US5566221A — Apparatus for applying a predetermined x-radiatio…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 179 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity, said kit comprising: A. an x-ray source guidance assembly, said assembly including: i. a source guidance tube extending along a central axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, said tubular element defining an interior channel extending along said central axis, ii. an inflatable inelastic balloon disposed about and extending along a portion of said source guidance tube from an intermediate point on said source guidance tube to said distal end, said balloon being affixed to said source guidance tube at said intermediate point and at said distal end, said balloon defining an interior region disposed about said portion and when said balloon is substantially fully inflated, having a predetermined surface contour and, B. an x-ray source cooperative with said x-ray source assembly tube, said x-ray source including an x-ray generator disposed of at or near a first end of an elongated tubular element wherein said first end of said tubular element is slidably positionable within said interior channel of said source guidance tube.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 179 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity, said kit comprising: A. an x-ray source guidance assembly, said assembly including: i. a source guidance tube extending along a central axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, said tubular element defining an interior channel extending along said central axis, ii. an inflatable inelastic balloon disposed about and extending along a portion of said source guidance tube from an intermediate point on said source guidance tube to said distal end, said balloon being affixed to said source guidance tube at said intermediate point and at said distal end, said balloon defining an interior region disposed about said portion and when said balloon is substantially fully inflated, having a predetermined surface contour and, B. an x-ray source cooperative with said x-ray source assembly tube, said x-ray source including an x-ray generator disposed of at or near a first end of an elongated tubular element wherein said first end of said tubular element is slidably positionable within said interior channel of said source guidance tube.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 1, wherein said x-ray generator is a capsule containing a radioactive material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 132 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 1, wherein said x-ray generator includes: i. said tubular element, said tubular element having a beam source end and a target end and defining an interior region extending along a source axis between said source end and said target end, said target end being said first end, ii. beam source means, disposed proximal to said beam source end, for generating an electron beam passing substantially along said source axis toward said target end, iii. target means, disposed proximal to said target end, for generating x-rays in response to incidence thereon of said electron beam, and iv. control means for selectively activating said beam source means such that said electron beam is incident on said target means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 2, wherein said balloon defines a spherical contour when fully inflated.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 2, wherein said inflated balloon has a diameter greater than a largest span of the body cavity.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 3, wherein said balloon defines a spherical contour when fully inflated.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 3, wherein said inflated balloon has a diameter greater than a largest span of the body cavity.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 55 words

A kit for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 3, wherein said source guidance tube further includes a second interior channel extending from said proximal end to a point near said distal end, wherein said second interior channel is in communication to said interior region of said balloon.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 214 words

A method for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity comprising the steps of: A. providing an x-ray source guidance assembly, said assembly including: i. a source guidance tube extending along a central axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, said first tubular element defining an interior channel extending along said central axis, ii. an inflatable substantially inelastic balloon disposed about and extending along a portion of said source guidance tube from an intermediate point on said source guidance tube to said distal end, said balloon being affixed to said source guidance tube at said intermediate point and said distal end, said balloon defining an interior region disposed about said portion and, when said balloon is substantially fully inflated having a predetermined surface contour, B. providing an x-ray source, said x-ray source including an x-ray generator at or near a first end of an elongated tubular element, C. inserting said source guidance tube into the body such that said portion occupies a predeterrmined location within said body cavity, D. inflating said balloon whereby said balloon is substantially fully inflated, and E. inserting said tubular element within said interior channel such that said target end is positioned at a predetermined location along said source axis within said inflated balloon.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 214 words

A method for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity comprising the steps of: A. providing an x-ray source guidance assembly, said assembly including: i. a source guidance tube extending along a central axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, said first tubular element defining an interior channel extending along said central axis, ii. an inflatable substantially inelastic balloon disposed about and extending along a portion of said source guidance tube from an intermediate point on said source guidance tube to said distal end, said balloon being affixed to said source guidance tube at said intermediate point and said distal end, said balloon defining an interior region disposed about said portion and, when said balloon is substantially fully inflated having a predetermined surface contour, B. providing an x-ray source, said x-ray source including an x-ray generator at or near a first end of an elongated tubular element, C. inserting said source guidance tube into the body such that said portion occupies a predeterrmined location within said body cavity, D. inflating said balloon whereby said balloon is substantially fully inflated, and E. inserting said tubular element within said interior channel such that said target end is positioned at a predetermined location along said source axis within said inflated balloon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein said x-ray generator is a capsule containing a radioactive material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 147 words

A method according to claim 9 wherein said x-ray generator includes: i. said tubular element, said tubular element having a beam source end and a target end, and defining an interior region extending along a source axis between said source end and said target end, said target end being said first end, ii. beam source means, disposed proximal to said beam source end, for generating an electron beam, iii. target means, disposed proximate to said target end, for generating x-rays in response to incidence thereon of said electron beam, and iv. control means for selectively activating said beam source means such that said electron beam is incident on said target means, and wherein said method includes the further step of operating said controller to generate said electron beam and control said electron beam whereby said electron beam is incident on said target means, thereby generating said x-rays.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 11 wherein said inflating step includes a substep of inflating said balloon such that substantially all of said balloon surface contour contacts the interior surface of said body cavity.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method for applying x-rays to an interior surface of a body cavity according to claim 11 wherein said balloon defines a spherical contour when fully inflated.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-10-15	2000-04-15	2000-10-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-10-15	2004-04-15	2004-10-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-10-15	2008-04-15	2008-10-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for applying a predetermined x-radiation flux to an interior surface of a body cavity

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