Patent ID: 6440058
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: A61K,A61N,G21G

Abstract:
A method of treating an affected region of diseased tissue in a patient, the method comprising:implanting a plurality of first radioactive seeds in the affected region, each of the first radioactive seeds having a sealed housing with an internal cavity, at least one carrier body disposed within the cavity for maintaining a first radioisotope source and at least one X-ray detectable marker placed along a length of the cavity to provide a first X-ray signature; implanting a plurality of second radioactive seeds in the affected region, each of the second radioactive seeds having a sealed housing with an internal cavity, at least one carrier body disposed within the cavity for maintaining a second radioisotope source and one or more X-ray detectable markers placed along a length of the cavity to provide a second X-ray signature distinguishable from the first X-ray signature; generating an X-ray image of the affected region including the first and second radioactive seeds implanted therein, the X-ray image providing representations of the first and second X-ray signatures which are visibly distinguishable; and associating each representation of the first X-ray signature with a seed having the first radioisotope source and associating each representation of the second X-ray signature with a seed having the second radioisotope source.