摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for improved brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease. The apparatus comprises a needle template mount for use with standard brachytherapy apparatus. The mount provides for angular reorientation of a needle template with respect to an ultrasound probe during brachytherapy administration. Angular reorientation is expected to beneficially overcome anatomical constraints, such as skeletal structures, that may limit a medical practitioner's ability to deliver radioactive brachytherapy seeds into a prostate in proper alignment. The mount comprises an arc slot in which the template may translate to achieve angular reorientation. A guide tube is also provided to ensure straight advancement of brachytherapy needles.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for loading therapeutic materials into brachytherapy needles. The apparatus comprises a loading tube with a lumen and two transverse slots, and radioactive seed and spacer cartridges slidably received within the transverse slots. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a standard brachytherapy plunger and needle coupled to, respectively, the proximal and distal ends of the loading tube. The plunger dislodges seeds and spacers from the cartridge chambers to load the needle with a predetermined packing arrangement.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for loading therapeutic materials into brachytherapy needles. The apparatus comprises a loading tube with a lumen and two transverse slots, and radioactive seed and spacer cartridges slidably received within the transverse slots. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a standard brachytherapy plunger and needle coupled to, respectively, the proximal and distal ends of the loading tube. The plunger dislodges seeds and spacers from the cartridge chambers to load the needle with a predetermined packing arrangement.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for loading therapeutic materials into brachytherapy needles. The apparatus comprises an apparatus with chambers, and radioactive seed and spacer cartridges received therein. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a standard brachytherapy needle coupled to the distal end of the apparatus. The plunger dislodges seeds and spacers from the cartridge chambers to load the needle with a predetermined packing arrangement.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease. The apparatus comprises a housing, a plunger, a needle, and a lock. The plunger is rigidly affixed to the housing. The lock selectively restricts motion of the needle relative to the plunger. The needle comprises a screw thread that engages the housing or plunger. Rotation of the needle with respect to the housing/plunger causes distal advancement or proximal retraction of the needle with respect to the plunger, providing improved control over delivery of radioactive seeds to a diseased portion of a prostate.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for improved administration of brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate disease. More particularly, a prostate visualization device is provided comprising a catheter coupled to at least one deployable member at the distal end of the catheter. The deployable member is preferably manufactured from a shape memory alloy having a petal-shaped configuration suitable for engaging and defining the proximal region of a patient's bladder. The deployable member may comprise tubing filled with air or other radiopaque agents to facilitate ultrasonic imaging of the deployable members near the bladder/prostate junction.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for improved administration of brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate disease. More particularly, a prostate visualization device is provided comprising a disk-shaped bladder neck balloon that sealing engages and defines an enclosed space within a proximal region of a patient's bladder. The device is preferably coupled to a catheter for injection of echo-contrast agent into the enclosed space to facilitate imaging of the patient's bladder/prostate junction with an ultrasound system. The device may alternatively be radiopaque. Apparatus for selectively stiffening the catheter is also provided.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for loading therapeutic materials into brachytherapy needles. The apparatus comprises a loading tube with a lumen and two transverse slots, and radioactive seed and spacer cartridges slidably received within the transverse slots. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a standard brachytherapy plunger and needle coupled to, respectively, the proximal and distal ends of the loading tube. The plunger dislodges seeds and spacers from the cartridge chambers to load the needle with a predetermined packing arrangement.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus are provided for brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease for use in conjunction with needles containing a plurality of radioactive seeds. The apparatus comprises a housing and plunger assembly operable by a single clinician. The plunger is coupled to the housing, so that when the apparatus is actuated the needle is retracted against the plunger and the plurality of radioactive seeds is ejected.
摘要:
An apparatus and method for deterministically communicating data between multiple nodes in a fashion that is consistent with the Controller Area Network ("CAN") communications protocol. The system applies to multiple nodes that functional blocks within an operating system environment and to multiple nodes that are each connected to a serial bus. The system utilizes standard CAN error checking, bus arbitration and message formatting and therefore uses standard CAN controllers and transceivers. One node on the bus is selected as the master node. The master node issues a periodic synchronization signal which defines time divisions within which the operations of each node and communications over the CAN bus are organized. Data, particularly real-time data, is transmitted between nodes on the CAN bus during a known time division. Standard CAN bus arbitration is used to ensure that real-time data is transmitted over the CAN bus prior to the transmission of non-real-time data. This ensures that real-time data is, if appropriate, transmitted during each time division.