US5030194A — Method and apparatus for effecting radioactive th…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 302 words

In an apparatus for effecting radiation therapy in an animal body wherein the apparatus has a first radioactive source assembly disposed in a first source channel, a guide tube connected at a first end to said source channel and a second end being disposable in the animal body for the intended therapy a first source assembly transport thread connected to the first source assembly and to a first source assembly drive means for driving the first source assembly from the first source channel and towards the said source end of the guide tube, the improvement comprising at least one further radioactive source assembly disposed in a further source channel, a connector tube connected at a first end to said further source channel, a connector disposed in said guide tube and a second end of the connector tube connected to said connector, wherein a juncture is formed at said connector between said guide tube and said connector tube, a further source assembly transport thread attached at one end to said further source assembly, a further source assembly drive means at an other end of the further source assembly transport thread attached the further source assembly drive means for driving the further source assembly from the further source channel, through the connector tube and connector, and towards said second end of the said guide tube, wherein the first source assembly and the further source assembly are alternatingly drivable toward the second end of the guide tube, and a detector means for detecting the presence of the first source assembly or the further source assembly in the guide tube between the juncture formed at the connector and the second end of the guide tube, whereby radiation therapy may be effected in the animal body by either the first source assembly or the further source assembly.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 302 words

In an apparatus for effecting radiation therapy in an animal body wherein the apparatus has a first radioactive source assembly disposed in a first source channel, a guide tube connected at a first end to said source channel and a second end being disposable in the animal body for the intended therapy a first source assembly transport thread connected to the first source assembly and to a first source assembly drive means for driving the first source assembly from the first source channel and towards the said source end of the guide tube, the improvement comprising at least one further radioactive source assembly disposed in a further source channel, a connector tube connected at a first end to said further source channel, a connector disposed in said guide tube and a second end of the connector tube connected to said connector, wherein a juncture is formed at said connector between said guide tube and said connector tube, a further source assembly transport thread attached at one end to said further source assembly, a further source assembly drive means at an other end of the further source assembly transport thread attached the further source assembly drive means for driving the further source assembly from the further source channel, through the connector tube and connector, and towards said second end of the said guide tube, wherein the first source assembly and the further source assembly are alternatingly drivable toward the second end of the guide tube, and a detector means for detecting the presence of the first source assembly or the further source assembly in the guide tube between the juncture formed at the connector and the second end of the guide tube, whereby radiation therapy may be effected in the animal body by either the first source assembly or the further source assembly.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first source assembly is a high dose rate radioactive source assembly and the further source assembly is a low dose rate radioactive source assembly and wherein the further source assembly functions as a test assembly for positioning the first source assembly in the animal body and for effecting low dose radiation therapy in the animal body.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 104 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the guide tube has disposed between said juncture and said second end of the guide tube an indexer means for providing a plurality of branched guide tubes attached to the indexer means and extending to a plurality of sites of intended therapy, with each of said branched guide tubes having a said second end, and wherein either the first or further source assembly is drivable from its respective channel, through said indexer means and towards the said second end of a selected branched guide tube, which selected branched guide tube is selected by operation of said indexer means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein control means are provided for controlling the first and further source assembly drive means and said indexer means such that either said source assembly may be serially driven to and disposed at the said second end of any selected branched guide tube.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control means selects residence times during which said first source assembly and said further source assembly are disposed and reside at said second end of a said selected branched guide tube before being withdrawn therefrom, wherein a predetermined regimen of radioactive therapy is performed.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 70 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said control means selects a series of said residence times wherein said first source assembly and said further source assembly have predetermined residence times in one of said branched guide tubes and the same and different predetermined residence times in other of the said branched guide tubes, wherein variations in radioactive therapy from one branched guide tube to other branched guide tubes are provided.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 3 including an implant needle and wherein the said second end of a branched guide tube is connected to said implant needle and which implant needle is disposable at the site of intended therapy and the first and further source assemblies are passable into said needle.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the further source assembly is of substantially the same shape as the first source assembly.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said first source assembly drive means and said further source assembly drive means has motor means operably connected thereto for driving said drive means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the motor means comprises a stepping motor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a separate stepping motor is connected to each of said first source assembly drive means and said further source assembly drive means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said detector means is disposed in said connector.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said detector means comprises a photoelectric cell.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 97 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein both said source drive means comprise: (a) a cylindrical disc having on its outer circumferential surface a groove spirally disposed around said surface and the said source transport thread being disposed in said groove; (b) an endless belt and contacting means on which said belt is disposed for contacting the belt with a major portion of the said surface and for retaining the said source transport thread in said groove to prevent slipping thereof; and (c) A tubular guide means for passing the said source transport thread to said source channel.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 59 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the said contacting means is a series of rollers upon which the endless belt rolls and said rollers are disposed in relation to said source such that the said endless belt is in contact with said surface and is moved around said major portion of said surface by movement of said cylindrical disc.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the said major portion of the said surface is at least about 300° of said surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 63 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide tube has disposed thereabout a helically wound metal spring wire having adjoining winding and said guide tube has disposed thereon a longitudinally disposed pull wire adjacent said windings with the end thereof affixed at the ends of the guide tube wherein the said spring wire and pull wire prevent deformation of the said guide tube.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the said spring wire and pull wire are embedded in a plastic sheath.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said further source assembly is x-ray film imagable.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 1, including a shielding block and wherein the said first source channel and the said further source channel are disposed in said shielding block.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 221 words

