Patent Document ID: 6095975
Application ID: 08864068
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for determining optimal locations for placing radioactive seeds at a cancerous prostate, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a plurality of cross-sectional images of the prostate; (b) tracing a contour of an area on each cross-sectional image of the prostate obtained from step (a); (c) transferring the contour and area of each cross-sectional image of the prostate defined in step (b) to a three-dimensional coordinate system; (d) defining a population of locations within each area of each cross-sectional image of the prostate where radioactive seeds can be placed; (e) defining a location of the urethra within each area of each cross-sectional image of the prostate; (f) using a genetic algorithm to determine an optimal number of locations within the prostate to place the radioactive seeds; (g) determining radiation levels within the prostate based on the optimal number of locations defined by step (f); (h) identifying portions of the prostate which receive various levels of a prescribed radiation dose; (i) displaying contours on each cross-sectional image of the prostate which show the portions defined in step (h); and (j) producing a treatment plan showing the optimal number of locations within the prostate where the radioactive seeds are to be placed.