Abstract: A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy comprising a substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated strand made of material, which is bio-absorbable in living tissue and a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed in a predetermined array within the strand. The delivery system and method further customize the strand based on a prescription. The strands can have custom end spacings, which allow the optimal placing of seeds within the treatment tissue by implanting a plurality of strands to the same depth. A plurality of these strands can be implanted at the same time by the use of a guiding device.

Abstract: A prescription method of treating tissue comprises the steps of accepting a prescription tissue treatment plan for the tissue to be treated, positioning seeds relative to each other per the prescription tissue treatment plan such that the positions of seeds relative to each other is only established by the prescription tissue treatment plan, and creating a treatment strand by heating and cooling a material to position the plurality of treatment seeds in the material. The prescription tissue treatment plan specifies a number and a spacing of the seeds to be provided in the treatment strand, the spacing of the treatment seeds being unrestricted by any use of spacers and independently set by and according to the prescription tissue treatment plan.

Abstract: A method forming a coated implant is described. The implant comprises a surface which is first coated with a primer and subsequently with a biocompatible polymer capable of forming a covalent bond to the primer. The polymer coating is then crosslinked. The invention also relates to implants, in particular, stents, coated with such a coating.

Abstract: A therapeutic member for use in brachytherapy deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle comprises a single radioactive source encapsulated by a bio-absorbable material having an outer surface including one or more ribs encircling the single radioactive source, a leading edge endcap rib and a trailing edge endcap rib. The one or more ribs reduces a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. The encapsulating material further includes a first rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, and a second rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, the second rail arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the first rail is arranged.

Abstract: A novel class of polymers obtainable by copolymerising a monomer mixture comprising (i) hydrophilic monomer of general formula (I) Y—B—X; (ii) styrene or a substituted styrene, a monomer or mixture of monomers which when polymerised form a polymer with a Tg lower than the Tg of a homopolymer of monomer (I) and lower than the Tg of a homopolymer of monomer (ii); and a monomer having a crosslinkable group is described. The invention also relates to a method for producing such polymers, implants coated with the polymers and methods for forming the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of monitoring live cells, comprising the sequential steps of: (i) contacting the cells with self-assembled constructs associated with an imaging agent at t=0; (ii) incubating the cells for a period of time t1; (iii) imaging at least a sample of the live cells by means of the said imaging agent after time t1; wherein in step (i), at least some of the constructs are taken up into the cells; and wherein the constructs comprise an amphiphilic block copolymer having a hydrophilic and hydrophobic block.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical product comprising lyophilised polymer matrix including a biologically active compound, of particular utility for embolisation, having improved rehydration properties is packaged in an airtight package under vacuum.

Abstract: Provided herein are bio-absorbable strands for use in brachytherapy. In an embodiment, a plurality of discrete hollow bio-absorbable segments spaced apart from one another and encapsulated using a bio-absorbable material to form an elongated member configured to be implantable in patient tissue using a hollow needle. Each hollow bio-absorbable segment has a length, an outer periphery and an inner channel. Radioactive material is within at least a portion of the inner channel or coating at least a portion of the outer periphery of each hollow bio-absorbable segment. Contrast material is within at least a portion of the inner channel or coating at least a portion of the outer periphery of each hollow bio-absorbable segment.

Abstract: In an embodiment a therapeutic member includes a single radioactive seed and is adapted to be implanted into patient tissue using a hollow needle. The seed includes a metallic housing with radioactive material contained within the metallic housing. A polymeric bio-adherent and/or bio-adhesive material surrounds at least a portion the housing of the single radioactive seed. The polymeric bio-adherent and/or bio-adhesive material reduces a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation of the member.

Abstract: A process is provided for sterilizing brachytherapy devices with Ethylene Oxide gas and releasing the devices on a parametric release basis. Devices that can be sterilized with this process include interstitial radiation seed strand implants and the needles used for implantation. In order to be sterilized effectively by EtO gas, the devices are constructed such that surfaces not readily infused with EtO gas are made to be gas permeable, and will not retain the gas after the sterilization process. Performance qualification of the sterilization process is performed through physical and microbiological studies, and set of established physical process parameters. Maintaining the physical process parameters in subsequent sterilization cycles will consistently yield the desired sterility assurance level without having to test the devices for sterility.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a brachytherapy device includes a cartridge adapted for use with a brachytherapy applicator. A plurality of anchor seeds are stacked parallel to one another within the cartridge. Each anchor seed includes a radioactive seed that is at least partially encapsulated by a polymeric material. Additionally, each anchor seed can include at least one protrusion on an outer surface of the encapsulating polymeric material to a reduce a tendency for the anchor seed to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after the anchor seed is implanted.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an implantable marker, which is adapted to be implanted into patient tissue using a hollow needle, includes a marker body including a radiopaque material and a polymeric material that encapsulates at least a portion of the marker body. In an embodiment, an outer surface of the encapsulating material includes one or more protrusions to reduce a tendency of the marker to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation.

