Patents by Inventor Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20250057423Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2024Publication date: February 20, 2025Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Patent number: 12226653Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2023Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: NU-RISE LdaInventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20250050131Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2024Publication date: February 13, 2025Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20250040898Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Patent number: 12186116Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2023Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: NU-RISE LdaInventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20240350829Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of radiation placement is monitored during the cancer treatment. The location plan for the radioactive material may be adjusted during the cancer treatment based on real-time analysis of the location and dosage of radiation measured in, at and around the target tissue of the affected site.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2024Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Patent number: 12064642Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of radiation placement is monitored during the cancer treatment. The location plan for the radioactive material may be adjusted during the cancer treatment based on real-time analysis of the location and dosage of radiation measured in, at and around the target tissue of the affected site.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: NU-RISE LdaInventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20240115879Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20240108223Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Patent number: 11903672Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: NU-RISE LdaInventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20240050050Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Patent number: 11896844Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Patent number: 11801021Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20220305286Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of radiation placement is monitored during the cancer treatment. The location plan for the radioactive material may be adjusted during the cancer treatment based on real-time analysis of the location and dosage of radiation measured in, at and around the target tissue of the affected site.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Patent number: 11383100Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of radiation placement is monitored during the cancer treatment. The location plan for the radioactive material may be adjusted during the cancer treatment based on real-time analysis of the location and dosage of radiation measured in, at and around the target tissue of the affected site.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20220175327Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Patent number: 11291419Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20210236848Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20210177363Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo
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Publication number: 20210177260Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of this placement is monitored in real time using a urinary catheter that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured by sensors in the walls of the urinary catheter. A scintillator that is embedded in the walls of the urinary catheter produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is carried through optical fibers and then converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals. This location can be used as quality control feedback to the afterloader.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Luis Miguel da Conceição Moutinho, Joana Isabel Ferreira dos Santos Melo