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Publication Number
US-10085699-B2
Publication Date
2018-10-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Various configurations of shielding materials within shielding layers, such as for use in shielding radiation from implanted radioactive carriers, are discussed herein.
Core Innovation
A shielding apparatus and an apparatus include a substrate in which a plurality of radiation sources are positioned and at least some of the radiation sources are arranged with gaps between adjacent radiation sources. A plurality of shielding materials is positioned within the same or corresponding substrate at positions substantially matching the positions of the radiation sources, including the gap arrangement. The shielding materials are adapted to provide substantial shielding of radiation emitted by a corresponding radiation source.
In these embodiments, the shielding layer is adapted to provide substantial shielding of radiation emitted by the radiation layer, where the shielding layer includes shielding materials positioned within the substrate to substantially match radiation source positions. The radiation-source and shielding-material positioning is tied to an arrangement that can include x-by-y rows and columns and/or corresponding x-by-y positions. In some embodiments, the shielding layer reflects radiation toward the radiation layer.
The disclosure further includes a shielding apparatus adapted for placement on the plurality of radiation sources so that each shielding material provides substantial shielding of radiation emitted by its corresponding radiation source, including where at least some radiation sources are arranged with gaps. The disclosure also covers manufacture in which a plurality of shielding materials is positioned within a shielding substrate at positions substantially matching corresponding radiation sources within a radiation substrate, with at least some radiation sources arranged with gaps, and where the shielding materials are adapted to provide substantial shielding of radiation emitted by corresponding radiation sources.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover three aspects: a shielding apparatus structure, an apparatus that includes a radiation layer and a shielding layer, and a manufacturing method positioning shielding materials relative to radiation sources. The independent claim set includes inventive features centered on matching shielding-material positions to radiation-source positions, including gap-arranged source layouts, and optionally includes structured layouts, quantitative shielding thresholds, malleable cavity shaping, and radiation-reflecting functionality.
Substrate with shielding materials matched to corresponding radiation sources including gaps
A shielding apparatus comprising a substrate and a plurality of shielding materials positioned within the substrate at positions substantially matching positions of a corresponding plurality of radiation sources, with at least some radiation sources arranged with gaps between adjacent radiation sources, wherein the apparatus is adapted for placement on the plurality of radiation sources so that each shielding material provides substantial shielding of radiation emitted by a corresponding radiation source.
Radiation layer with radiation sources arranged with gaps and a shielding layer matched to radiation source positions
An apparatus comprising a substrate including a radiation layer with a plurality of radiation sources positioned within the substrate and at least some arranged with gaps between the radiation sources; and a shielding layer comprising a plurality of shielding materials positioned within the substrate at positions substantially matching positions of radiation sources, wherein the shielding layer is adapted to provide substantial shielding of radiation emitted by the radiation layer.
Positioning shielding materials in a shielding substrate matched to radiation sources in a radiation substrate including gaps
A manufacturing method comprising positioning a plurality of shielding materials within a shielding substrate at positions substantially matching a corresponding plurality of radiation sources within a radiation substrate, with at least some of the radiation sources arranged with gaps between the radiation sources, wherein the shielding materials are adapted to provide substantial shielding of radiation emitted by corresponding radiation sources.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage is matching shielding-material positions to corresponding radiation-source positions within a substrate, explicitly including embodiments where radiation sources are arranged with gaps. Dependent claim features associated with this coverage include optional quantitative shielding requirements, specific shielding-material geometry, optional x-by-y row/column positioning constraints, optional reflection of radiation from the shielding layer toward the radiation layer, and shaping the apparatus into a substantially hemispherical form for a corresponding cavity.
Stated Advantages
Improves therapeutic index while reducing MRI artifacts and RF heating.
Substantially blocks a portion of radiation (e.g., more than 50% in dependent claim refinements; higher threshold also described in the disclosure summary).
Reflects radiation toward the radiation layer in some embodiments.
Documented Applications
Post-operative tumor beds for brachytherapy, using isolation sheets with embedded shielding materials for radiation therapy.
Placement on implanted radioactive carriers / radioactive seeds arranged in a radiation-source layout with gaps.
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