Radioactive therapeutic apparatus
OwnerDavid E. Wazer, Thomas A. DiPetrilloinventors
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Abstract
A method and device for applying a radioactive source to a tissue site is disclosed. The device facilitates the precise placement of, for example, 125Iodine seeds relative to the surgical margin, assures the seeds remain fixed in their precise position for the duration of the treatment, overcomes the technical difficulties of manipulating the seeds through the narrow surgical incision, and reduces the radiation dose to the clinicians. The device incorporates the radioactive seeds into a fastening means, preferably surgical staples, used in the surgical procedure. In this way, the seeds are concurrently secured in position directly adjacent to the surgical resection and remain immobile.
Claims22
A device used for brachytherapy delivery in the treatment of cancer by radiation therapy, said device comprising:
- a fastening means including an array of staples each having a base and tissue piercing ends;
- a radioactive source;
- said base formed as a tubular cavity for receiving and holding said radioactive source therein;
- said tissue piercing ends formed as legs of the staple;
- said staple positionable for piercing said tissue in performing a surgical procedure at a surgical margin while concurrently securing said radioactive source in a fixed position at said surgical margin;
- said array of staples constructed and arranged to extend spaced longitudinally of the surgical margin.
An apparatus used as a brachytherapy delivery means in the treatment of cancer by radiation therapy, said apparatus comvrising:
- a fastening means including a plurality of staples, each having a base and tissue piercing ends;
- a plurality of radioactive sources;
- means for mounting each radioactive source to the base of a respective staple;
- and
- a cartridge for retaining and selectively applying the plurality of staples along a surgical margin;
- said plurality of staples being positionable for piercing said tissue and spacedly disposed in a row while concurrently securing each radioactive source in a fixed position at the surgical margin;
- wherein said plurality of staples fix the position of the radioactive sources relative to the surgical martin to provide a stable dose distribution thereat;
- wherein said means for mounting includes a sleeve that is constructed of any one of platinum, titanium, nickel-titanium alloys, gold, stainless steel, palladium, silica and alumina. and said plurality of staples are individually spaced apart by about 1.0 mm;
- and wherein said plurality of staples includes a pair of staples that are arranged to be secured by a common sleeve that extends therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.