Methods and systems for shaping the radiation distribution profile of a protected radiation source used for treating medical conditions

Abstract

A method and system may include a therapeutic agent having a radioactive source enclosed by a container. The container may be placed within a cavity of a medical device for treating animal tissue. The method and system allows a radioactive source to be manufactured in such a manner so as to control and spatially modulate the delivery of radiation doses to a treatment area of animal tissue, such as for tissue of humans. From the container, radiation doses and/or a radiation field are produced by the radiation source. The geometry and size of the radiation doses are controlled by the geometry of the container and the geometry of the radiation source as well as the type, number, and geometry of holes/slots in either the source material and/or a surface of the container.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for providing a radiation source producing a radiation field, the system comprising:
 a radioactive source with a first geometry having material within a geometrical center of the first geometry, the radioactive source having a first width dimension, an edge thickness dimension, and a central thickness dimension, the edge thickness dimension being greater than the central thickness dimension;   a container with a second geometry for enveloping the radioactive source, the container having a thickness dimension and a second width dimension, the thickness dimension being greater than the edge thickness and the central thickness, the second width dimension being greater than the first width dimension.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the radioactive source comprises a core material having radionuclide particles uniformly distributed in a matrix. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the radioactive source comprises at least one of:  9 Sr,  169 Yb,  90 Y,  192 Ir,  103 Pd,  177 Lu,  149 Pm  140 La,  153 Sm,  186 Re,  188 Re,  166 Ho,  166 Dy,  137 Cs,  57 Co,  169 Er,  165 Dy,  97 Ru,  193m Pt,  195m Pt,  105 Rh,  68 Ni,  67 C,  64 Cu,  109 Cd,  111 Ag,  198 Au,  199 Au,  201 Tl,  175 Yb,  47 Sc,  159 Gd, and  212 Bi. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first geometry of the radioactive source is different than the second geometry of container. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , where the second geometry comprises at least one of substantially circular, square, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal shape. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first geometry of the radioactive source is substantially similar to the second geometry of container. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the container is made from at least one of metal, plastic, ceramic, glass, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the edge thickness dimension comprises a magnitude between about 0.25 mm to about 2.00 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the central thickness dimension comprises a magnitude between about 0.05 mm and 1.00 mm. 
     
     
         30 . A system for providing a radiation source producing a radiation field, the system comprising:
 a radioactive source with a first geometry having material within a geometrical center of the first geometry, the radioactive source having a first width dimension, an edge thickness dimension, and a central thickness dimension, the edge thickness dimension being greater than the central thickness dimension, wherein the radioactive source has a substantially flat side and substantially curved side;   a container with a second geometry for enveloping the radioactive source, the container having a thickness dimension and a second width dimension, the thickness dimension being greater than the edge thickness and the central thickness, the second width dimension being greater than the first width dimension.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the radioactive source comprises a core material having radionuclide particles uniformly distributed in a matrix. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the radioactive source comprises at least one of:  9 Sr,  169 Yb,  90 Y,  192 Ir,  103 Pd,  177 Lu,  149 Pm  140 La,  153 Sm,  186 Re,  188 Re,  166 Ho,  166 Dy,  137 Cs,  57 Co,  169 Er,  165 Dy,  97 Ru,  193m Pt,  195m Pt,  105 Rh,  68 Ni,  67 C,  64 Cu,  109 Cd,  111 Ag,  198 Au,  199 Au,  201 Tl,  175 Yb,  47 Sc,  159 Gd, and  212 Bi. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first geometry of the radioactive source is different than the second geometry of container. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , where the second geometry comprises at least one of substantially circular, square, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal shape. 
     
     
         36 . A system for providing a radiation source producing a radiation field, the system comprising:
 a radioactive source with a first geometry having material within a geometrical center of the first geometry, the radioactive source having a first thickness dimension and a first width dimension;   a container with a second geometry for enveloping the radioactive source, the container having a second thickness dimension and a second width dimension, the second thickness dimension being greater than the first thickness dimension, the second width dimension being greater than the first width dimension, and the container comprises a substantially regular geometry.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the radioactive source comprises perforations. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the radioactive source comprises a core material having radionuclide particles uniformly distributed in a matrix. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the radioactive source comprises at least one of:  9 Sr,  169 Yb,  90 Y,  192 Ir,  103 Pd,  177 Lu,  149 Pm  140 La,  153 Sm,  186 Re,  188 Re,  166 Ho,  166 Dy,  137 Cs,  57 Co,  169 Er,  165 Dy,  97 Ru,  193m Pt,  195m Pt,  105 Rh,  68 Ni,  67 C,  64 Cu,  109 Cd,  111 Ag,  198 Au,  199 Au,  201 Tl,  175 Yb,  47 Sc,  159 Gd, and  212 Bi. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the regular geometry comprises at least one of substantially circular, square, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal shape.