Patent ID: 8974364
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A treatment apparatus configured for placement in a cavity of a mammal to apply radioactive energy from radionuclide seeds to at least some mammalian tissue forming the cavity, the treatment apparatus comprising: a plurality of three-dimensional collagen-based tiles each having a first surface, an opposing second surface parallel to the first surface, and a uniform thickness of between two to seven millimeters therebetween; and a plurality of cylindrical radionuclide seeds, each embedded in one of the tiles at an offset position between the first and second surfaces such that the radionuclide seeds are substantially closer to the first surface than to the second surface of the respective tile, wherein the cylindrical radionuclide seeds are positioned within respective tiles such that a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical radionuclide seeds is substantially parallel to the first surface of the respective tile in which the cylindrical radionuclide seeds are embedded; wherein one of the first surface or the second surface of each of the tiles includes a textural feature usable by a user to distinguish between the first and second surfaces of the tiles such that each of the tiles may be inserted into the cavity at a desired orientation with reference to first and second surfaces.