Brachytherapy apparatus and methods
US6712782B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/1023
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A brachytherapy apparatus is composed of a tubular needle with forwardly protruding cutting edges at its tip, a holder supporting the needle and a driver for electromechanically causing the needle to undergo a continuous or oscillatory rotary motion around its axis and/or a reciprocating linear motion in the longitudinal direction such that its front opening at its tip can reliably reach a specified position inside a patient's tissue without being deflected or bowing when it encounters an obstruction such as a calcification or a small bone. Such motions may be provided by a piezoelectric hammer and a piezoelectric tamper. After the needle is thus correctly positioned, a brachytherapy device such as a radioactive seed or a reflector may be pushed through and out of the needle by means of a pusher as the needle is retracted to leave a track inside the tissue. A quickly hardening liquid may be thereafter injected through the needle to immobilize the deposited brachytherapy device. Another brachytherapy device may be deposited similarly after the needle is retracted by a specified distance. A plurality of brachytherapy devices may be preliminarily prepared as a unit having them linearl…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.