Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8079947 | Internal radiation therapy device An internal radiation therapy device including concentric inner and outer tubes with the inner tube being inflexible and an isotope tube extending into the inner tube and being filled with a radioisotope through an isotope tube or x-ray source and the outer flexible... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8033979 | Split-ring brachytherapy device and method for cervical brachytherapy treatment using a split-ring brachytherapy device Methods and devices are for providing the delivery of radioactive therapeutics to a cervix using a split ring applicator. The split ring applicator includes a central tandem and a plurality of adjustable split ring tubes that are adjustable laterally in relation to ... | 10/11/2011 |
| 7918778 | Gynecological brachytherapy applicator and system A vaginal brachytherapy applicator is versatile to different anatomies and more comfortable to the patient than prior applicators. An inflatable balloon on a shaft may be inelastic or elastic. In one embodiment the shaft is rotatable relative to the balloon for enab... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7914435 | Everting gynecological brachytherapy applicator and method An everting applicator for brachytherapy of body cavities such as the vagina has a flexible sleeve secured to a distal mandrel, both the sleeve and the mandrel having internal lumens. The flexible sleeve has a diverging opening at its distal end, preferably bell-sha... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7871365 | Gynecological instrument An apparatus is described for irradiating cervical cancer, comprising multiple source guide tubes with a coupling piece situated outside the patient that connects the tubes outside the patient. The source guide tubes are formed such that the portions of the tubes si... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7744521 | Customized gynecological brachytherapy applicator and method A customized gynecological brachytherapy applicator is formed by placing a molded balloon, which is secured to a handle, into a vaginal cavity and then filling the mold balloon with a settable liquid material. The material may be an expanding foam or any other form ... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7678040 | Customized gynecological brachytherapy applicator and method A customized gynecological brachytherapy applicator is formed by placing a molded balloon, which is secured to a handle, into a vaginal cavity and then filling the mold balloon with a settable liquid material. The material may be an expanding foam or any other form ... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7666130 | Split-ring brachytherapy device and method for cervical brachytherapy treatment using a split-ring brachytherapy device Methods and devices are for providing the delivery of radioactive therapeutics to a cervix using a split ring applicator. The split ring applicator includes a central tandem and a plurality of adjustable split ring tubes that are adjustable laterally in relation to ... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7651458 | Adaptive intracavitary brachytherapy applicator The invention is a novel adaptive CT-friendly brachytherapy applicator with remotely-controlled radial and longitudinal motion radioactive source lumen shields that can be manipulated by the radiation oncologist to optimize the dose distribution to the target and no... | 01/26/2010 |
| 7338430 | Gynecological brachytherapy applicator and system A vaginal brachytherapy applicator is versatile to different anatomies and more comfortable to the patient than prior applicators. An inflatable balloon on a shaft may be inelastic or elastic. In one embodiment the shaft is rotatable relative to the balloon for enab... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7311655 | Method for manufacturing radioactive brachytherapy source material, brachytherapy source material and encapsulated radioactive brachytherapy source 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 radio... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7122523 | Methods for inhibiting tumor cell proliferation The present invention provides methods, compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, by administering an effective amount of angiotensinogen, angiotensin I (AI), AI analogues, AI fragments and analogues thereof, angiotensin II ... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7070554 | Brachytherapy devices and methods of using them Brachytherapy devices are provided for delivering a substantially uniform dose rate of radiation to a treatment area at a predetermined treatment depth. The devices include a holder defining a cavity, and a radioactive material located within the cavity. The holder ... | 07/04/2006 |
| 6926657 | Device for loading radioactive seeds The present invention relates to a loader device, for dispensing implantation seeds from a seed magazine and, optionally, a spacer magazine. ... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6876712 | Flexible source wire for localized internal irradiation of tissue A flexible source wire is provided containing a radioactive source that is capable of maneuvering through a tortuous narrow passage to a treatment site within the body. This source wire includes a thin flexible housing tube, housing therein a flexible backbone wire,... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6866624 | Apparatus and method for treatment of malignant tumors The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously treating a tumor or cancerous growth with both hyperthermia and X-ray radiation using brachytherapy. The device includes a needle-like introducer serving as a microwave antenna. Microwaves are emitted from... | 03/15/2005 |
