US6095967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Isotope seeding system that releases radioactive seeds for treatment of cancerous cells
Assignee: Surgical Specialties Corp Ltd
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Filing: 1998-03-25
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2018-03-25
Abstract
Abstract An isotope seeding system that controls the release of radioactive seeds for treatment of cancerous cells during cancer treatment procedures. The isotope seeding system comprises at least one seed that is chargeable with radioactive isotopes. At least one dissolvable web netting may alternatively be positioned about the at least one seed, and a seed deployment assembly is utilized for delivering the at least one seed, with or without the dissolvable web netting, into an organism's tissue, to surround cancerous cells. The seed deployment assembly includes an elongated cannula, a hub assembly and an obturator. The hub assembly includes an initial inner diameter at its proximal end and an operable length between the proximal end of the hub assembly and the proximal end of the cannula, the ratio of the initial inner diameter relative to the operable length being in the range of 0.075 to 0.175, to preclude against jamming of the at least one seed, with or without the at least one dissolvable web netting wrapped thereabout, within the hub assembly and/or to further preclude against inadvertent migration of such seeds from the web netting when such netting is utilized.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne J. Black
- 👤 Manfred Mittermeier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M37/00; A61M37/0069; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/10; A61N5/1001; A61N5/1007; A61N2005/1011; A61N5/1027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
An isotope seeding system that controls the release of radioactive seeds for treatment of cancerous cells to preclude against jamming and inadvertent migration of said radioactive seeds curing cancer treatment procedures, said system comprising: at least one seed that is chargeable with radioactive isotopes; a seed deployment assembly for locating and delivering said at least one seed into the tissue of an organism, proximate to said cancerous cells; said deployment assembly including an elongated cannula having a proximal and a distal end, said distal end opposite said proximal end and a conduit positioned therebetween; a hub assembly attached to the elongated cannula at the proximal end of said cannula, the hub assembly including a proximal and distal end, and an interior region, said distal end of said hub assembly operably associated with the proximal end of said elongated cannula for staging and directing said at least one seed through said elongated cannula from said cannula proximal end to said cannula distal end and, in turn, into said tissue at a desired location proximate said cancerous cells; an obturator for telescopic projection of said at least one seed through both said hub assembly and said elongated cannula; and said hub assembly having an initial inner diameter at its proximal end and an operable length between said proximal end of said hub assembly and said proximal end of said cannula, said ratio of said initial inner diameter at the proximal end of said hub assembly, relative to the operable length of said hub assembly, being in the range of 0.075 to 0.175, to ensure against the inadvertent migration and jamming of said at least one seed in said hub assembly; and the interior region of said hub assembly including a first substantially conical section having a length and a second substantially conical section having a length, the length of the first conical section being at least 50% of the combined length of the first and second conical sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
An isotope seeding system that controls the release of radioactive seeds for treatment of cancerous cells to preclude against jamming and inadvertent migration of said radioactive seeds curing cancer treatment procedures, said system comprising: at least one seed that is chargeable with radioactive isotopes; a seed deployment assembly for locating and delivering said at least one seed into the tissue of an organism, proximate to said cancerous cells; said deployment assembly including an elongated cannula having a proximal and a distal end, said distal end opposite said proximal end and a conduit positioned therebetween; a hub assembly attached to the elongated cannula at the proximal end of said cannula, the hub assembly including a proximal and distal end, and an interior region, said distal end of said hub assembly operably associated with the proximal end of said elongated cannula for staging and directing said at least one seed through said elongated cannula from said cannula proximal end to said cannula distal end and, in turn, into said tissue at a desired location proximate said cancerous cells; an obturator for telescopic projection of said at least one seed through both said hub assembly and said elongated cannula; and said hub assembly having an initial inner diameter at its proximal end and an operable length between said proximal end of said hub assembly and said proximal end of said cannula, said ratio of said initial inner diameter at the proximal end of said hub assembly, relative to the operable length of said hub assembly, being in the range of 0.075 to 0.175, to ensure against the inadvertent migration and jamming of said at least one seed in said hub assembly; and the interior region of said hub assembly including a first substantially conical section having a length and a second substantially conical section having a length, the length of the first conical section being at least 50% of the combined length of the first and second conical sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said system further comprises at least one dissolvable web netting operably associated with and positioned about said at least one seed for housing and maintaining the at least one seed in a substantially linear arrangement prior to positioning and arrangement of said at least one dissolvable web netting and, in turn, said at least one seed positioned therewithin, about selected ones of said cancerous cells, said seed deployment assembly further locating and delivering said at least one seed and said at least one dissolvable web netting positioned thereabout into said organism's tissue, proximate to said cancerous cells, in which both said at least one seed and at least one dissolvable web netting are staged and directed through said hub assembly by said obturator towards the projected release of both from the distal end of said elongated cannula.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the first substantially conical section includes a first conical proximal and distal end, said first conical section tapering inwardly from said first conical proximal end to said first conical distal end, and the second, distinct substantially conical section operably positioned between said distal end of said first conical section and said proximal end of said elongated cannula, said first conical section tapering inwardly from said first conical proximal end toward said first conical distal end to define a substantially continuous first slope, said first slope not exceeding 1°30'.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 3 wherein the first conical section extends from said proximal end of said hub assembly for at least half of the operable length of said hub assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system according to claim 3 wherein the second conical section includes a substantially continuous second slope tapering inwardly between said distal end of said first conical section and said proximal end of said elongated cannula, said second slope not less than 7°30'.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein said length of said second conical section extends for less than half of the operable length of said hub assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said elongated cannula comprises an 18 gauge cannula member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said elongated cannula includes a stylus, said stylus being positioned at the distal end of said elongated cannula, said stylus facilitates insertion of the elongated cannula into said organism's tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the distal end of said hub assembly telescopically receives and secures the proximal end of said cannula therewithin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the elongated cannula includes equidistantly-spaced, radiologically visible markings for denominating divisions of length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the obturator includes equidistantly-spaced, radiologically visible markings for denominating divisions of length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the length of the obturator is at least as long as the collective length of said elongated cannula and said hub assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said hub assembly is substantially rectangular.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the hub assembly is formed of a plastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said hub assembly has an initial inner diameter at its proximal end and an operable length between said proximal end of said hub assembly and said proximal end of said cannula, said ratio of said initial inner diameter at the proximal end of said hub assembly, relative to the operable length of said hub assembly, being in the range of 0.075 to 0.175, to ensure against the inadvertent migration and jamming of said at least one seed in said hub assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the length of the first substantially conical section ranges between 75% to 85% of the combined length of the first and second conical sections.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4610242A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |