US5452720A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for treating brain tumors
Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
•
Filing: 1993-08-09
•
Granted: 1995-09-26
•
Expires: 2013-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of treating brain tumors in a patient, comprising the steps of: identifying and locating a brain tumor in vivo by affixing a stereotactic frame to the head of the patient, performing a computer tomographic (CT) scan of the skull of the patient to determine the location, size, and shape of the tumor with respect to the stereotactic frame, performing a biopsy by inserting an extraction tool along a path measured with respect to the frame to the tumor location, extracting a tissue from the location, removing the needle and the extracted tissue and analyzing the tissue; implanting at least a portion of an adjustable x-ray radiation source in the patient proximate the tumor, the adjustable radiation source including an electron beam source outside the head of the patient, and directing an electron beam produced by the source outside the head of the patient along the path to the location; and controlling the source to generate an x-ray radiation pattern characterized by a spatial and temporal distribution, to selectively irradiate the tumor.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald O. Smith
- 👤 Alan P. Sliski
- 👤 Kenneth J. Harte
- 👤 Peter J. Biggs
- 👤 John F. Beatty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/10; A61N5/1001; H; H01; H01J; H01J35/00; H01J35/24; H01J35/30; H01J35/32; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/02; H05G1/04; H05G1/06; H05G1/08; H05G1/10; H05G1/26; H05G1/30; H05G1/32; H05G1/34; A61N5/1002; A61N2005/1005; H01J2201/00; H01J2201/34; H01J2201/342
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of treating brain tumors in patient, comprising the steps of: A. identifying and locating a brain tumor in vivo; B. implanting at least a portion of an adjustable x-ray radiation source in said patient proximate to said tumor; and C. controlling said source to generate an x-ray radiation pattern, characterized by a spatial and temporal distribution, to selectively irradiate said tumor, wherein said controlling step includes the substeps of: i. providing at least one scintillation detector adjacent to the head of said patient and monitoring the x-rays detected by said scintillation detector, and ii. adjusting said sources in response to said monitoring so that the temporal and intensity pattern of said x-rays generated by said source has a predetermined form.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of treating brain tumors in patient, comprising the steps of: A. identifying and locating a brain tumor in vivo; B. implanting at least a portion of an adjustable x-ray radiation source in said patient proximate to said tumor; and C. controlling said source to generate an x-ray radiation pattern, characterized by a spatial and temporal distribution, to selectively irradiate said tumor, wherein said controlling step includes the substeps of: i. providing at least one scintillation detector adjacent to the head of said patient and monitoring the x-rays detected by said scintillation detector, and ii. adjusting said sources in response to said monitoring so that the temporal and intensity pattern of said x-rays generated by said source has a predetermined form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of treating brain tumors according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable radiation source includes an electron beam source outside the head of said patient and said implanting step includes the substep of directing an electron beam produced outside the head of said patient along said path to said location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of treating brain tumors according to claim 1, wherein prior to said implanting step, performing a step of calibrating said x-ray source by measuring the x-rays produced by said source with an ion chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of treating brain tumors according to claim 1, wherein prior to said implanting step, performing a step of calibrating said x-ray source by obtaining sequential in-air and in-water measurements for determining time of treatment.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of treating brain tumors in patient, comprising the steps of: A. identifying and locating a brain tumor in vivo; wherein said identifying and locating step includes the substeps of: i. affixing a stereotactic frame to the head of said patient, ii. performing a computer tomographic (CT) scan of the skull of said patient to determine the location, size, and shape of said tumor with respect to said stereotactic frame, iii. performing a biopsy by inserting a tissue extraction tool along a path measured with respect to said frame to said tumor location, extracting a tissue from said location, removing said needle and extracted tissue and analyzing said tissue, and B. implanting at least a portion of an adjustable x-ray radiation source in said patient proximate to said tumor, said adjustable radiation source including an electron beam source outside the head of said patient, and directing an electron beam produced by said source outside the head of said patient along said path to said location, and C. controlling said source to generate an x-ray radiation pattern, characterized by a spatial and temporal distribution, to selectively irradiate said tumor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of treating brain tumors in patient, comprising the steps of: A. identifying and locating a brain tumor in vivo; wherein said identifying and locating step includes the substeps of: i. affixing a stereotactic frame to the head of said patient, ii. performing a computer tomographic (CT) scan of the skull of said patient to determine the location, size, and shape of said tumor with respect to said stereotactic frame, iii. performing a biopsy by inserting a tissue extraction tool along a path measured with respect to said frame to said tumor location, extracting a tissue from said location, removing said needle and extracted tissue and analyzing said tissue, and B. implanting at least a portion of an adjustable x-ray radiation source in said patient proximate to said tumor, said adjustable radiation source including an electron beam source outside the head of said patient, and directing an electron beam produced by said source outside the head of said patient along said path to said location, and C. controlling said source to generate an x-ray radiation pattern, characterized by a spatial and temporal distribution, to selectively irradiate said tumor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of treating brain tumors according to claim 5, wherein prior to said implanting step, performing a step of calibrating said x-ray source by measuring the x-rays produced by said source with an ion chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of treating brain tumors according to claim 5, wherein prior to said implanting step, performing a step of calibrating said x-ray source by obtaining sequential in-air and in-water measurements for determining time of treatment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1981583A
Cited
US2748294A
Cited
US3752990A
Cited
US3714486A
Cited
US3794840A
Cited
US3920999A
Cited
US4104532A
Cited
US4205251A
Cited
US4104531A
Cited
US4109154A
Cited
US4117334A
Cited
US4157475A
Cited
US4344181A
Cited
US4608977A
Cited
US4638798A
Cited
US4563769A
Cited
US4517472A
Cited
US4646338A
Cited
US4694480A
Cited
US4856036A
Cited
US4789997A
Cited
US5116344A
Cited
US5065417A
Cited
US4924485A
Cited
US5154723A
Cited
US5189687A
Cited
US4869247A
Cited
US5339812A
Cited
US5354314A
Cited
US5250019A
Cited
US5153900A
Cited
US5095217A
Cited
US5090043A
Cited
USRE34421E
Cited
US5116345A
Cited
US5261406A
Cited
US5300080A
Cited
US5165093A
Cited
US5373844A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-25 | 1999-03-27 | 1999-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-25 | 2003-03-27 | 2003-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-25 | 2007-03-27 | 2007-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |