Implantable radiotherapy/Brachytherapy Radiation Detecting Apparatus and Method

Abstract

An interstitial brachytherapy apparatus and method for delivering and monitoring radioactive emissions delivered to tissue surrounding a resected tissue cavity. The brachytherapy device including a catheter body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer spatial volume disposed proximate to the distal end of the body member. A radiation source is disposed in the outer spatial volume and a treatment feedback sensor is provided on the device. In use, the treatment feedback sensor can measure the radiation dose delivered from the radiation source.

1 . A radiation therapy apparatus for delivering and monitoring radioactive emissions to a resected tumor cavity, comprising:
 a catheter body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an expandable surface member disposed proximate to the distal end of the catheter body member;   an external radiation source positionable outside the resected tissue cavity; and   at least two radiation sensors;   wherein expandable surface member can be positioned within a resected tissue cavity and expanded to position the surrounding tissue such that the delivery of a radiation beam from the external radiation source is accurately delivered and measured by the radiation sensors positioned within the tissue cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for  claim 1 , wherein the radiation sensors are positioned within the catheter body member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation sensors are positioned on the expandable surface member. 
     
     
         4 . A method for delivering and monitoring radioactive emissions to an internal body location, comprising:
 inserting a brachytherapy device into a resected cavity, the brachytherapy device including a catheter body member with proximal and distal ends, an expandable surface member disposed proximate to the distal end of the catheter body member, and a radiation source disposed within the expandable surface member;   inserting at least two radiation sensors into the resected cavity;   delivering a minimum prescribed absorbed radiation dose for therapeutic effects to a target tissue, the target tissue being defined between the expandable surface member and a minimum distance outward from the expandable surface member; and   sensing the radiation dose;   whereby output from the sensors confirms that the brachytherapy device delivers the minimum prescribed dose.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the brachytherapy device provides a controlled dose at the expandable surface member to reduce or prevent necrosis in healthy tissue proximate to the expandable surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the radiation sensors are positioned on the brachytherapy device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the radiation sensors are positioned on the expandable surface member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the radiation sensors are positioned within the catheter body member. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein more than two sensors are used with the device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein one sensor is positioned on the wall of the resected cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein one sensor is positioned in tissue adjacent to the device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein data collected from sensing the radiation dose is used to confirm that the delivered radiation dose is within a prescribed dose range. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a user is altered if the radiation dose is outside the prescribed dose range. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the radiation dose is altered if the sensed radiation dose is outside the prescribed dose range. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the brachytherapy device delivers an asymmetrical dose of radiation such that radiation sensitive tissue adjacent to the device is shielded and at least one radiation sensor is positioned between the brachytherapy device and the radiation sensitive tissue. 
     
     
         16 . A method for delivering radioactive emissions to an internal body location, comprising:
 inserting a brachytherapy device into a resected cavity, the brachytherapy device including a catheter body member with proximal and distal ends, an expandable surface member disposed proximate to the distal end of the catheter body member, and a radiation source disposed within the expandable surface member;   inserting at least two treatment feedback sensors into the resected cavity;   delivering a minimum prescribed absorbed radiation dose for therapeutic effects to a target tissue, the target tissue being defined between the expandable surface member and a minimum distance outward from the expandable surface member; and   sensing the adjacent tissue;   whereby output from the sensors is used to monitor the effectiveness of the therapeutic radiation dose.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the brachytherapy device provides a controlled dose of radiation at the expandable surface member to reduce or prevent necrosis in healthy tissue proximate to the expandable surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment feedback sensors are positioned on the brachytherapy device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment feedback sensors are positioned on the expandable surface member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment feedback sensors are positioned on the wall of the resected cavity. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein treatment feedback sensors are positioned in tissue adjacent to the device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a user is alerted if the radiation dose is outside the prescribed dose range. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the radiation dose is altered if the sensed radiation dose is outside the prescribed dose range. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment feedback sensors measure one of the characteristics selected from the group consisting of, tissue temperature, oxygenation, pH, treatment agent concentration, and cytokine concentration. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a treatment agent is delivered to tissue surrounding the device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment feedback sensors monitor the delivery of the treatment agent.