which said isotope is provided;
- and
- d) a movable shield provided in said container for increasing the radiation transmitted through said container relative to the radiation emitted by said isotope when an amount of energy is applied to said device,
- wherein said shield is a substantially radiopaque shape memory metal extended over and covering said member, and adapted to move and expose said portion of said member on which said isotope is provided when said energy is applied to said shaped memory metal.
3 more elements
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a container having a wall adapted for the transmission of radiation therethrough;
- b) a radioactive isotope which emits radiation and which is provided in said container;
- and
- c) a movable shield provided in said container for increasing the radiation transmitted through said container relative to the radiation emitted by said isotope when an amount of energy is applied to said device, said shield comprising a substantially radiopaque portion on a plurality of shape memory members, each also having a portion upon which said isotope is provided, said plurality of members arranged in said container such that said portion having said isotope is substantially prevented from emitting radiation through said container without substantial interference from said substantially radiopaque portions,
- wherein said shape memory members include a predisposition to at least one of bend, rotate and twist upon application of said amount of energy such that said portions upon which said isotope is provided at least partially surround said radiopaque portions.
2 more elements
An implantable radiation therapy device, comprising:
- a) a container having a wall adapted for the transmission of radiation therethrough;
- b) a movable element provided in said container which moves when an amount of energy is applied to said seed,
- c) a radioactive isotope which emits radiation, said movable element including said radioactive isotope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.