Granted Patent B2

US 12,636,387 · App. 17/698,348 · Granted May 26, 2026

Inventors: Heidi Cole (Phoenix, AZ); David Brachman (Phoenix, AZ); John Baker (Gilbert, AZ); Adam Turner (Phoenix, AZ)

Assignee: GT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

A61K51/1262A61K51/08A61N5/1001A61N5/1007A61N5/1014B29C33/3835B29C33/3842B29C64/393B33Y50/00A61N2005/101A61N2005/1024A61N5/103B29L2031/7546B33Y80/00

Abstract

Claims (49)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose;

determining a carrier configuration based on the treatment specifications, the carrier configuration indicating, for at least a first custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity;

based at least on the carrier configuration, generating the first custom carrier using one or more custom carrier components, the one or more custom carrier components including one or more of a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter;

based at least on the radioactive seed quantity indicated in the carrier configuration, inserting one or more radioactive seeds into the first custom carrier according to a seed position indicated in the treatment specifications; and

providing the first custom carrier for implantation into a cavity of a particular mammal.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier configuration further includes radioactive seed strength and radioactive seed orientation.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first custom carrier has a thickness between one and seven centimeters.

4 . A method comprising:

receiving treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose;

determining a carrier configuration based on the treatment specifications, the carrier configuration indicating, for at least a first custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity;

based at least on the carrier configuration, determining a custom mold configuration;

providing the custom mold configuration to a 3D printer;

forming the first custom carrier using a custom mold created by the 3D printer;

based at least on the radioactive seed quantity indicated in the carrier configuration, inserting one or more radioactive seeds into the first custom carrier;

lyophilizing the first custom carrier;

sterilizing the first custom carrier; and

initiating transport of the first custom carrier to an implantation location, wherein the first custom carrier is specially designed for implantation into a cavity of a particular mammal.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first custom carrier is rectangular.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first custom carrier is spherical.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first custom carrier has a diameter between one and seven centimeters.

8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first custom carrier is shaped and sized to correspond to the tumor cavity.

9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first custom carrier is configured for separation into a plurality of smaller custom carriers for implantation into the cavity of the particular mammal.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said separation is performed with a cutting device.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first custom carrier includes one or more markings indicating locations where the first custom carrier is configured for separation.

12 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said lyophilizing the first custom carrier reduces an area of the first custom carrier by more than twenty percent.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first custom carrier is configured to expand upon hydration.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said hydration is provided by saline or a bodily fluid.

15 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the carrier configuration further includes radioactive seed strength and radioactive seed orientation.

16 . A method comprising:

receiving treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose;

determining a desired carrier configuration based on the treatment specifications, the desired carrier configuration indicating, for at least a first custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity;

determining a closest fit carrier already fabricated and available for implantation, the closest fit carrier having an available carrier configuration, and:

in response to determining, based on a comparison of that the available carrier configuration with the desired carrier configuration, that the closest fit carrier is not satisfactory, generating the first custom carrier using one or more custom carrier components, the one or more custom carrier components including one or more of a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter; or

in response to determining, based on a comparison of that the available carrier configuration with the desired carrier configuration, that the closest fit carrier is satisfactory, initiating retrieval of the closest fit carrier without generating the first custom carrier.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

selecting a plurality of radioactive seeds having seed strengths indicated in the treatment specifications; and

implanting the plurality of radioactive seeds at positions and orientations indicated in the treatment specifications.

18 . A method comprising:

receiving treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose;

determining a desired carrier configuration based on the treatment specifications, the desired carrier configuration indicating, for a custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity;

determining whether a surgery where implantation of the custom carrier will be performed is less than a threshold time period away, and:

in response to determining that the surgery is less than a threshold time period away, determining a closest fit carrier already fabricated and available for implantation, the closest fit carrier having an available carrier configuration closest to the desired carrier configuration, and initiating retrieval of the closest fit carrier; or

in response to determining that the surgery is not less than a threshold time period away, initiating generation of the custom carrier having the desired carrier configuration using one or more custom carrier components, the one or more custom carrier components including one or more of a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

sterilizing the custom carrier prior to implantation.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

selecting a plurality of radioactive seeds having seed strengths indicated in the treatment specifications; and

implanting the plurality of radioactive seeds at positions and orientations indicated in the treatment specifications.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (355)