US6366801B1
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Pharmaceutically enhanced low-energy radiosurgery
Assignee: Sirius Medicine LLC
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Filing: 2000-04-14
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Granted: 2002-04-02
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Expires: 2020-04-14
Abstract
Abstract Contrast agents developed specifically for x-ray diagnostics provide dose-enhanced radiotherapy and radiosurgery. The presence of heavy elements from these contrast agents, even small quantities, leads to a major dose increase in target tissue. When combined with in vivo calibration of the amount of contrast agent, the procedure is quick, accurate, and safe. The technique can also be used in combination with other techniques, such as focused x-rays, to achieve further enhancement of therapeutic ratio. Through optimization of the equipment it is possible to achieve very large ratios of dose in target to dose in healthy tissue, up to 10:1.
Inventors
- 👤 Webster C. Cash, Jr.
- 👤 Michael D. Weil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/10; A61K; A61K41/00; A61K41/0085; A61K49/00; A61K49/001; A61K49/006; A61K49/04; A61K49/0433; A61K49/0447; A61K49/0461; A61N2005/1085; A61N2005/1091; A61N2005/1092; A61N2005/1098
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays comprising the steps of: (a) delivering an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is delivered into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays, said method resulting in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays comprising the steps of: (a) delivering an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is delivered into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays, said method resulting in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of iodine, gadolinium, and gold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said contrast agent is iodine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of delivering said contrast agent is performed by intravenous injection of said contrast agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of delivering said contrast agent is performed by injecting said contrast agent directly into said tumor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said step of delivering said contrast agent injects said contrast agent into a surface portion of said tumor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of delivering said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of calibrating the amount of said contrast agent to determine x-ray dose enhancement is performed with the equation de=1+1.3p, where de means dose enhancement and p is the percentage of said contrast agent by weight in said tumor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of calibrating the amount of said contrast agent to determine x-ray dose enhancement is performed with a computed tomography scanner and further comprises the steps of: (a) scanning said tumor with said computed tomography scanner: (b) determining a Hounsfield number H in said tumor with said computed tomography scanner; (c) using said Hounsfield number H to calculate the x-ray dose enhancement with the equation de=1+0.0025H, where de equals dose enhancement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said x-rays have an energy of about 30 keV to about 150 keV.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said x-rays have an energy of about 40 keV to about 80 keV.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement with the equation de=1+1.3p, where de means dose enhancement and p is the percentage of said contrast agent by weight in said tumor; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement with the equation de=1+1.3p, where de means dose enhancement and p is the percentage of said contrast agent by weight in said tumor; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of iodine, gadolinium, and gold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said contrast agent is iodine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent injects said contrast agent into a surface portion of said tumor.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement by the steps of: scanning said tumor injected with said contrast agent with a computed tomography scanner; determining a Hounsfield number H in said tumor with said computed tomography scanner; using said Hounsfield number H to calculate the dose enhancement with the equation de=1+0.0025H; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement by the steps of: scanning said tumor injected with said contrast agent with a computed tomography scanner; determining a Hounsfield number H in said tumor with said computed tomography scanner; using said Hounsfield number H to calculate the dose enhancement with the equation de=1+0.0025H; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of iodine, gadolinium, and gold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said contrast agent is iodine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of injecting said contrast agent injects said contrast agent into a surface portion of said tumor.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a surface portion of a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said surface portion of said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement with the equation de=1+1.3p, where de means dose enhancement and p is the percentage of said contrast agent by weight in said surface portion of said tumor; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said surface portion of said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said surface portion of said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a surface portion of a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said surface portion of said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement with the equation de=1+1.3p, where de means dose enhancement and p is the percentage of said contrast agent by weight in said surface portion of said tumor; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said surface portion of said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said surface portion of said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of iodine, gadolinium, and gold.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said contrast agent is iodine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a surface portion of a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said surface portion of said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement by the steps of: scanning said surface portion of said tumor injected with said contrast agent with a computed tomography scanner; determining a Hounsfield number H in said surface portion of said tumor with said computed tomography scanner; using said Hounsfield number H to calculate the dose enhancement with the equation de=1+0.0025H; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said surface portion of said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said surface portion of said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a surface portion of a tumor; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said surface portion of said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement by the steps of: scanning said surface portion of said tumor injected with said contrast agent with a computed tomography scanner; determining a Hounsfield number H in said surface portion of said tumor with said computed tomography scanner; using said Hounsfield number H to calculate the dose enhancement with the equation de=1+0.0025H; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said surface portion of said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said surface portion of said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of iodine, gadolinium, and gold.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said contrast agent is iodine.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor, wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement with the equation de=1+1.3p, where de means dose enhancement and p is the percentage of said contrast agent by weight in said tumor; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor, wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement with the equation de=1+1.3p, where de means dose enhancement and p is the percentage of said contrast agent by weight in said tumor; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of iodine, gadolinium, and gold.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said contrast agent is iodine.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor, wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement by the steps of: scanning said tumor injected with said contrast agent with a computed tomography scanner; determining a Hounsfield number H in said tumor with said computed tomography scanner; using said Hounsfield number H to calculate the dose enhancement with the equation de=1+0.0025H; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for treating tumors by radiosurgery with x-rays, said method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting an amount of a contrast agent into a tumor, wherein said step of injecting said contrast agent is directed by ultrasonography; (b) calibrating the amount of said contrast agent within said tumor to determine x-ray dose enhancement by the steps of: scanning said tumor injected with said contrast agent with a computed tomography scanner; determining a Hounsfield number H in said tumor with said computed tomography scanner; using said Hounsfield number H to calculate the dose enhancement with the equation de=1+0.0025H; (c) repeating steps a and b until a desired amount of said contrast agent is injected into said tumor to provide a desired amount of x-ray dose enhancement; (d) irradiating said tumor containing said desired amount of said contrast agent with x-rays having an energy of between about 40 keV and about 80 keV, wherein said desired amount of said contrast agent results in an x-ray dose enhancement in said tumor of about 2:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of iodine, gadolinium, and gold.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said contrast agent is iodine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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