Abstract: In an embodiment a therapeutic member includes a solitary radioactive seed. The seed includes a metallic housing with radioactive material contained within the metallic housing. The metallic housing has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end and a longitudinal length between the first and second longitudinal ends. A polymeric material is molded to completely and monolithically encapsulate the metallic housing of the solitary radioactive seed. The implantable therapeutic member is adapted to be implanted into patient tissue using a hollow needle. A portion of the molded polymeric material extends from one of the first and second longitudinal ends of the metallic housing to reduce a tendency of the seed to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation of the member.

Abstract: A composition for chemoembolotherapy of solid tumours comprises particles of a water-insoluble water-swellable synthetic anionic polymer and, absorbed therein an anthracycline. Suitably the polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol) based polymer and the drug is doxorubicin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for loading microsphere polymer particles with crystallisable drug, in the presence of a crystallisation inhibitor whereby crystallisation of the drug is inhibited. The invention is of particular value for loading polymer beads with paclitaxel, ibuprofen and/or dexamethasone. The polymer is suitably an anionic polyvinyl alcohol polymer.

Abstract: A composition for chemoembolotherapy of solid tumours comprises particles of a water-insoluble water-swellable synthetic anionic polymer and, absorbed therein an anthracycline. Suitably the polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol) based polymer and the drug is doxorubicin.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for malignant tumour embolisation comprises a polymer and, associated with the polymer in a releasable form, a COX inhibitor, e.g. a non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen. The polymer is preferably-in particulate form, such as in the form of microspheres. A suitable polymer is a crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol polymer formed by the copolymerisation of PVA macromer with other ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The composition provides a synergistic treatment for the symptoms of malignant tumours, leading to tumour necrosis or ischaemia, with anti-angiogenic effects, promotion of apoptosis, decrease in invasiveness of tumour cells and resultant tumour regression.

Abstract: An embolic composition comprises microspheres formed of water-insoluble water-swellable anionic polymer having swollen diameter more than 100 ?m, and a cationic camptothecin compound, preferably irinotecan. The microspheres are preferably formed of crosslinked polyvinylalcohol, preferably of ethylenically unsaturated polyvinylalcohol macromer, crosslinked with anionic ethylenically unsaturated anionic comonomer. The compositions are used to treat hypervascular tumours for instance colorectal metastases of the liver.

Abstract: Polymers may be made from zwitterionic monomers having controlled architectures and molecular weights, using living polymerisations such as group or atom transfer radical polymerisation. For instance polymers may be formed by atom transfer radical polymerisation using a copper chloride catalyst, a ligand which is water soluble, and a water soluble tertiary alkyl halide initiator to form homopolymers having controlled polydispersities of less than 1.5 and block copolymers with other hydrophilic or hydrophobic monomers. One suitable zwitterionic monomer is 2-methacryloyloxy-2?-trimethylammoniumethyl phosphate inner salt. The block copolymers may spontaneously form micelles, believed to have zwitterionic, for instance phosphorylcholine, groups at the external surface, which may be useful as drug delivery systems with improved biocompatibility.

Abstract: A braided stent (1) for transluminal implantation in body lumens is self-expanding and has a radial expanded configuration in which the angle ? between filaments is acute. Some or all of filaments (6,7) are welded together in pairs at each end (4,5) of the stent to provide beads (8), thereby strengthening the stent and assisting its deployment from a delivery device. The stent is preferably completely coated using a biocompatible polymeric coating, said polymer preferably having pendant phosphoryl choline groups. A method of making the stent by braiding and welding is described as well as a delivery device for deploying the device. The present invention provides a biocompatible crosslinked coating and a crosslinkable coating polymer composition for forming such a coating.