US6200258B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radioactive therapeutic seed having selective marker configuration
Assignee: Syntheon LLC
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Filing: 1999-08-10
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Granted: 2001-03-13
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Expires: 2019-08-10
Abstract
Abstract Radioactive therapeutic seeds include a carrier structure bearing a radioactive isotope and a radiopaque marker. According to embodiments of the invention, the seeds include a central plug provided with an axial marker and a relatively transverse bore extending through the marker. A second marker may be positioned in the bore, thereby radiographically distinguishing a seed provided with the second marker relative to a seed not provided with the second marker. According to another embodiment of the invention, the isotope is deposited on the outer surface of a hollow radiolucent tube. A biologically-compatible, radiolucent, surface-sealing layer seals the external surface of the tube. A radiopaque marker wire of selected length is positioned in the hollow of the tube. Seeds may be radiographically distinguished from one another by providing seeds with marker wires of different lengths. Each embodiment permits at least two groups of seeds to be radiographically distinguished from one another by the use of differing marker configurations. Each embodiment is further capable of being selectively marked by the physician prior to implantation of the seeds, or by the manufacturer for delivery to the physician in radiographically distinguishable sets. As a result, seeds having different levels of radiation emission can be distinguished in vivo and their effect monitored by the physician.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles R. Slater
- 👤 Thomas O. Bales
- 👤 Kevin W. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/10; A61N5/1001; A61N5/1027; A61N2005/1019; A61N2005/1024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; and c) a first marker substantially within said capsule which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having an opening non-axial with said longitudinal axis of said capsule.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; and c) a first marker substantially within said capsule which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having an opening non-axial with said longitudinal axis of said capsule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1 , wherein: said first marker is radiopaque.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 1 , further comprising: d) a second marker provided in said opening in said first marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said second marker, wherein a seed provided with said first and second markers has at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image which is distinguishable from a seed provided without said second marker.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; c) a first marker which permits at least one of radiographic and MRI visualization of said first marker; and d) a second marker substantially completely within said first marker which permits at least one of radiographic and MRI visualization of said second marker.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; c) a first marker which permits at least one of radiographic and MRI visualization of said first marker; and d) a second marker substantially completely within said first marker which permits at least one of radiographic and MRI visualization of said second marker.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a tube having a longitudinal hollow; b) a radiopaque band provided about said tube; c) a radioactive isotope provided on said tube; and d) a marker extending at least partially within said hollow, said marker permitting at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said marker.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a tube having a longitudinal hollow; b) a radiopaque band provided about said tube; c) a radioactive isotope provided on said tube; and d) a marker extending at least partially within said hollow, said marker permitting at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said marker.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 5 , wherein: said marker is a wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 5 , wherein: said marker is a tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system according to claim 5 , further comprising: e) a sealing layer extending over said radioactive isotope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system, comprising: a) a first radioactive therapeutic seed having a first carrier structure provided with a first isotope which emits a first level of radiation and a first marker which is viewable as a first image in at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image, said first image having a first configuration; and b) a second radioactive therapeutic seed having a second carrier structure provided with a second isotope which emits a second level of radiation and a second marker which is viewable as a second image in at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image, said second image having a second configuration different than said first configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system, comprising: a) a first radioactive therapeutic seed having a first carrier structure provided with a first isotope which emits a first level of radiation and a first marker which is viewable as a first image in at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image, said first image having a first configuration; and b) a second radioactive therapeutic seed having a second carrier structure provided with a second isotope which emits a second level of radiation and a second marker which is viewable as a second image in at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image, said second image having a second configuration different than said first configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system according to claim 9 , wherein: said second level of radiation is different than said first level of radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system according to claim 9 , wherein: said first configuration is a linear configuration and said second configuration is a cross-shaped configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system according to claim 9 , wherein: said first marker is a band and said second marker includes a band component and another component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system according to claim 12 , wherein: said other component is a tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system according to claim 12 , wherein: said other component is a wire.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system according to claim 9 , wherein: said first marker is one of a wire and a tube having a first length and said second marker is one of a wire and a tube having a second length different that said first length.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed system according to claim 9 , wherein: said first isotope has a first half-life, and said second isotope has a second half-life different than said first half-life.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; c) a marker which permits at least one of radiographic and MRI visualization of said seed, said marker adapted to change configuration upon an application of energy to said seed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; c) a marker which permits at least one of radiographic and MRI visualization of said seed, said marker adapted to change configuration upon an application of energy to said seed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 17 , wherein: said marker is a eutectic substance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 17 , wherein: said marker is covered in a sleeve which is at least one of elastic and heat shrinkable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; and c) a MRI-visible first marker having an opening non-axial with said longitudinal axis of said capsule.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; and c) a MRI-visible first marker having an opening non-axial with said longitudinal axis of said capsule.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; and c) a first marker positioned axially within said capsule and which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having a substantially diametric opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
60 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; and c) a first marker positioned axially within said capsule and which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having a substantially diametric opening.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
99 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; c) a first marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having an opening non-axial with said longitudinal axis of said capsule; and d) a second marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said second marker, said second marker oriented non-parallel relative to said first marker and extending through said opening in said first marker.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
99 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; c) a first marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having an opening non-axial with said longitudinal axis of said capsule; and d) a second marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said second marker, said second marker oriented non-parallel relative to said first marker and extending through said opening in said first marker.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed according to claim 22 , wherein: said second marker is oriented substantially transverse said first marker.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
75 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; and c) a first marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having an opening non-axial with said longitudinal axis of said capsule, said first marker being located nearer a center of said capsule than said radioactive isotope.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
75 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; and c) a first marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having an opening non-axial with said longitudinal axis of said capsule, said first marker being located nearer a center of said capsule than said radioactive isotope.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
80 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; c) a first marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having an opening, said first marker being located nearer said longitudinal axis of said capsule than said radioactive isotope; and d) a second marker extending through said opening in said first marker.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
80 words
A radioactive therapeutic seed, comprising: a) a radiolucent capsule having a longitudinal axis; b) a carrier structure carrying a radioactive isotope provided in said capsule; c) a first marker which permits at least one of a radiographic and a MRI image of said first marker, said first marker having an opening, said first marker being located nearer said longitudinal axis of said capsule than said radioactive isotope; and d) a second marker extending through said opening in said first marker.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-12 | 2004-09-11 | 2005-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-12 | 2008-09-11 | 2009-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-12 | 2012-09-11 | 2013-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |