Abstract: The invention relates to a process for brachytherapy by using a dose measuring system, wherein, in at least one point of an area subjected to radiation treatment, the individual radiation dose contribution from at least one dwell position of at least one radiation source is measured in real time, the thus obtained measured dose value is compared with the corresponding value calculated by a treatment planning system, and the further course of the treatment is adapted on the basis of the degree of agreement between the measured value and the calculated value. Furthermore, the invention relates to a control program, a treatment control system, a treatment planning system and a dose measuring system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a radioactive brachytherapy source material comprising indium-114m in radioactive equilibrium with indium-114 as main radioactive isotopes. A new radioactive brachytherapy source material comprises indium-114m in radioactive equilibrium with indium-114 as main radioactive isotopes. A new encapsulated radioactive brachytherapy source comprises the new radioactive brachytherapy source material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for image guided automated insertion of an elongated an elongated hollow needle to a desired location in an animal body for effecting radiation therapy of cancerous tissue in said body comprising needle positioning means for positioning said needle having a distal end and a proximal end relative to said desired location; needle drive means for driving said needle with its distal end towards said desired location; and real time imaging means for creating and presenting an image of said desired location and the position of the distal end of said needle during insertion of said needle. It is an object of the invention to provide a device for inserting a needle in an animal body, wherein a better access to the treatment site in the patient's body is obtained thus improving the possibilities in configuring a treatment plan for said patient and wherein the patient is suffering lesser trauma, bleeding and discomfort.

Abstract: A device for implanting radioactive seeds and non-radioactive spacers in a desired configuration in an animal body for effecting radiation therapy. An elongated hollow needle is inserted in the body. A pushing element implants the row of seeds and spacers though the hollow needle towards the desired location. A tube shaped element receives the row of seeds and spacers. A lube shaped sleeve having open ends is used to insert the tube shaped element through the needle and toward the location. The pushing elements pushes the row of seeds and spacers into the desired location while still being carried in the tube shaped element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for temporarily inserting and positioning at least one energy emitting source in an animal body, wherein the apparatus comprises at least: a hollow open needle having a proximal needle end and a distal needle end to be inserted into the body, so as to provide a channel in the body; a guide tube having a proximal guide tube end and a distal guide tube end to be inserted into the hollow open needle; the hollow open needle being retractable from the body over the guide tube; a first fixing element for fixating the guide tube with said proximal guide tube end relative to the body; a catheter tube having a closed distal catheter tube end and an open proximal catheter tube end to be inserted with its distal catheter tube end until a predetermined depth into the guide tube and the body via said proximal guide tube end and fixating the catheter tube to the guide tube; at least one energy emitting source for insertion into the catheter tube via said proximal catheter tub

Abstract: A device for effecting radiation therapy in an animal body has a housing provided with at least one outlet channel, a guide tube connected at one end with the outlet channel and wherein the other end of the guide tube is positionable in the animal body near the site of the intended radiation therapy, one electro-magnetic radiation emitting source connected to a first end of a transport wire, and a transport device for moving the transport wire and the radiation emitting source via the outlet channel through the guide tube to and from the site of the intended radiation therapy in the body. The transport device has a rotatable drum, which is rotationally symmetric around a rotation axis. The drum is provided with two end surfaces, and a circumferential surface is provided with at least one winding groove for at least one transport wire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid state brachytherapy applicator for performing radiation therapy treatment in an animal body, said applicator at least comprising an X-ray emitting surface composed of: a vacuum cavity containing a cathode and an anode spaced apart at some distance from each other; emitting means for emitting free electrons from the cathode; electric field means for applying during use a high-voltage electric field between said cathode and said anode for accelerating said emitted free electrons towards said anode; wherein said vacuum cavity being at least partly transparent to X-ray radiation emitted by said anode. The invention furthermore relates to a radiation therapy treatment system for performing radiation therapy treatment in an animal body and to a method for performing radiation therapy treatment in an animal body using a solid state brachytherapy applicator according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying the location at least one treatment channel from a group of a plurality of treatment channels as wells as a system for effecting radiation treatment on a pre-selected anatomical portion of an animal body. According to the invention the identifying method being characterized by the steps of A selecting at least one of said plurality of treatment channels; B reconstructing the actual location of said selected treatment channel relative to said animal body; and C comparing said reconstructed location said pre-planned plurality of locations. Furthermore the system according to the invention is characterized in that identifying means are present for identifying the location of at least one treatment channel from said group of said plurality of inserted treatment channels and comparing said identified location with one or more of said pre-planned locations present in said treatment plan.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for effecting radiation treatment on a pre-selected anatomical portion of an animal body comprising: a group of n hollow treatment channels being inserted at one or more pre-planned positions in said pre-selected anatomical portion; a group of m delivery channels to be connected to a corresponding number m from said group of n hollow treatment channels with m being 2 or more and n being 1 or more; identifying means for identifying which one of said m delivery channels is being connected with which one of said n hollow treatment channels, said identifying means comprising a tracking element accommodated in a tracking channel, said tracking element being intended to be displaced from said tracking channel through each of said interconnected m delivery channels and m treatment channels; storage means for storing k energy emitting sources in a corresponding source-channel, with k?m; delivery means for temporarily inserting said k energy emitting sources from their source-chan

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calculating the radiation dose distribution for a radiation treatment system for the purpose of radiation therapy of an animal body, wherein said radiation beam of the radiation treatment system exhibits a specific beam field size and shape at different depths as well as to a device for calculating the radiation dose distribution for a radiation treatment system for the purpose of radiation therapy of an animal body, wherein said radiation beam of the radiation treatment system exhibits a specific beam field size and shape at different depths. It is an object of the invention to provide a method and device according to the above allowing the calculation of a radiation dose distribution for a radiation treatment system using a limited amount of data whilst preserving the required accuracy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an after loader apparatus for treatment of tumours in an animal body comprising a housing with at least one exchangeable radiation source connected to a first end of a transport wire, which wire is connected with its other end to transport means for advancing said transport wire and said radiation source through a guide tube to and from a tumour in said body, where at least the radiation source and the transport wire are mounted in an exchangeable radiation shielded after loader cartridge, which cartridge can be placed in a suitable receptable opening present in said housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a miniature X-ray source device connected to a distal end of a guiding wire for insertion towards a desired location within an animal body for effecting radiation therapy, said X-ray source device at least comprising a vacuum tube accommodated in said housing containing a cathode and an anode spaced apart at some distance from each other; electron freeing means for freeing electrons from the cathode; electric field means for applying during use a high-voltage electric field between said cathode and said anode for accelerating said free electrons; said vacuum tube being at least partly transparent to X-ray radiation emitted by said anode, as well as cooling means for cooling at least said anode. It is an object to provide a miniature X-ray source device having further limited constructional dimensions and an improved control of the working temperature of at least the anode and hence the working conditions of the miniature X-ray source device.

Abstract: A miniature X-ray source device connected to a distal end of a guiding wire for insertion towards a desired location within an animal body for effecting radiation thereby. The X-ray source device at least includes a vacuum tube containing a cathode and an anode spaced apart at a distance from each other; an emitter for emitting free electrons from the cathode; an electric field generator for applying a high-voltage electric field between the cathode and the anode for accelerating the emitted free electrons towards the anode; and a getter material located in a high-voltage electric field free region in the vacuum tube. The vacuum tube is at least partly transparent to X-ray radiation emitted by the anode.

Abstract: An arranged row of radioactive seeds and non-radioactive spacers with a predetermined pitch can be provided with physical coherence by applying connectors between the separate seeds and spacers. In a first embodiment the connectors are elongated with introversions at both ends, in a second embodiment a connector also forms a spacer and is provided at one end with an introversion and at another end with a projection in the form of a seed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding a cavity in an animal body comprising at least an inflatable balloon system having a balloon wall for placement in said cavity; a supportive probe having an elongated body with a distal end connected with said inflatable balloon system and a proximal end remaining outside said cavity; inflation means for inflating and deflating said balloon system with a pressurized medium; radiation delivering means for placing at least one energy emitting source within said cavity for performing said radiation treatment. It is an object of the invention to provide a device for radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding a cavity in an animal patient body according to the above preamble capable in controlling the real, actual status of the inflated balloon system present inside said body cavity, especially when said device is utilized with an after loading apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding a cavity in an animal body comprising radiation delivering means for placing at least one energy emitting source at a desired position within said cavity for performing said radiation treatment. The invention also relates to an implant element to be implanted into a cavity in an animal body for radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding said cavity. The invention aims to provide a device and method for radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding a cavity in an animal body, wherein the radiation treatment is performed in a far more accurate and reproducible manner and wherein the device causes far less discomfort to the patient. According to the invention said device comprises an permanent implant element suitable for placement in said body cavity, said element being made from a non-deformable material and having an outer surface being conformal to the inner surface of said body cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the position of a surgical tool relative to a target volume inside an animal body according to a pre-plan comprising the steps of i) obtaining a plurality of two-dimensional images of said target volume using imaging means, each 2D-image being represented by an image data slice I(x,y,z); ii) reconstructing from said plurality of image data slices I(x,y,z) a three-dimensional image of said target volume using transformation means, said 3D-image being represented by a volumetric image data array V(x,y,z); iii) displaying said three-dimensional image of said target volume to an user using displaying means.

Abstract: A drive device in a medical device for driving a wire through a guide tube from a first position with an end of the wire outside an animal body to a second position in which the end is inside the animal body. The drive device comprises first and second elements rotatable relative to each other. The first and second elements each have contact surfaces, that in each rotational position of the first and second elements relative to each other are in contact with each other in a contact area along a common contact plane. A storage space going about the axis is provided for the wire in the first element. The storage space is open along a length of it to the contact surface of the first element. The second element comprises a channel for the wire and is open to the contact plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a radioactive brachytherapy source material comprising indium-114m in radioactive equilibrium with indium-114 as main radioactive isotopes. A new radioactive brachytherapy source material comprises indium-114m in radioactive equilibrium with indium-114 as main radioactive isotopes. A new encapsulated radioactive brachytherapy source comprises the new radioactive brachytherapy source material.

Abstract: A modular device for implanting radioactive seeds in an animal body through needles implanted in the body. Trains of radioactive seeds and non-radioactive spacers are assembled in an assembly unit. The assembly unit comprises a device for determining activity of the seeds with an accuracy that allows distinguishing between different activities within tolerance ranges of specified nominal activities for the seeds. After implantation of the seeds in the body a pre-plan may be recalculated taking into consideration actual activities of seeds implanted. Not correctly composed trains may be disposed of. A post-plan may be determined based upon actually measured activities of implanted seeds.