A method for effecting radiation therapy in an animal body at a site of intended therapy, comprising: (a) driving a further source assembly from a further source assembly channel through a connector tube, a connector and a guide tube to at least near a second end of the guide tube and at least near the site of intended therapy; (b) positioning the further source assembly in the guide tube so that the position of the further source assembly is at the site of intended therapy; (c) determining a measured excursion of the further source assembly from a detector means when the further source assembly is positioned at the site of intended therapy; (d) withdrawing said further source assembly from said guide tube and into the further source assembly channel; (e) driving a first source assembly from a first source assembly channel, through said connector and said guide tube until the excursion of the first source assembly from said detector means substantially equals the said measured excursion of the further source assembly, whereby the first source assembly is correctly positioned at the site of intended therapy; (f) allowing the first source assembly to remain at the site of intended therapy for a predetermined time to effect radiation therapy; and (g) withdrawing the first source assembly into the said first source assembly channel.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 221 words

A method for effecting radiation therapy in an animal body at a site of intended therapy, comprising: (a) driving a further source assembly from a further source assembly channel through a connector tube, a connector and a guide tube to at least near a second end of the guide tube and at least near the site of intended therapy; (b) positioning the further source assembly in the guide tube so that the position of the further source assembly is at the site of intended therapy; (c) determining a measured excursion of the further source assembly from a detector means when the further source assembly is positioned at the site of intended therapy; (d) withdrawing said further source assembly from said guide tube and into the further source assembly channel; (e) driving a first source assembly from a first source assembly channel, through said connector and said guide tube until the excursion of the first source assembly from said detector means substantially equals the said measured excursion of the further source assembly, whereby the first source assembly is correctly positioned at the site of intended therapy; (f) allowing the first source assembly to remain at the site of intended therapy for a predetermined time to effect radiation therapy; and (g) withdrawing the first source assembly into the said first source assembly channel.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 21 wherein the first source assembly is a high dose rate radioactive source assembly and the further source assembly is a low dose rate radioactive source assembly and the positioning of the further source assembly at the site of intended therapy is determined by x-ray imaging thereof.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 148 words

The method of claim 21 wherein the guide tube has disposed between said connector and said second end of the guide tube an indexer means for selecting one of a plurality of branched guide tubes attached to the indexer means, with each of said branched guide tubes having said second end, extending to a plurality of sites of intended therapy, said method comprising the further steps of serially determining the measured excursion of the further source assembly in a plurality of branched guide tubes for positioning the further source assembly at a plurality of sites of intended therapy and thereafter driving the first source assembly in respective branched guides tubes until the excursion of the first source assembly from the detector means substantially equals the measured excursion of the further source assembly, wherein the first source assembly is serially positioned at a plurality of sites of intended therapy.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

The process of claim 23 wherein the first source assembly resides at each of the plurality of sites of intended therapy for a predetermined time.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 24 wherein said predetermined time is the same or different, whereby variations in radiation therapy from one branched guide tube to other branched guide tubes are provided.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 21 wherein both the further source assembly and the first source assembly are driven in stepped increments.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The process of claim 21 wherein the guide tube at the second end thereof comprises an implant needle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-07-08	1995-01-07	1995-07-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-07-08	1999-01-07	1999-07-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-07-08	2003-01-07	2003-07-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for effecting radioactive therapy in an animal body

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