Implant for targeting therapeutic procedure

Abstract

An implantable device has a body that is substantially rigid and has a predetermined shape. The body is further bioabsorbable and has a density less than or equal to about 1.03 g/cc. When the device is implanted in a resected cavity in soft tissue, it causes the cavity to conform to the predetermined shape. The implantable device is further imageable due to its density being less than that of soft tissue such that the boundaries of the tissue corresponding to the predetermined shape can be determined.

1 . A method of partial breast radiation therapy comprising:
 placing within a breast cavity a substantially radio-opaque implant constructed of biocompatible material, said substantially radio-opaque implant supporting the breast tissue surrounding the breast cavity; and   directing a radiation beam to said substantially radio-opaque implant serving as a target for delivery of radiation therapy to margins around the breast cavity, such that the radiation beam does not materially irradiate the whole of the breast.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the substantially radio-opaque implant via a stereotactic radiation machine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of multiple therapeutically effective dosages of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant in a single treatment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of therapeutically effective dosages of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant multiple times in a single treatment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the substantially radio-opaque implant via multidirectional radiation therapy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the substantially radio-opaque implant via image guided radiation therapy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the substantially radio-opaque implant via 3-D conformal radiation therapy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the substantially radio-opaque implant via intensity modulated radiation therapy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising initiating targeting of the radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy 1 to 120 days subsequent to the placement of the substantially radio-opaque implant in the breast cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially radio-opaque implant is constructed of a porous biodegradable material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially radio-opaque implant has a shape selected to guide the delivery of radiation therapy to the margins around said breast cavity. 
     
     
         12 . A method of partial breast radiation therapy comprising:
 providing a substantially radio-opaque implant constructed of biocompatible material, the substantially radio-opaque implant being configured to support the tissue surrounding a breast cavity;   placing the substantially radio-opaque implant within the breast cavity to serve as a target for delivery of radiation therapy to margins around the breast cavity; and   directing a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to the substantially radio-opaque implant target such that the whole of the breast is not materially irradiated.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising initiating targeting of the delivery of the radiation therapy 1 to 120 days subsequent to placement of the substantially radio-opaque implant in the breast cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the substantially radio-opaque implant is constructed of a porous biodegradable material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said substantially radio-opaque implant has a shape selected to guide the delivery of radiation therapy to the margins around the breast cavity. 
     
     
         16 . A method of partial breast radiation comprising:
 placing within a breast lumpectomy cavity a substantially radio-opaque implant constructed of biocompatible material configured to provide support to the tissue surrounding the breast lumpectomy cavity; and   directing a radiation beam to said substantially radio-opaque implant serving as a target for delivery of radiation therapy to margins around the breast lumpectomy cavity, such that the radiation beam does not materially irradiate the whole of the breast.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the substantially radio-opaque implant is constructed of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said substantially radio-opaque implant has a shape selected to guide the delivery of radiation therapy to the margins around the breast lumpectomy cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said substantially radio-opaque implant is constructed of a porous material. 
     
     
         20 . A method of partial breast radiation therapy comprising the steps of:
 placing within a breast cavity a substantially radio-opaque implant constructed of biocompatible and biodegradable material, said substantially radio-opaque implant supporting the tissue surrounding the breast cavity; and   directing a radiation beam to said substantially radio-opaque implant serving as a target for delivery of radiation therapy to margins around the breast cavity, such that the radiation beam does not materially irradiate the whole of the breast.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant via a stereotactic radiation machine. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of multiple therapeutically effective dosages of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant in a single treatment via a stereotactic radiation machine. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of therapeutically effective dosages of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant multiple times in a single treatment via a stereotactic radiation machine. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy occurs about 1-90 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant via multidirectional radiation therapy. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy occurs about 1-90 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant via image guided radiation therapy. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy occurs about 1-90 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant via 3-D conformal radiation therapy. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy occurs about 1-90 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant via intensity modulated radiation therapy. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy occurs about 1-90 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of initiating chemotherapy and thereafter, initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy up to 120 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said substantially radio-opaque implant has a shape selected to guide the delivery of radiation therapy to the margins around said breast cavity. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said substantially radio-opaque implant is constructed of a porous material. 
     
     
         36 . A method of partial breast radiation comprising the steps of:
 placing within a breast lumpectomy cavity an implant constructed of biocompatible and biodegradable material with a substantially radio-opaque marker contained within the implant, and said implant supporting the tissue surrounding the breast lumpectomy cavity; and   directing a radiation beam to said implant, said substantially radio-opaque marker within said implant serving as a target for delivery of radiation therapy to margins around the breast cavity, such that the radiation beam does not materially irradiate the whole of the breast.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant or marker via a stereotactic radiation machine. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of multiple therapeutically effective dosages of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant or marker in a single treatment via a stereotactic radiation machine. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant or marker via multidirectional radiation therapy. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant or marker via image guided radiation therapy. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant or marker via 3-D conformal radiation therapy. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the radiation therapy is delivery of a therapeutically effective dosage of radiation to said breast tissue surrounding the implant or marker via intensity modulated radiation therapy. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising the step of initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy occurs about 1-90 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising the step of initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy occurs about 1-90 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising the steps of initiating chemotherapy and thereafter, initiating targeting of a radiation beam for delivery of radiation therapy up to 120 days subsequent placement of the implant. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said implant has a shape selected to guide the delivery of radiation therapy to the margins around said breast lumpectomy cavity. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the substantially radio-opaque marker is a radio-opaque element centrally located within said implant, said radio-opaque element being constructed from a material different from the material from which said implant is constructed.