Radiotherapy applicator system
The radiotherapy applicator system includes an applicator pad adapted to cover a target area of a patient for radiation treatment. One or more spaced channels extend through a length of the applicator pad. Each channel receives a catheter sleeve, and an elongate seed line is selectively inserted into a corresponding catheter sleeve. Each seed line contains one or more radioactive seeds and spacers arranged in a predetermined pattern along the length of the seed line. The seed lines within the applicator pad form an array of a predetermined, geometric treatment pattern of seeds covering the target area, the treatment pattern predetermined from a treatment plan for that target area and the patient. Shielding is provided to protect staff administering the treatment and non-target areas from harmful levels of radiation exposure. The radiotherapy applicator system is reusable for multi-session treatment and may be provided as a customized kit.
1 . A radiotherapy applicator system, comprising:
a flexible applicator pad configured to be placed on or over and conform to contours of a target area of a patient for a radiotherapy treatment, the flexible applicator pad having a body with opposing ends and a plurality of elongate channels within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate channel extending between the opposing ends of the body;
a plurality of elongate catheter sleeves each configured to be selectively mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate catheter sleeve configured to have an endcap at least at one end;
a plurality of elongate seed lines, each elongate seed line configured for delivery of a radioactive dose to treat the target area, each elongate seed line being configured to be selectively mounted within a corresponding elongate catheter sleeve mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate seed line having at least one radioactive portion, and each elongate seed line having a portion extending out of the corresponding elongate catheter sleeve when assembled to facilitate selective removal or insertion of the elongate seed line from the corresponding elongate catheter sleeve; and
a shielding configured to cover the flexible applicator pad during use to minimize radiation exposure to a user administering the radiotherapy treatment or to the patient receiving the radiotherapy treatment with the radiotherapy applicator system,
wherein each elongate seed line is adapted to provide radiation that covers a specific portion of the target area, and
wherein the plurality of elongate seed lines, when each of the plurality of elongate seed lines is mounted within a corresponding elongate catheter sleeve mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, provides an arrangement of elongate seed lines defining an array of hot spots forming a predetermined, geometric treatment pattern for irradiating the target area in accordance with a predetermined radiation treatment plan for the patient.
2 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 1 , wherein said body of said flexible applicator pad comprises a substantially rectangular block.
3 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 2 , wherein said body of said flexible applicator pad is constructed from silicone.
4 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 1 , wherein said body of said flexible applicator pad comprises a substantially square block.
5 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 4 , wherein said body of said flexible applicator pad is constructed from silicone.
6 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 4 , wherein said substantially square block comprises an upper half and a flat bottom, said upper half having a plurality of elongate corrugations extending between opposing ends of said body of the flexible applicator pad, each elongate corrugation being coaxial with a corresponding elongate channel in said flexible applicator pad.
7 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 1 , wherein each said elongate catheter sleeve comprises an elongate tube section and a said endcap covering one end of said tube section, an opposite end of the tube section being open to receive a corresponding elongate seed line therein, said tube section having a given diameter and said endcap having a given diameter.
8 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 7 , wherein the diameter of said endcap is greater than the diameter of said tube section.
9 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 7 , wherein each said elongate catheter sleeve is constructed from material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, and medical grade plastic.
10 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 1 , wherein each said elongate seed line of the plurality of elongate seed lines comprises an elongate wire having a set of at least one radioactive seed and at least one spacer arranged thereon in a predetermined elongate pattern, each said radioactive seed defining a said radioactive portion.
11 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 10 , wherein each said elongate seed line comprises a corresponding said predetermined elongate pattern, each said predetermined elongate pattern of at least one radioactive seed and at least one spacer on a corresponding said elongate seed line configured to irradiate a portion of said target area, at least one of said predetermined elongate patterns being different from another of said predetermined elongate patterns to accommodate differences in a shape and a form of said target area along a length of said predetermined elongate patterns.
12 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 10 , wherein said elongate wire is constructed from material selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tungsten, aluminum, gold, titanium, stainless steel, nitinol, and combinations thereof.
13 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 1 , wherein said shielding comprises a flat thin sheet of radiation blocking material, said flat sheet having a width and a length greater than a width and a length of said flexible applicator pad.
14 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 13 , wherein said radiation blocking material is selected from the group consisting of lead, tin, copper, zinc, and combinations thereof.
15 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 1 , wherein said shielding comprises a formed, rectangular or square shaped cover adapted to fit over the flexible applicator pad, said formed rectangular or square shaped cover having a top panel, opposing side panels extending downwardly from said top panel, a front panel extending between one end of said side panels, and a back panel extending between an opposite end of said side panels.
16 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 15 , wherein said front panel includes a plurality of pass-through slots, each said pass-through slot extending from a bottom of said front panel towards a top of said front panel and terminating about midway on said front panel, each said pass-through slot being configured to allow passage of a portion of a corresponding elongate seed line when assembled.
17 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 16 , wherein each said pass-through slot comprises a keyhole shape.
