An optimization technique for use with radiation therapy planning that combines stochastic optimization techniques such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) with deterministic techniques to solve for optimal and reliable locations for delivery of radiation doses to a targeted tumor while minimizing the radiation dose experienced by the surrounding critical structures such as normal tissues and organs.

A device for implanting radiotherapy seeds in a tumor. The device includes a delivery tube having a distal end designed to enter the tumor, and defining an internal channel and an elongate applicator carrying one or more radiotherapy seeds each having a length of at least 1 millimeter, the applicator passing through the internal channel of the delivery tube. When a distal end of the elongate applicator is near a distal end of the delivery tube, it assumes an angle relative to an axis of the delivery tube, such that seeds ejected from the elongate applicator enter the tumor at an angle relative to the axis of the delivery tube.

A casing holding one or more brachytherapy seeds for implanting in a patient, which in turn carry atoms of a radioactive element for radiotherapy treatment is filled with a viscous liquid in a manner preventing radiation from the one or more brachytherapy seeds from exiting the casing. The casing may include a metallic or non-metallic elongated tube configured for insertion into tissue or a vial for delivering a seed to a physician for insertion into a needle.

The invention discloses a radioactive source delivery system with a stylet pulling mechanism and its method of use. The wire driving mechanism is connected to the wire output channel, and the wire driving mechanism is used to drive the pushing wire to move back and forth along the wire output channel. A stylet pulling mechanism is located on one side of the front end of the wire output channel. Through the channel-switching mechanism, the wire output channel is docked with a flexible delivery tube. The front end of the flexible the delivery tube is connected to a puncture needle or has a quick connector for connecting to the puncture needle. The stylet pulling mechanism can dock with the tail portion of the flexible stylet inside the flexible delivery tube, pulling the flexible stylet out of the flexible delivery tube to form a hollow flexible delivery channel. A radioactive source feeding mechanism is used to place the radioactive source in front of the pushing wire. The wire driving mechanism drives the pushing wire forward, pushing the radioactive source through the wire output channel, flexible delivery tube, and into the puncture needle inserted in the target object, ultimately implanting it into the target object. This invention prevents blood from entering and clotting inside the puncture needle, reduces surgery time, achieves full automation, and improves the accuracy of the implantation position.

The present invention discloses a radioactive source delivery system and its method of use. The radioactive source delivery system comprise a radioactive source delivery mechanism connecting to the needle trocar via a flexible delivery tube, through which the radioactive source is implanted into a target body; and a needle pulling driver driving the flexible delivery tube which connects to the needle trocar inserted into the target body and controls the needle trocar to be pulled partly out of the target body, thereby adjusting the implantation position of the radioactive source.

A radioactive seed loading and pushing device suitable for a brachytherapy treatment, the device including: a seed reservoir containing radioactive seeds, free with respect to one another; a flexible push cable and a motor-driven device for driving and guiding the push cable configured to make the push cable switch from a retracted position, clearing a loading area for a radioactive seed, up to a deployed position ensuring pushing of the seed; and a system ensuring loading of a seed from the reservoir up to the loading area.

A brachytherapy implant including a hollow biocompatible wire, and at least one tubular seed defining an internal channel. Radioactive particles for radiotherapy treatment are placed on the at least one tubular seed. The tubular seed is mounted externally on the hollow biocompatible wire. Possibly, the hollow biocompatible wire defines an internal channel having a diameter of less than 0.5 millimeters. Optionally, the hollow biocompatible wire is not biodegradable. The at least one tubular seed may be located in the middle of the hollow biocompatible wire, at least 10 millimeters from both ends of the hollow biocompatible wire.

An optimization technique for use with radiation therapy planning that combines stochastic optimization techniques such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) with deterministic techniques to solve for optimal and reliable locations for delivery of radiation doses to a targeted tumor while minimizing the radiation dose experienced by the surrounding critical structures such as normal tissues and organs.

Carriers for embodying radioactive seeds, as well as a device for loading and customizing brachytherapy carriers based on the principles of optimizing a more precise and predictable dosimetry, and adaptable to the geometric challenges of a tumor bed in a real-time setting. The present disclosure relates to a specialized loading device designed to enable a medical team to create a radionuclide carrier for each patient and tumor reliably, reproducibly and efficiently.

An optimization technique for use with radiation therapy planning that combines stochastic optimization techniques such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) with deterministic techniques to solve for optimal and reliable locations for delivery of radiation doses to a targeted tumor while minimizing the radiation dose experienced by the surrounding critical structures such as normal tissues and organs.