Method and device for radiotherapy

Abstract

A radiotherapy device, including a flexible probe, adapted for being at least partially introduced into a body of a subject. A radionuclide selected from the group consisting of Radium-223 and Radium-224, is retainably embedded on or beneath a surface of the flexible probe.

1 . A radiotherapy device, comprising:
 a flexible probe, adapted for being at least partially introduced into a body of a subject; and   a radionuclide selected from the group consisting of Radium-223 and Radium-224, said radionuclide being retainably embedded on or beneath a surface of said flexible probe.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible probe comprises a removable probe, which can be removed from the body of the subject before the complete decay of the radionuclide. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible probe is not coated by a protective coat. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible probe is coated by a protective coat. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of a thickness and a material of said protective coat is selected so as not to prevent emission of decay chain nuclei and alpha particles from said surface of said probe. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the radionuclide is retainably embedded on or beneath the surface in a manner such that the radionuclide remains in the probe while a therapeutic dose of decay chain nuclei and alpha particles of said radionuclide are emitted outside said surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible probe comprises an elongated flexible member and the radionuclide is retainably embedded on or beneath a surface at a distal end of the elongated flexible member. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer tubular member having a mouth section configured for receiving said elongated flexible member, said elongated flexible member being movable within said outer tubular member. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tubular member is made of a material which absorbs the decay chain nuclei and alpha particles from the radionuclide. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the outer tubular member is flexible. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the radionuclide is capable of administering from about 100 rem to about 100000 rem of radiation dose. 
     
     
         12 . A radiotherapy method, comprising:
 positioning a flexible probe having a surface and a predetermined amount of a Radium-223 or Radium-224 radionuclide retainably embedded on or beneath said surface, in proximity to or within a tumor of a subject, said predetermined amount selected sufficient for said radionuclide to administer a predetermined therapeutic dose of decay chain nuclei and alpha particles into said tumor; and   removing the flexible probe from the subject after a predetermined.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein removing the flexible probe comprises removing the flexible probe from the subject after a predetermined time of at least four hours. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein removing the flexible probe comprises removing the flexible probe from the subject after a plurality of days. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein positioning the at least one flexible probe comprises inserting the at least one flexible probe into a body of the subject. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising inserting a radioactivity detector into the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the radionuclide is retainably embedded on or beneath the surface in a manner such that the radionuclide remains in the probe while decay chain nuclei and alpha particles of the radionuclide are recoiled outside said surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible probe is coated by a protective coat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of a thickness and a material of said protective coat is selected so as not to prevent emission of decay chain nuclei and alpha particles from said surface of said probe. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the radionuclide is retainably embedded on or beneath a distal end of the flexible probe.