SCAFFOLD-BASED BRACHYTHERAPY WITH INTEGRATED VISUALIZATION

Abstract

The invention relates to a material for the 3-dimensional printing of scaffold structures on a 3D printer as well as to a medical implant (1) made of this type of material and the use of this type of material for manufacturing a medical implant (1) of this type. According to the invention, the material has integrated microspheres (5) which emit radioactive rays.

Claims

1. Material (4) for three-dimensional printing of scaffold structures on a 3D printer, wherein the material comprises integrated microspheres (5) which emit radioactive rays.

2. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the microspheres (5) are designed as beta and/or gamma emitters (6).

3. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the microspheres (5) have a half-life of less than one year.

4. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material (4) is liquid or is a suspension of liquid and solid components.

5. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material (4) hardens in a flexible manner.

6. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material (4) hardens as a porous structure.

7. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the microspheres (5) comprise a contrast medium (7) positive for magnetic resonance imaging.

8. Material (4) according to claim 7, characterized in that the microspheres (5) comprise gadolinium.

9. Material (4) according to claim 8, characterized in that the gadolinium makes up a fraction of from 0.1 ppm to 10% of the mass of the microspheres (5).

10. Material (4) according to claim 7, characterized in that the microspheres (5) comprise iron oxide as a contrast medium (7) positive for magnetic resonance imaging.

11. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the microspheres (5) comprise an X-ray positive contrast medium (8).

12. Material (4) according to claim 10, characterized in that the X-ray positive contrast medium (8) makes up a fraction of from 0.1 ppm to 10% of the mass of the microspheres (5).

13. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material (4) is biocompatible.

14. Material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material (4) is bioabsorbable.

15. Medical implant (1), characterized in that it is formed of a material (4) according to claim 1.

16. Use of a material (4) according to claim 1 for producing a medical implant (1).

Description

[0022] Further features, details and advantages of the invention can be found in the following description and in the drawings. Embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the following drawings, and will be described in greater detail in the following. Mutually corresponding objects or elements are provided with the same reference signs in all the figures. In the figures:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a female breast comprising an implant

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a microsphere

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the material

[0026] An implant 1, denoted by reference sign 1, is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The drawing according to FIG. 1 furthermore shows a schematic depiction of a female breast 2. The material 4 is introduced in liquid form by means of a catheter 3 or a needle 3, as shown here, and hardens to form an implant 1, shown schematically, in the patient's body. Implants 1 for breast surgery can thus be produced, which are used following a breast operation, during resection or partial resection of the breast 2. The integrated microspheres 5 (FIG. 2) thus allow for local radiation therapy, in particular tumor-bed irradiation, by means of microspheres 5 (FIG. 2) that emit radioactive rays, are integrated in the implant 1, and are used locally in the breast 2. The material can, however, also be printed into a three-dimensional scaffold structure on a 3D printer, which structure, following hardening, is then subsequently implanted during an operation. This is suitable in particular when filling surgical cavities owing to bone cancer. The implant 1, shown schematically, comprises the microspheres 5 (FIG. 2) that are integrated in the material 4, wherein the microspheres 5 (FIG. 2) are designed as beta and/or gamma emitters 6 (FIG. 2). The implant 1 further comprises microspheres 5 (FIG. 2) comprising a contrast medium 7 (FIG. 2) positive for magnetic resonance imaging. Furthermore, the implant 1, which is formed here of the material 4, additionally comprises microspheres 5 (FIG. 2) comprising an X-ray positive contrast medium 8 (FIG. 2). The surface 9 of the implant 1 formed of the material 4 is in addition biocompatible.

[0027] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, by way of example, of an integrated microsphere 5 of the implant 1 (FIG. 1) from FIG. 1. The microsphere 5 preferably has a diameter of approximately 10 m to 15 m. As is clearly visible, the beta or gamma emitters 6 on the outer face of the microsphere 5 are located directly on the biocompatible surface 9 of the microsphere 5. Contrast media 7, 8 are arranged on the inside of the microsphere 5, wherein said contrast media are designed so as to be contrast media positive for magnetic resonance imaging or X-ray positive contrast media.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the material 4 according to the invention. Mini-tripods, for example, are printed using structural materials 10. Possible structural materials 10 would be for example hydrogels for softer structures, or chitosan or PLA for structures of medium stiffness, and zirconium for hard structures. The structural materials 10 result in loose bulk material that exhibits a certain spacing between the individual tripods. Other geometries are also possible, however. The microspheres 5 can then be incorporated therein. The tripods are mixed with the microspheres 5 and a carrier fluid 11 or an adhesive fluid 11 to form a suspension, and then constitute the material 4 according to the invention. Said material 4 can be applied into the organ cavity 12 using a thin applicator.

[0029] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments set out. Further embodiments are possible, without departing from the basic concept.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0030] 1 implant [0031] 2 female breast [0032] 3 catheter or needle [0033] 4 material [0034] 5 microsphere [0035] 6 beta and/or gamma emitter [0036] 7 contrast medium positive for magnetic resonance imaging [0037] 8 X-ray positive contrast medium [0038] 9 surface [0039] 10 structural materials [0040] 11 carrier fluid or adhesive fluid [0041] 12 organ cavity