Systems and methods for creating custom brachytherapy carriers
Inventors
Cole, Heidi • Brachman, David • Baker, John • Turner, Adam
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12636387-B2
Publication Date
2026-05-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Custom radioactive seed carriers are fabricated pre-operatively and/or intra-operatively to more precisely match carrier specification of a radiation treatment plan for a particular patient. One or more carrier specification component, such as a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter, may be utilized to create the custom carrier.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to creating custom brachytherapy radioactive seed carriers that match patient tumor-cavity specifications and prescribed radiation dose. A treatment planning system receives treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose, and determines a carrier configuration. The carrier configuration indicates, for at least a first custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity, and is used to generate and populate the carrier for implantation.
The invention further provides manufacturing and carrier configuration generation using custom carrier components including one or more of a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter. Based on the carrier configuration, the method generates a first custom carrier and inserts one or more radioactive seeds into the first custom carrier according to a seed position indicated in the treatment specifications. The method provides the first custom carrier for implantation into a cavity of a particular mammal.
In additional workflows, the invention determines whether to retrieve a closest fit carrier that is already fabricated and available for implantation or to generate a first custom carrier. A comparison is performed between an available carrier configuration and a desired carrier configuration, and the closest fit carrier is selected only when it is satisfactory. A time-based selection is also provided, where the method determines whether the surgery is less than a threshold time period away and selects closest fit retrieval or initiates generation accordingly. The custom carrier is described as being specially designed for implantation into a cavity of a particular mammal.
Claims Coverage
The provided set includes four independent claims, each covering a method for brachytherapy carrier generation, seed placement, and selection of either custom carriers or closest-fit pre-fabricated carriers. Across the independent claims, the inventive focus is on deriving a carrier configuration from tumor cavity size/shape and radiation dose and using that configuration to generate or choose a carrier for implantation, including optional time-threshold logic and closest-fit comparison logic.
Deriving a carrier configuration from treatment specifications and generating a custom carrier
receiving treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose; determining a carrier configuration based on the treatment specifications, the carrier configuration indicating, for at least a first custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity; based at least on the carrier configuration, generating the first custom carrier using one or more custom carrier components including one or more of a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter; based at least on the radioactive seed quantity indicated in the carrier configuration, inserting one or more radioactive seeds into the first custom carrier according to a seed position indicated in the treatment specifications; and providing the first custom carrier for implantation into a cavity of a particular mammal.
Using a custom mold to form, lyophilize, sterilize, and transport a custom carrier
receiving treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose; determining a carrier configuration based on the treatment specifications, the carrier configuration indicating, for at least a first custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity; based at least on the carrier configuration, determining a custom mold configuration; providing the custom mold configuration to a 3D printer; forming the first custom carrier using a custom mold created by the 3D printer; based at least on the radioactive seed quantity indicated in the carrier configuration, inserting one or more radioactive seeds into the first custom carrier; lyophilizing the first custom carrier; sterilizing the first custom carrier; and initiating transport of the first custom carrier to an implantation location, wherein the first custom carrier is specially designed for implantation into a cavity of a particular mammal.
Generating a custom carrier or retrieving a closest-fit carrier based on configuration satisfaction
receiving treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose; determining a desired carrier configuration based on the treatment specifications, the desired carrier configuration indicating, for at least a first custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity; determining a closest fit carrier already fabricated and available for implantation, the closest fit carrier having an available carrier configuration; and in response to determining, based on a comparison of the available carrier configuration with the desired carrier configuration, that the closest fit carrier is not satisfactory, generating the first custom carrier using one or more custom carrier components including one or more of a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter; or in response to determining that the closest fit carrier is satisfactory, initiating retrieval of the closest fit carrier without generating the first custom carrier.
Selecting retrieval or generation based on surgery proximity to a threshold time period
receiving treatment specifications including at least a tumor cavity size and shape and a radiation dose; determining a desired carrier configuration based on the treatment specifications, the desired carrier configuration indicating, for a custom carrier, a carrier shape and a radioactive seed quantity; determining whether a surgery where implantation of the custom carrier will be performed is less than a threshold time period away; and in response to determining that the surgery is less than a threshold time period away, determining a closest fit carrier already fabricated and available for implantation, the closest fit carrier having an available carrier configuration closest to the desired carrier configuration, and initiating retrieval of the closest fit carrier; or in response to determining that the surgery is not less than a threshold time period away, initiating generation of the custom carrier having the desired carrier configuration using one or more custom carrier components including one or more of a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on treatment-specification-driven determination of a carrier configuration and using that configuration to either generate a custom brachytherapy radioactive seed carrier (using specified custom carrier components, including a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter) or retrieve a pre-fabricated closest fit carrier. Additional independent-claim coverage includes generating via a custom mold, lyophilizing and sterilizing before transport, and decision logic based on closest-fit satisfaction or surgery proximity to a threshold time period.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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