BRACHYTHERAPY SET

Abstract

Tools for brachytherapy providing an introducer sheath and an afterload catheter with particular marks and gratings that allow for a more precise and safe positioning of the tools and the load of the afterload catheter. In particular, the invention refers to a kit for use in brachytherapy.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A brachytherapy kit, comprising: a tubular introducer sheath to receive an afterload catheter, the introducer sheath comprising a distal opening, a cylindrical part and a proximal inlet cap, wherein at least the cylindrical part of the introducer sheath has a visual depth marking or scale; a puncture needle having a visual depth marking or scale corresponding with the visual depth marking or scale of the introducer sheath; and an afterload catheter comprising a catheter tip, a cylindrical shaft to be introduced and snuggly sliding in the tubular introducer sheath, and a visual exit mark positioned on the shaft to visibly coincide with the proximal inlet cap of the introducer sheath when the catheter tip is at the distal opening of the introducer sheath.

12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the afterload catheter further comprises on the cylindrical shaft at least one further mark or grating proximal to the exit mark.

13. The kit of claim 11, wherein the distal opening of the introducer sheath is tapered to allow for tight fit with the tip of a dilator receivable within the sheath.

14. The kit of claim 11, further comprising: a dilator rod received in the tubular introducer sheath and comprising a distal section and a shaft, characterized in that the distal section is tapered over length of 10 mm or less.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the tapered distal section of the dilator, when received within the sheath, extends beyond the distal opening over the length of the tapering.

16. The kit of claim 14, wherein the dilator is received within the sheath and removably engaged with the sheath via a wing clamp engaging the proximal inlet cap of the sheath, thus forming an integral introducer assembly.

17. The kit according to claim 11 comprising a surgical suture with a curved needle for attachment and fixation of sheath position.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the suture clip has suture holes.

19. The kit according to claim 11 comprising a guide wire.

20. The kit according to claim 11 used in brachytherapy.

Description

[0039] The FIGS. 1-7 show:

[0040] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of the afterload catheter, (10) of the present invention having a rounded tip (11) and a cylindrical shaft (12) showing a visible exit mark (14) which is positioned such that when the afterload catheter (10) is received within the tubular introducer sheath (20). The exit mark (14) visibly coincides (line A) with the inlet (24) of the introducer sheath (20), if the proximal tip (11) of the afterload catheter is at the proximal opening (21) of the introducer sheath (line B), thus providing an easy and precise position matching system. Visual markings or grating (23) may also be present at least at the tubular cylindrical portion (22) of the introducer sheath (20) to correspond to respective visual markings or grating (43) of a puncture needle (40) depicted in FIG. 3, thus providing an even advanced position matching system (see FIG. 3).

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a detail from FIG. 1 where the afterload catheter (10) is received within the introducer sheath (20) where the visual mark (14) of the afterload catheter (10) visibly coincides with the inlet (24) of the introducer sheath. Further, markings (15) are present which serve as depth markings for easy advancement of the afterload catheter (10) beyond the reference point, i.e. deeper into the tissue.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a puncture needle (40) for cutting the channel into the body tissue onto the region of interest. The needle (40) has markings (43) that correspond to markings (23) of the introducer sheath (20), which allow for advancing the introducer sheath (20) in the channel cut by the puncture needle (40) into the same depth, by using the respective corresponding markings (23, 43) as reference. The reference point may be the outer skin of the body at the site where the needle has been introduced. If the readings of markings (23) match with the reading of markings (43) at that reference point, the proximal tip opening (21) of introducer sheath (20) is at the same position as the tip of the puncture needle (40).

[0043] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a dilator rod (30) to be received within the introducer sheath (20) for introducing the sheath (20) into the channel cut by the puncture needle (40). The dilator has a cylindrical shaft (32) that matches the ID of the sheath (20). The dilator (30) has a blunt short tip (31). The dilator (30) also comprises a wing grip (34) to removably clamp or engage with a respective structure on the proximal inlet (24) of the introducer sheath (20) to form a stable assembly of dilator (30) and sheath (20), i.e. an introducer system for introduction into the channel cut by needle (40). FIG. 5 depicts a detail of the dilator (30) of FIG. 4 with tip (31). FIG. 6 depicts the dilator (30) received within the introducer sheath of FIG. 1 to form an introducer system or assembly.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a typical arrangement of an embodiment of the invention, where depth markings (43) on the puncture needle (40) correspond to respective markings or scale (23) on the introducer sheath (20). This allows corresponding depth readings A on the sheath (20) with reference to each tip position B, allowing precise placement or positioning of the introducer sheath (20), in particular as the introducer assembly depicted in FIG. 6, relative to the originally introduced puncture needle (40) that cut the channel.

REFERENCE LIST

[0045] 10 afterload catheter [0046] 11 catheter tip [0047] 12 cylindrical shaft [0048] 14 exit mark [0049] 15 mark or grating [0050] 20 introducer sheath [0051] 21 distal sheath opening [0052] 2 cylindrical part [0053] 23 markings [0054] 24 proximal inlet cap [0055] 30 dilator [0056] 31 tapered distal section [0057] 32 dilator shaft [0058] 34 wing grip/clamp [0059] 40 puncture needle [0060] 43 markings