Radioactive seed with multiple markers and method for using same
AssigneeNorth American Scientific, Inc.
InventorL. Michael Cutrer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radioactive seed which discloses the orientation and the location of the seed when the seed is exposed to X-ray photography is provided. The seed contains multiple X-ray detectable markers which will disclose the orientation and the location of the seed when the seed is exposed to X-ray photography. The seed can also have a single marker which wraps around the external surface of the seed or wraps around a carrier body within the seed. The single marker will also disclose the orientation as well as the location of the seed.
Claims3
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 a plurality of X-ray detectable markers placed along a length of the cavity in a first configuration;
- 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 a plurality of X-ray detectable markers placed along a length of the cavity in a second configuration distinguishable from the first configuration;
- 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 configurations which are visibly distinguishable;
- and
- associating each representation of the first configuration with a seed having one of the first radioisotope source and the first dosage, and associating each representation of the second configuration with a seed having one of the second radioisotope source and the second dosage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.