Radiation Therapy
Directionally Emitting Radioactive Sources for Brachytherapy
WARF: P03086US
Inventors: Douglass Henderson, Liyong Lin, Bruce Thomadsen, Wendy Crone
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing radioactive seeds that emit radiation in a directional pattern for improved treatment of diseased tissue at the interface between diseased and healthy tissue.
Overview
Brachytherapy is a radiation treatment in which small, radioactive seeds are placed into a patient’s body to destroy diseased tissue. In placing these radiation sources, particularly in the region between healthy tissue and diseased tissue, practitioners must balance the need to provide a sufficient dose to destroy diseased tissue while minimizing the risk to healthy tissue.
The Invention
UW-Madison researchers have developed radioactive seeds that emit radiation in a directional pattern for improved treatment of diseased tissue at the interface between diseased and healthy tissue. Each seed has a shield that partially blocks the radiation, controlling the direction of the emission. They are placed in diseased tissue by a needle and anchored so that they cannot rotate. These radiation sources are particularly useful in permanent-implant brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Applications
- Treating cancer, particularly of the prostate, breast, esophagus and larynx
Key Benefits
- Provides improved treatment in the region between healthy and diseased tissue
- Enables better control of radiation dose
- May reduce adverse effects of radiation on sensitive, healthy tissue
- Simple to place and orient
- Several methods may be used to stabilize the seeds.
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
For current licensing status, please contact Jeanine Burmania at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9846