Portola Medical, Inc.

North American Scientific, Inc.

David Bossi

L Michael Cutrer

Richard A Terwilliger

John Zhang

Terence R Ellard

Wayne C Higgins

Fredrick Winch

Fredrick Wintch

Dan Kalas

The present disclosure provides a brachytherapy apparatus, system and method that delivers partial breast irradiation treatment for post-lumpectomy patients via introduction of a catheter-like device through a trocar. The apparatus may be introduced post-surgically with local anesthesia under image guidance into the previous excision site and into a cavity by a surgeon. The brachytherapy apparatus includes one or more thin-walled tubes, each of said thin-walled tubes being configured to contain one or more radioactive sources, at least one radiation source configured to deliver a prescribed dose of radiation, a whisk adjuster configured to permit adjustment of each of the one or more thin-walled tubes so that the tubes substantially conform to a size of the body cavity; and an expansion element configured to expand outwardly said one or more thin-walled tubes within the cavity so that the thin-walled tubes substantially conform to a shape and/or size of the body cavity.

Brachytherapy apparatus for asymmetrical body cavities

The present disclosure provides a brachytherapy apparatus that delivers a low dose, partial breast irradiation treatment for post-lumpectomy patients via introduction of a catheter-like device through a cannula. The apparatus may be introduced post-surgically with local anesthesia under image guidance into the previous excision site and into a cavity by a surgeon. The brachytherapy apparatus includes a seed containment device configured to contain a plurality of low-dose radioactive seeds therein. The seed containment device may be one or more thin-walled tubes. The apparatus is further configured to expand so that at least a portion of the seed containment device is positioned against the remaining tissue and the plurality of radioactive seeds are disposed at the perimeter of the seed containment device. Also described are various clamps for the apparatus, and sleeves for adjusting the size of the device to fit a cavity when the apparatus is in use.

Brachytherapy apparatus

A brachytherapy device may include a plurality of rods, each configured to move between a straightened position and a bowed position, the plurality of rods configured to collectively form a shaft while each rod is in the straightened position and to collectively form at least one cage while at least some of the rods are in the bowed position, at least some of the rods having lumens that are configured to receive and hold radioactive material. A brachytherapy device may further include a rotatable mechanism configured to cause at least some of the plurality of rods to move between the straightened position and the bowed position upon rotation of the rotatable mechanism.

Brachytherapy device having seed tubes with individually-settable tissue spacings

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for loading radioactive brachytherapy seeds into a seed cartridge for use with an applicator. Embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention may include a number of contact points of a size and shape designed to conform to the main body of a brachytherapy seed. The apparatus may hold the seeds until the seeds are placed within a channel of the seed cartridge, at which point the seeds may be released from the contact sites by the application of a force to the seeds or by some other mechanism. The apparatus may be made from a flexible material so that the seeds may be released by the application of a tension force. According to embodiments of the method of loading the seed cartridge, seeds in the loader may be positioned in relation to the body of the loading apparatus and the ends of the seeds may be aligned with the channel of the seed cartridge. A seed may be placed in the channel so that a gripping portion of the loading device protrudes from an access portion of the channel. The apparatus may include gripping features so that the loading apparatus can be held firmly during the loading process.

Growing community of inventors

Simi Valley, CA, United States of America

David Bossi