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: 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 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 implanting at least one row of X radioactive seeds and Y non-radioactive spacers with X?[1, 2, . . . ] and Y?[0, 1, . . . ] in a desired configuration to a desired location in an animal body for effecting radiation therapy of cancerous tissue in said body, said device comprising: at least one elongated hollow needle with an open distal end to be inserted towards said desired location in the body and with a proximal end to be connected to a seed loading apparatus; and at least one pushing element for implanting during retraction of the elongated hollow needle said row of radioactive seeds and non-radioactive spacers from said seed loading apparatus through said hollow needle towards said location.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for radiation treatment of proliferative tissue surrounding a cavity in an animal body comprising: at least a first inflatable chamber having a wall for placement in said cavity; a supportive probe having an elongated body with a distal end connected with said at least first inflatable chamber and a proximal end remaining outside said cavity; inflation means for inflating and deflating said at least first chamber; radiation delivering means for placing at least one energy emitting source within said cavity for performing said radiation treatment. The invention aims to provide a device according the above preamble, wherein it is possible to temporarily position a solid energy emitting source in a reproducible manner at different locations within the inflated chamber, such that subsequent identical radiation treatment sessions can be performed, whereas the comfort of the patient is maxim and an out hospitalization treatment is possible.

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: 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 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 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 generating 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; a getter material located in a high-voltage electric field free region in said vacuum tube; wherein said vacuum tube being at least partly transparent to X-ray radiation emitted by said anode. It is necessary to locate the getter material inside the vacuum tube at a location, where no electric field between the anode and cathode exits.

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: 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: Template-assembly for effecting radiation treatment within an animal body by implanting one or more hollow needles at a desired location within said animal body comprising a template frame being mountable to a stepping device of a radiation treatment device, said template frame having a needle guiding component having a plurality of guiding apertures for guiding said one or more hollow implant needles towards said desired location within said animal body.

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 device for effecting radiation treatment of benign or malign prostate hyperplasia in a prostate of a human male having a bladder with a base and a penis with an urethra having an urethral wall extending from the base of the bladder through the prostate, said device comprising: a catheter probe having an elongated body with a circumferential surface, a distal end and a proximal end, which catheter probe is to be inserted with its proximal end within the urethra towards the prostate; said elongated body of said catheter probe having a longitudinal bore extending from said distal end towards at least one outlet opening present in said circumferential surface near said proximal end; a catheter tube having a distal end and a proximal sharp end, which catheter tube is to be inserted with its proximal sharp end through said longitudinal bore of said elongated body, said outlet opening and through said urethral wall towards at least one desired location within the prostate to be treated; an

Abstract: The invention relates to a real time radiation treatment planning system for use in effecting radiation therapy of a pre-selected anatomical portion of an animal body according to the preamble of claim 1.

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: 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for effecting radiation therapy in an animal body comprising a housing provided with at least one outlet channel, a guide tube connected at one end with said outlet channel and wherein the other end of said guide tube is positionable in said 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 transport means for moving said transport wire and said radiation emitting source via said outlet channel through said guide tube to and from said site of the intended radiation therapy in said body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for inserting a needle in an animal body for effecting radiation therapy in said body, comprising a template for positioning the needles to be inserted, needle drive means for drive a needle through said template towards a desired location in the body, and real-time imaging means for creating and presenting an image of the desired location and the position of said needle during the insertion of said needle. Due to the fact that the bevelled tip of a hollow needle cause the needle to diverge away from the “line of insertion or movement” and away from the actual desired position in the animal body adversely affecting the dosimetry quality of the implanted seeds a more accurate insertion of the needle is required. According to the invention the device is provided with adjusting means for adjusting a movement of said needle towards said desired location during insertion.

Abstract: An irradiation apparatus has at least one exchangeable radiation source that may be moved by means of a transport cable between at least one rest position and at least one irradiation position and a long-distance transport container for radiation sources to be exchanged. In order to reduce the danger of control errors, the rest position is located inside the long-distance transport container and the transport container forms or may form an integral part of the irradiation apparatus. For that purpose, interface elements are provided on the transport container and other parts of the irradiation apparatus. By winding and unwinding the transport cable on and from a feeding drum with a cable-receiving groove at least partially covered by a pressing strip, particularly thin transport cables may be used, so that the width of the pressing strip substantially corresponds to the width of the cable-receiving groove.