Pivoting needle template apparatus for brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease and methods of use

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for improved brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease. The apparatus provides for angular reorientation of a needle template with respect to an ultrasound probe during brachytherapy administration. Angular reorientation is expected to beneficially overcome anatomical constraints, such as skeletal structures, that may limit a medical practitioner's ability to deliver radioactive brachytherapy seeds into a prostate in proper alignment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for improved positional control during administration of brachytherapy, the apparatus comprising: 
 a needle template mount; and    a needle template coupled to the needle template mount to permit angular and spatial reorientation of the needle template relative to the needle template mount.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said needle template is adapted to be disposable.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the needle template mount is adapted to be coupled to a system comprising an ultrasound probe with a longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the needle template mount comprises a slot adapted to slidably receive the needle template.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the needle template is positionable within the slot.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the needle template mount comprises indicia indicating the angular orientation of the needle template relative to the needle template mount.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a needle template holder disposed between the needle template and the needle template mount.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the needle template holder is rotatably affixed to the needle template mount by a shaft.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a knob coupled to the shaft for controlling angular orientation of the needle template holder.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the needle template is adapted to rotate between predetermined angles.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the needle template holder has an interior surface adapted to engage a complimentary feature of the needle template.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the interior surface feature comprises an embossed or recessed feature.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the interior surface comprises a guide rail and the complimentary feature comprises a guide slot.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the needle template holder further comprises means for preventing movement or removal of the needle template.  
     
     
         15 . A method for administering brachytherapy, the method comprising: 
 providing apparatus comprising an ultrasound probe, a mount rigidly disposed in relation to the ultrasound probe, a needle template attached to the mount such that the needle template may be angularly oriented with respect to the probe;    longitudinally positioning the ultrasound probe through the patient's rectum to facilitate imaging of the patient's prostate and reference plane; and    angularly orienting the needle template at a desired angle with respect to the ultrasound probe.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising guiding the sharpened distal tip of a needle containing brachytherapy seeds through the needle template and into a target location within the patient's prostate until it is aligned with the reference plane.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising retracting the needle in a manner that delivers the brachytherapy seeds into the prostate.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said apparatus further comprises indicia indicating the angular orientation of the needle template.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein angularly orienting the needle template at a desired angle with respect to the ultrasound probe comprises using the indicia as a guide.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further providing a guide tube, wherein said guide tube facilitates straight insertion of the needle into the target location.