Surgery – Radioactive substance applied to body for therapy – Radioactive substance placed within body
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-01
2001-04-03
Gilbert, Samuel G. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Radioactive substance applied to body for therapy
Radioactive substance placed within body
C600S427000, C607S096000, C607S101000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210314
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to prostate radiotherapy generally, and particularly to apparatus for spatially fixing a target volume in a prostate which is to be irradiated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of radiotherapy to render tissue necrotic is well established, especially in treatment of tumors. A target volume in the tissue is irradiated at a multiplicity of orientations with finely collimated beams. A particular form of radiotherapy, called stereotactic radiotherapy, requires precise localization and fixation of the target tissue. It is essential to rigidly fix the target volume in space in order to ensure that the radiation beams are correctly directed to the target. However, it is difficult, impractical and sometimes impossible to rigidly fix some limbs in the human body sufficiently for precise stereotactic radiotherapy. The head is basically the only human organ wherein the bone is so close to the skin and accessible so as to permit rigorously spatially fixing the cranium to a stereotactic frame.
It is readily understood that it is quite desirable to rigidly fix other organs, such as the prostate, to permit stereotactic radiotherapy. However, the prior art does not have any method or apparatus for spatially fixing the prostate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide apparatus for spatially fixing a target volume in a prostate which is to be irradiated. The present invention also provides safety features such as injection of water in the area of Denonvilliers' fascia for reflecting the rectal wall away from the prostate and provision of cooling in the area of the prostate to reduce the adverse effects of radiation on healthy tissue, e.g., the rectal wall or urethra.
Although the present invention will be described herein with reference to prostate radiotherapy, it is understood that the present invention is applicable to radiotherapy of other organs in males or females wherein two probes can be inserted into the body for fixing therein an organ for stereotactic radiotherapy.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention radiotherapy apparatus including a first probe insertable into a first body cavity, a second probe insertable into a second body cavity, and an external frame attached to the first and the second probes, such that the first and the second probes are in a fixed, known spatial relationship with respect to the external frame.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the first probe includes a urethral probe insertable into a urethra and the second probe includes a rectal probe insertable into a rectum.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the radiotherapy apparatus includes a source of radiation which produces a radiation beam, having a fixed, known spatial relationship with respect to the external frame, that irradiates a target substantially spatially fixed by the first and the second probes.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the radiation beam exits a distal end of at least one of the first probe and the second probe. The radiation may be infrared (IR) radiation, microwave radiation, gamma ray radiation, or radio frequency (RF) electrical energy.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the radiotherapy apparatus includes adjustment apparatus that adjusts the spatial relationship of the first and the second probes with respect to the external frame.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the radiotherapy apparatus includes a beam controller for controlling an intensity of the radiation beam.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the radiotherapy apparatus includes imaging apparatus that determines a position of the target with reference to the external frame.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention imaging energy of the imaging apparatus is directed through a distal end of at least one of the first probe and the second probe. The imaging apparatus may comprise ultrasound apparatus.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the radiotherapy apparatus includes cooling apparatus that cools tissue adjacent to at least one of the first probe and the second probe.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the first and the second probes comprises an electrode for delivering electrical current.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided injection apparatus for injecting a fluid in the vicinity of Denonvilliers' fascia to reflect a rectal wall from a prostate.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5234004 (1993-08-01), Hascoet et al.
patent: 5385544 (1995-01-01), Edwards et al.
patent: 5472405 (1995-12-01), Buchholtz et al.
patent: 5474071 (1995-12-01), Chapelon
patent: 5480417 (1996-01-01), Hascoet
patent: 5509929 (1996-04-01), Hascoet
patent: 5599294 (1997-02-01), Edwards
patent: 5759162 (1998-06-01), Oppelt et al.
Gilbert Samuel G.
Welsh & Katz Ltd.
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