C. R. Bard, Inc.

Purewick Corporation

Bard Brachytherapy, Inc.

Other

Sourcetech Medical, LLC

Christopher D Drobnik

Michael W Drobnik

Breese J Watson

Scott C Jones

Jill W Jones

Kathleen Davis

Russell Riescher

Charles Jacobs

Patrick Hudson Chancy

Hoang D Nguyen

John Spittle

Jill M Walthall

Kevin Wineinger

Dave Sieracki

Mike Krachon

Russell Rieschier

John Shpittle

Breese Watson

An example female fluid collection assembly includes a fluid impermeable barrier. The fluid impermeable barrier at least defines a chamber and an opening. The female fluid collection assembly also includes at least one porous material disposed in the chamber. The porous material extends across the opening. In an embodiment, the portion of the porous material that extends across the opening include a protrusion that extends outwardly from the opening. In an embodiment, the porous material includes at least one expandable material that is configured to expand (e.g., increase in volume) when the expandable material exposed to one or more bodily fluids (e.g., urine).

Fluid collection assemblies including at least one of a protrusion or at least one expandable material

Examples relate to systems and methods to periodically apply inward pressure against the contents of non-intrusive bodily waste collection devices. The systems and methods disclosed herein utilize a non-intrusive bodily waste collection device having an outermost fluid impermeable barrier forming a chamber therein, one or more ports on the fluid impermeable barrier for removing fluids therefrom via a vacuum source, and one or more input ports fluidly coupled to a positive pressure source to input fluid into the chamber to collectively apply periodic inward pressure against the contents of the bodily waste collection device.

Bodily waste collection using periodic pressure

Brachytherapy seed insertion and fixation devices and systems to decrease implanted brachytherapy seed migration within tissue and minimize trauma. Component(s) with cavity or opening features are attached to a brachytherapy seed or series of seeds. The cavity or opening features interact with the patient's tissue to fix the seed and component assembly in place and inhibit movement/migration of the seed(s). The cavity or opening features may optionally be filled with an adhesive or other beneficial material. The seed(s) or seed and component assembly may be inserted using a delivery device having a needle through which the seed(s) or assembly are implanted and a stylet extending through the needle to cut tissue and facilitate insertion of the needle. The stylet has a reduced diameter cutting tip to cut a narrow hole in tissue, and a tapered region that stretches the narrow hole to accommodate insertion of the larger diameter needle.

Brachytherapy seed insertion and fixation system

A radioactive seed and method for making a radioactive seed with selective magnetic imaging characteristics are provided. The seed includes a housing which may include a metal shell for at least partially enclosing a radioactive material. The shell encloses a rod having a nickel layer with a phosphorous content, wherein the phosphorous content includes a level of phosphorous sufficient, when the seed is implanted in tissue, to provide a magnetic resonance image of the seed while substantially eliminating gross artifacts in the magnetic resonance image.

Radiation containing seeds and method for high visibility magnetic imaging

A brachytherapy packaging system is disclosed including an inner tray containing a plurality of recesses, each recess for holding a strand of linked radiological seeds separated by spacers. An inner tray cover may also contain a plurality of recesses that coincide with the recesses of the inner tray when placed over the inner tray. The inner tray and inner tray cover may be supported by and enclosed in a container made out of a metal such as pewter. A retainer may also be supportable on the top of the container, shaped for holding a forceps or tweezers. An outer tray may be used for supporting and enclosing the container and optional retainer. The outer tray may be sealed with a removable sheet adhesively attached to a rim of the outer tray. Different configurations of the inner tray and inner tray cover may be used for different packaging configurations.

Packaging system for brachytherapy devices

Disclosed herein is a system for transferring brachytherapy elements to a needle, such as seeds, connectors, spacers, and strands. The system comprises a transfer device and, optionally, a stylet and a rack configured to hold one or more transfer devices.

Brachytherapy element transfer system

The present disclosure relates to an implant comprising at least two sheets of a biocompatible material, and at least one radioactive seed disposed between said sheets of material. The disclosure also relates to a method for treating a patient, comprising fixing to the tissue of the patient at least one implant comprising at least two sheets of a biocompatible material, and at least one radioactive seed disposed between said sheets of material.

Implant comprising radioactive seeds

An applicator system for interstitial radiation therapy that uses a brachytherapy needle assembly for simultaneously dispensing an effective amount of medicine, such as anti-inflammatory agents, along with radioactive seeds. A medicine cartridge or a modified seed cartridge, having a reservoir on its proximal end, can be attached to the applicator body for dispensing medicine into a needle or medicine can be injected into the needle via a three-way fitting attached to the applicator body. Alternatively, a modified stylet having a reservoir on its proximal end containing medicine can be used to deliver medication to a needle. Additionally, the brachytherapy needle or the radioactive seeds and spacers can be coated with medication that would be absorbed by the body upon implantation.

Brachytherapy apparatus for dispensing medication

A delivery system for interstitial radiation therapy that uses a brachytherapy needle assembly for simultaneously dispensing an effective amount of medicine, such as anti-inflammatory agents, along with radioactive seeds. Medicine can be stored in and dispensed from a reservoir attached to a needle hub or to a stylet handle or it can be injected into the needle via a three-way fitting. Alternatively, medication can be added directly to the needle cannula. Additionally, the brachytherapy needle or the radioactive seeds and spacers can be coated with medication that would be absorbed by the body upon implantation.

Brachytherapy system for dispensing medication

An apparatus in one example comprises a vial that comprises a vial bottom and a vial cap that connect to enclose one or more radioactive seeds; and a radiation shielding container that comprises a bottom portion and a top portion that connect to enclose the vial. The radiation shielding container and the vial comprise one or more vents for movement of a sterilant therethrough for sterilization of the one or more radioactive seeds within the vial. The bottom portion of the radiation shielding container comprises a structure that engages the vial bottom to prevent rotational movement of the vial bottom during removal of the vial cap.

Radiation shielding container that encloses a vial of one or more radioactive seeds

An apparatus and method for administering a dose in brachytherapy procedures having a handheld housing containing a dose of radioactive seeds adapted for use in a brachytherapy treatment and a display for observing information about the dose and viewing the dose or components of the dose.

Apparatus and method for dose administration in brachytherapy

An apparatus in one example comprises a radiation shielding container for one or more radioactive sources. One or more of the one or more radioactive sources are containable within one or more cartridges. The radiation shielding container comprises a support component that restrains movement within the radiation shielding container of one or more of the one or more cartridges. The radiation shielding container comprises one or more vents for movement of a sterilant therethrough.

Radiation shielding container for radioactive sources

An apparatus in one example comprises a first spacer component that serves to separate a plurality of implantation seeds. The first spacer component comprises an end portion that is configured to receive and hold any one of: a first one of the plurality of implantation seeds; and a second spacer component. The second spacer component comprises an end portion that is configured to receive and hold any one of: a second one of the plurality of implantation seeds; and a third spacer component.

Growing community of inventors

Wauconda, IL, United States of America

Christopher D Drobnik