International Brachytherapy, S.a.

John L Carden, Jr

John L Russell, Jr

James Edward Fox

Alan Lionel Hudd

Michael Willis

Roy Coniglione

Dominique Moyaux

An implantable source () of therapeutic radiation for brachytherapy is provided as a sealed, biocompatible capsule () of plastic (e.g. polyethylene or PEEK) transparent to the radiation. The capsule contains a radiation source () comprising particles of a radioactive isotope (e.g. Pd, I, Cs) in a fluid carrier that is resistant to radiation polymerization but solidifies at elevated temperature. It also has a marker (), and desirably has a socket () which accommodates attaching spacers () and makes possible linear strands and planar arrays of the capsules. The spacers may be functional, e.g. heat-generating or medication-releasing.

Plastic brachytherapy sources

A method and apparatus for precisely applying radioactive material to a substrate such as a brachytherapy device is disclosed. A radioactive fluid adapted to cure rapidly is deposited as discrete dots onto a surface with a fluid-jet printhead. The apparatus comprises a fluid-jet printhead in communication with a chamber containing radioactive fluid to be applied by the printhead. The printhead is microprocessor driven, and the microprocessor may be provided with feedback from a station where the radioactivity deposited on a preceding substrate in a batch is measured, permitting the system to be recalibrated on an ongoing basis as the batch of printed devices is produced. Compensation for attenuation of radiation by a casing may also be made part of the feedback technique. Also disclosed is a brachytherapy device having printed on a surface dots of radiation-emitting material, in a pattern comprising various bands, dots or areas. Fluids suitable for printing by a fluid-jet printhead comprise a binder such as an acrylic resin or silicate, and a radioactive salt, compound or complex, dissolved in a radiation resistant solvent. Alternative fluids comprise radioactive salts, compounds, or complexes adsorbed onto a microparticulate carrier, or elemental microparticles, dispersed in a rapidly curable radiation-resistant fluid medium.

Fluid-jet deposition of radioactive material

Fluid-jet deposition of radioactive material for brachytherapy devices

Growing community of inventors

Brussells, Belgium

John L Carden, Jr