Patent ID: 9198597
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: A61B,A61N,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for treating a cancerous tumor in a brain, the method comprising: identifying a bulk of the tumor or a nidus; predicting regions of likely cancer-cell migration based at least in part on patient population data corresponding to regions of likely or demonstrated cancer-cell migration in a patient population, wherein predicting the regions of likely cancer-cell migration comprises analyzing a location of the bulk of tumor or the nidus; imaging the brain to determine whether cancer cells have already migrated to the predicted regions; tracing a trajectory along a tissue region that is separated from the bulk of the tumor or the nidus by a sufficient distance to ensure that cancer cells have not spread beyond that distance, the trajectory being spaced apart from the bulk of the tumor or the nidus by a minimum separation; selectively treating likely healthy white matter pathways in the regions of likely cancer-cell migration using a stereotactic radiosurgery surgical apparatus to provide radiation treatment to tissue residing beyond the spreading cancer cells, wherein the white matter pathways selected for treatment are determined at least in part by the location of the bulk of tumor or the nidus.