18 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 1 , wherein each said elongate seed line of the plurality of elongate seed lines comprises an elongate radioactive wire having at least one portion of a radioactive material formed therewith, each said portion having said radioactive material defining a said radioactive portion, said radioactive material arranged on said elongate radioactive wire in a predetermined elongate pattern.
19 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 18 , wherein each said predetermined elongate pattern formed by said at least one portion of the radioactive material configured to irradiate a portion of said target area, and at least one of said predetermined elongate patterns being different from another of said predetermined elongate patterns to accommodate differences in a shape and a form of said target area along a length of said at least one of said predetermined elongate patterns.
20 . The radiotherapy applicator system according to claim 1 , wherein said flexible applicator pad includes one or more perforations formed at predetermined spaced intervals along a width of the flexible applicator pad and each perforation extending along a length of the flexible applicator pad, each perforation configured to enable the flexible applicator pad to be torn along a corresponding said perforation to form a desired size of the flexible applicator pad for the radiotherapy treatment.
21 . A radiotherapy applicator system kit for a radiotherapy treatment, comprising:
a flexible applicator pad configured to be placed on or over and conform to contours of a target area of a patient for the radiotherapy treatment, the flexible applicator pad having a body with opposing ends and a plurality of elongate channels within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate channel each extending between the opposing ends of the body;
a plurality of elongate catheter sleeves each configured to be selectively mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate catheter sleeve configured to have an endcap at one end;
a plurality of elongate seed lines, each elongate seed line configured to be selectively mounted within a corresponding elongate catheter sleeve mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate seed line having mounted thereon a set of at least one radioactive seed and at least one spacer, each elongate seed line having a length greater than a length of the corresponding elongate catheter sleeve in order to have a portion of the elongate seed line extending out of the corresponding elongate catheter sleeve when assembled for selective removal or insertion of the elongate seed line from the corresponding elongate catheter sleeve; and
a shielding configured to cover the flexible applicator pad during use to minimize radiation exposure to a user administering the radiotherapy treatment or to the patient receiving the radiotherapy treatment,
wherein each elongate seed line having the at least one radioactive seed and the at least one spacer is adapted to provide radiation that covers a specific portion of the target area, and
wherein the plurality of elongate seed lines, when each of the plurality of elongate seed lines is mounted within a corresponding elongate catheter sleeve mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, provides an arrangement of elongate seed lines defining an array of hot spots forming a predetermined, geometric treatment pattern, when assembled, for irradiating the target area on the patient in accordance with a predetermined radiation treatment plan for the patient.
22 . A method for radiotherapy treatment, comprising the steps of:
determining a radiation treatment plan for a target area of a patient, the target area being unique in shape and form to the patient, the treatment plan including one or more predetermined sessions for the radiotherapy treatment;
providing a radiotherapy applicator system, comprising:
a flexible applicator pad configured to be placed on or over and conform to contours of the target area of the patient, the flexible applicator pad having a body with opposing ends and a plurality of elongate channels within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate channel extending between the opposing ends of the body;
a plurality of elongate catheter sleeves each configured to be selectively mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate catheter sleeve configured to have an endcap at one end;
a plurality of elongate seed lines, each elongate seed line configured to be selectively mounted within a corresponding elongate catheter sleeve mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, each elongate seed line having a set of at least one radioactive seed and at least one spacer mounted thereon, each elongate seed line having a portion extending out of the corresponding elongate catheter sleeve when assembled to facilitate selective removal or insertion of the elongate seed line from the corresponding elongate catheter sleeve; and
a shielding configured to cover the flexible applicator pad during use to minimize radiation exposure to a user administering the radiotherapy treatment and to the patient receiving the radiotherapy treatment,
wherein each elongate seed line having the set of at least one radioactive seed and at least one spacer mounted thereon is adapted to provide radiation that covers a specific portion of the target area, and
wherein the plurality of elongate seed lines, when each of the plurality of elongate seed lines is mounted within a corresponding elongate catheter sleeve mounted within a corresponding elongate channel within the flexible applicator pad, provides an arrangement of elongate seed lines defining an array of hot spots forming a predetermined, geometric treatment pattern for irradiating the target area of the patient in accordance with the radiation treatment plan for the patient;
placing the flexible applicator pad with the plurality of elongate catheter sleeves and the plurality of elongate seed lines respectively mounted therein on or over the target area;
covering the flexible applicator pad with the shielding to protect the user and areas of the patient other than the target area from radiation exposure;
treating the target area for a given period of time with radiation from the plurality of radioactive seeds respectively mounted on the plurality of elongate seed lines as required by the treatment plan;
removing the radiotherapy applicator system from the target area at the end of a said session for the radiotherapy treatment; and
selectively repeating the placing, covering, treating, and removing steps for multiple sessions, when the radiation treatment plan provides for a plurality of sessions for the radiotherapy treatment.
23 . The method for radiotherapy treatment according to claim 22 , further comprising the step of:
storing the plurality of elongate seed lines in a shielded environment after each session.