Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for preparing nonradioactive microspheres adapted for radiation synovectomy of arthritic joints in a mammal comprising forming said microspheres by doping microspheres formed of a biodegradable glass material selected from the group consisting of lithium silicate, lithium aluminosilicate, lithium aluminoborate, lithium germanate, lithium aluminogermanate, potassium silicate, potassium aluminosilicate, potassium aluminoborate, potassium germanate and potassium aluminogermanate with an isotope selected from the group consisting of samarium, holmium, erbium, dysprosium, rhenium and yttrium so that said isotope is chemically dissolved in and distributed substantially uniformly throughout said microspheres material and which isotope, upon being subjected to an effective amount of neutron irradiation, will produce a beta radiation emitting radioisotope selected from the group consisting of samarium-153, holmium-166, erbium-169, dysprosium-165, rhenium-186, rhenium-188 and yttrium-90, treating said doped glass material with an acid wash to produce a thin layer on the surface of the glass material and heat treating the glass material to improve the chemical durability of the glass material by rendering the solubility of said layer lower than that of the underlying glass material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for preparing nonradioactive microspheres adapted for radiation synovectomy of arthritic joints in a mammal comprising forming said microspheres by doping microspheres formed of a biodegradable glass material selected from the group consisting of lithium silicate, lithium aluminosilicate, lithium aluminoborate, lithium germanate, lithium aluminogermanate, potassium silicate, potassium aluminosilicate, potassium aluminoborate, potassium germanate and potassium aluminogermanate with an isotope selected from the group consisting of samarium, holmium, erbium, dysprosium, rhenium and yttrium so that said isotope is chemically dissolved in and distributed substantially uniformly throughout said microspheres material and which isotope, upon being subjected to an effective amount of neutron irradiation, will produce a beta radiation emitting radioisotope selected from the group consisting of samarium-153, holmium-166, erbium-169, dysprosium-165, rhenium-186, rhenium-188 and yttrium-90, treating said doped glass material with an acid wash to produce a thin layer on the surface of the glass material and heat treating the glass material to improve the chemical durability of the glass material by rendering the solubility of said layer lower than that of the underlying glass material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat treating step is carried out in the presence of SO 2 gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said acid wash is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is lithium silicate and said radioisotope is samarium-153.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is lithium aluminosilicate and said radioisotope is samarium-153.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is lithium aluminoborate and said radiosotope is samarium-153.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is lithium silicate and said radioisotope is holmium-166.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is lithium aluminosilicate and said radioisotope is holmium-166.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is lithium aluminoborate and said radioisotope is holmium-166.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is magnesium aluminosilicate and said radioisotope is samarium-153.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is aluminosilicate and said radioisotope is samarium-153.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said glass material is aluminosilicate and said radioisotope is yttrium-90.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said microsphere has a diameter in the range of about 3 to about 30 micrometers.