Rectal balloon with locking stopper

1. A locking device for use on a lumen of a prostate immobilizer comprising:

a) a positioning member having a head portion and a stem portion, said stem portion extending from said head portion, said head portion and said stem portion having a channel formed therein, said channel suitable for receiving a lumen therein; and

b) a locking member connected to said stem portion, said locking member being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking member having a surface suitable for gripping the lumen when said locking member is in said locked position;

wherein said head portion having a generally hemispherical shape at one end thereof and a generally flat surface at the opposite end thereof, and said locking member positioned adjacent to said generally flat surface.

2. The device of claim 1 , said locking member being hingedly connected to said stem portion.

3. The device of claim 2 , said stem portion having a lip formed thereon, said locking member having a latch formed thereon, said latch engaging said lip when said locking member is in said locked position.

4. The device of claim 1 , said stem portion having an outer surface flush with a surface of said head portion, said locking member having an outer surface flush with another surface of said head portion when in said locked position.

5. The device of claim 1 , said head portion having a longitudinal split formed therein so as to open to said channel, said longitudinal split having an opening suitable for allowing the lumen to pass therethrough and into said channel.

6. A locking device for use on a lumen of a prostate immobilizer comprising:

a) a positioning member having a head portion and a stem portion, said stem portion extending from said head portion, said head portion and said stem portion having a channel formed therein, said channel suitable for receiving a lumen therein;

b) a locking member connected to said stem portion, said locking member being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

c) said locking member having a surface suitable for gripping said lumen when said locking member is in said locked position;

d) said head portion having a generally hemispherical shape at one end thereof and a generally flat surface at the opposite end thereof, and said locking member positioned adjacent to said generally flat surface;

e) said stem portion having a lip formed thereon, said locking member having a latch formed thereon, said latch engaging said lip when said locking member is in said locked position;

f) said stem portion having an outer surface flush with a surface of said head portion, said locking member having an outer surface flush with another surface of said head portion when in said locked position.

7. A prostate immobilizing device, said device comprising:

i) an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end;

ii) said balloon being sized and shaped for use in a rectum of an adult human male;

iii) a first lumen communicating with an interior of said balloon, said first lumen having a closable valve;

iv) the locking member of claim 1 around said first lumen such that said first lumen is in said channel.

8. The device claim 7 , a second lumen extending from past said proximal end of said balloon to past said distal end of said balloon, said second lumen having a closed distal tip and one or more ports adjacent said closed distal tip and distal to said balloon.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising one or more fiducial markers on a surface thereof.

10. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a fiducial marker on a distal tip thereof.

11. A method of treating prostate cancer by external beam radiation therapy (XRT), comprising:

a) inserting a prostate immobilizing balloon of claim 7 into a rectum of a patient with a cancerous prostate;

b) inflating said balloon sufficiently to immobilize said prostate;

c) locking said locking member adjacent an anus; and

d) treating said prostate with XRT.

12. A method of treating prostate cancer by external beam radiation therapy (XRT), comprising:

a) inserting a prostate immobilizing balloon of claim 8 into a rectum of a patient with a cancerous prostate;

b) allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports until no further exiting gas is evident;

c) inflating said balloon sufficiently to immobilize said prostate in said central seating area;

d) locking said locking member adjacent an anus;

e) treating said prostate with XRT; and

f) allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports during said treating step.

13. A method of treating prostate cancer by external beam radiation therapy (XRT), comprising:

a) inserting a prostate immobilizing balloon of claim 9 into a rectum of a patient with a cancerous prostate;

b) allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports until no further exiting gas is evident;

c) inflating said balloon sufficiently to immobilize said prostate in said central seating area;

d) determining the position of said one or more fiducial markers and positioning said balloon such that said fiducial markers are in a desired position;

e) locking said locking member adjacent an anus;

f) treating said prostate with XRT; and

g) allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports during said treating step.

14. A prostate immobilizing device, said device comprising:

i) an inflatable balloon having a proximal end and a distal end;

ii) said balloon being sized and shaped for use in a rectum of an adult human male;

iii) a first lumen communicating with an interior of said balloon, said first lumen having a closable valve;

iv) the locking member of claim 6 around said first lumen so that said lumen is in said channel.

15. The device claim 14 , a second lumen extending from past said proximal end of said balloon to past said distal end of said balloon, said second lumen having a closed distal tip and one or more ports adjacent said closed distal tip and distal to said balloon.

16. The device of claim 15 , further comprising one or more fiducial markers on a surface thereof.

17. The device of claim 15 , further comprising a fiducial marker on a distal tip thereof.

18. A method of treating prostate cancer by external beam radiation therapy (XRT), comprising:

a) inserting a prostate immobilizing balloon of claim 14 into a rectum of a patient with a cancerous prostate;

b) inflating said balloon sufficiently to immobilize said prostate;

c) locking said locking member adjacent an anus; and

d) treating said prostate with XRT.

19. A method of treating prostate cancer by external beam radiation therapy (XRT), comprising:

a) inserting a prostate immobilizing balloon of claim 15 into a rectum of a patient with a cancerous prostate;

b) allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports until no further exiting gas is evident;

c) inflating said balloon sufficiently to immobilize said prostate in said central seating area;

d) locking said locking member adjacent an anus;

e) treating said prostate with XRT; and

f) allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports during said treating step.

20. A method of treating prostate cancer by external beam radiation therapy (XRT), comprising:

a) inserting a prostate immobilizing balloon of claim 16 into a rectum of a patient with a cancerous prostate;

b) allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports until no further exiting gas is evident;

c) inflating said balloon sufficiently to immobilize said prostate in said central seating area;

d) determining the position of said one or more fiducial markers and positioning said balloon such that said fiducial markers are in a desired position;

e) locking said locking member adjacent an anus;

f) treating said prostate with XRT; and

g) allowing rectal gas to exit the rectum via said one or more ports during said treating step.