Braced brachytherapy needle

Abstract

Braces to reduce bending of a brachytherapy needle during insertion into a patient, as well as methods of using the needle braces and kits useful therefor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brace for a brachytherapy needle comprising:
 an elongated body;   an inner body received within the elongated body and defining an engagement member configured to slidably receive the needle; and   wherein the brace is operative to both reduce bending of the needle during insertion into a patient and to provide shielding from radioactivity.   
     
     
         2 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the inner body has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body defines an elongated transverse opening. 
     
     
         4 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body and the inner body are formed from a first material and a second material, respectively, the second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         5 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body and the inner body are formed from a first material and a second material, respectively, the second material softer than the first material. 
     
     
         6 . The brace of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body comprises at least one projection configured to deflect upon engaging the needle. 
     
     
         7 . The brace of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a hub-engaging member connected to the elongated body and operative to engage a hub of the needle. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method of performing brachytherapy on a patient comprising:
 supporting a needle with a brace so as to reduce bending of the needle during insertion into a patient;   providing shielding from radioactivity via the brace; and   wherein the brace includes an elongated body and an inner body received within the elongated body, the inner body defining an engagement member that slideably receives the needle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 implanting a brachytherapy seed into the patient via the needle. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the inner body has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the elongated body defines an elongated transverse opening. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the elongated body and the inner body are formed from a first material and a second material, respectively, the second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the elongated body and the inner body are formed from a first material and a second material, respectively, the second material softer than the first material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 engaging the needle with a projection disposed on the elongated body such that the projection deflects. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 engaging a hub of the needle with a hub-engaging member connected to the elongated body. 
 
     
     
         16 . A kit for a brachytherapy procedure comprising:
 a needle operative to implant a seed into a patient;   a brace for supporting the needle during implantation of the seed into the patient; and   wherein the brace includes an elongated body and an inner body received within the elongated body, the inner body defining an engagement member operative to slideably receive the needle.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the inner body has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the elongated body and the inner body are formed from a first material and a second material, respectively, the second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a stylet operative to be received by the needle. 
 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a stylet lock operative to hold the stylet in place with respect to the needle.