Brachytherapy devices and methods employing americium-241

Details Brachytherapy devices and methods employing americium-241 Brachytherapy devices and methods employing americium-241

1983-01-13

1985-04-16

Howell, Kyle L.

Surgery

Truss

Perineal

424 11, A61N 500

Patent

active

045109249

ABSTRACT:
Sources and methods for radiation therapy, particularly brachytherapy, employing americium-241 radioisotope. The physical properties of americium-241 (60 keV gamma emission and 433 year half-life) provide major advantages for radiotherapy, including simplified radiation protection, dose reduction to healthy tissue, increased dose to tumor, and improved dose distributions. A number of apparent drawbacks and unfavorable considerations including low gamma factor, high self-absorption, increased activity required and alpha-particle generation leading to helium gas pressure buildup and potential neutron contamination in the generated radiation are all effectively dealt with and overcome through recognition of subtle favorable factors unique to americium-241 among brachytherapy sources and through suitable constructional techniques. Due to an additional amount of radiation, in the order of 50%, provided primarily to nearby regions as a result of Compton scatter in tissue and water, higher dose rates occur than would be predicted by conventional calculations.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3488502 (1970-01-01), Dukes

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Brachytherapy devices and methods employing americium-241 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Brachytherapy devices and methods employing americium-241, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Brachytherapy devices and methods employing americium-241 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1450007