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US 6,786,858 B2Granted
Delivery system and method for interstitial radiotherapy using hollow seeds
AssigneeIdeaMatrix, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Terwilliger, Gary A. Lamoureux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy uses a seed strand composed of a plurality of tubular shaped, hollow radioactive seeds with a bore. The seed strand as assembled with a material provided in the bore and between the spaced seeds is axially stiff and radially flexible and is bioabsorbable in living tissue.
Claims73
A therapeutic element comprising:
- radioactive seed elements;
- said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape with a bore;
- an elongate member being expandable upon heating;
- said elongated member being inserted inside said bore of said radioactive seed elements and fixed by heating to said seed elements in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals.
1 more element
A therapeutic element comprising:
- radioactive seed elements that are tubular in shape with a bore;
- an elongated member comprised of a polymer being expandable upon heating;
- said elongated member being inserted inside said bore of said radioactive seed elements and fixed by heating to said seed elements in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals.
A therapeutic element comprising:
- radioactive seed elements;
- said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape;
- an elongated solid member being expandable upon heating;
- said elongated solid member being inserted inside said radioactive seed elements;
- and said radioactive seed elements dispersed along said elongated solid member, and said elongated solid member is fixed by heating to said seed elements in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals, wherein the seed elements and the member so assembled are axially rigid and radially flexible.
2 more elements
A therapeutic element comprising:
- radioactive seed elements;
- said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape with a bore;
- an elongated member;
- said elongated member being inserted inside said bore of said radioactive seed elements and fixed by crimping to said seed elements in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals, where at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length.
1 more element
A therapeutic element comprising:
- radioactive seed elements that are tubular in shape with a bore;
- an elongated member comprised of a polymer;
- said elongated member being inserted inside said bore of said tubular radioactive seed elements and fixed by crimping to said seed elements in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals, where at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length.
A therapeutic element comprising:
- radioactive seed elements;
- said radioactive seed elements being tubular in shape;
- an elongated solid member;
- said elongated solid member being inserted inside said radioactive seed elements;
- and said radioactive seed elements dispersed along said elongated solid member, and said elongated solid member is fixed by crimping to said seed elements in order to cause the seed elements to be captured at intervals, wherein the seed elements and said elongated solid member so assembled are axially rigid and radially flexible, and wherein at least some of the intervals can be independently set to a desired length.
2 more elements
A therapeutic element comprising:
- an elongated member made of a polymeric material;
- a plurality of radioactive seed elements, wherein each of said radioactive seed elements is tubular in shape and has a hollow bore;
- said elongated member being axially rigid and radially flexible;
- and
- said plurality of radioactive seed elements being affixed to said elongated member;
- said elongated member passing through each said hollow bore of each seed.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.