| 6712782 | Brachytherapy apparatus and methods A brachytherapy apparatus is composed of a tubular needle with forwardly protruding cutting edges at its tip, a holder supporting the needle and a driver for electromechanically causing the needle to undergo a continuous or oscillatory rotary motion around its axis ... | 03/30/2004 |
| 6699171 | Cervical applicator for high dose radiation brachytherapy A modified Fletcher-Suit tandem tube applicator includes a balloon which can be inflated to both positionally secure the applicator within the vaginal canal and to distend the confronting vaginal wall thereby increasing the distance of such tissue from th... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6641518 | Multicomponent vaginal cylinder system for low dose rate brachytherapy or gynecological cancers A multicomponent vaginal cylinder system composed of a tandem capable of housing one or more radiation sources, one or more removable ovoid cartridges, each cartridge capable of housing a radiation source, and a vaginal cylinder structure having correspon... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6390968 | Cervical applicator for high dose radiation brachytherapy A modified Fletcher-Suit tandem tube applicator includes a balloon which can be inflated to both positionally secure the applicator within the vaginal canal and to distend the confronting vaginal wall thereby increasing the distance of such tissue from th... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6361487 | Method and apparatus for brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease Methods and apparatus are provided for brachytherapy treatment of prostate disease. The apparatus comprises a housing, a plunger, a needle, and a lock. The plunger is rigidly affixed to the housing. The lock selectively restricts motion of the needle rela... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6312375 | Inflatable covering for tandem colpostat intracavitary implant An apparatus for use in optimizing radiation dose distributions to a rectum and a bladder of a patient during the treatment of malignancies of female genitalia is provided in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus includes a colpostat intrac... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6217503 | Apparatus and method to treat a disease process in a luminal structure An apparatus and a method to treat a disease process in a luminal structure. A dual-balloon catheter for treating a disease process in a luminal structure of a patient comprises an inner balloon, an outer balloon substantially concentric with and substant... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6010445 | Radioactive medical device and process An implantable medical device according to the systems and methods described herein may include a metal body or stent that does not contain significant quantities of iron or chromium and that is initially formed from a non-radioactive structural material.... | 01/04/2000 |
| 5947891 | Method and apparatus for homogeneously irradiating the vaginal mucosa with a linear source uterovaginal applicator A therapeutic instrument for irradiative treatment of the genital tract is provided comprising a tubular applicator, a separable vaginal retainer and an interlocking structure between the two. The tandem is adapted to receive a linear tube containing mult... | 09/07/1999 |
| 5295945 | Garment and method for positioning and securing a radioactive implant internally within the female genital organs The present invention provides a garment to be worn externally on the female person and a method for positioning and securing a radiotherapeutic appliance internally within the female genital organs during local radiation therapy. The garment provides at ... | 03/22/1994 |
| 5139473 | Apparatus and method for the remote handling of highly radioactive sources in the treatment of cancer Remote controlled afterloader apparatus and method positions high activity radioactive sources through a catheter within a human body for treatment of cancerous tissue. The afterloader includes an operating console and a remotely located computer controll... | 08/18/1992 |
| 5012357 | CT compatible intracavity radiation applicator with afterloading shielding A system for providing therapeutic radiation to a predetermined tissue region within a body cavity of a living being utilizes an applicator arrangement which may, in a specific embodiment, comprise a pair of colpostats in conjunction with a tandem. The co... | 04/30/1991 |
| 4998912 | Diverging gynecological template A diverging template (18) for radioactive therapy of cancer within an internal tumor volume by interstitial implants through the skin (78) comprises a proximal surface (34) for positioning adjacent the skin and a distal surface (36) opposite the proximal ... | 03/12/1991 |
| 4554909 | Vaginal applicator A therapeutic instrument, and method, for radiation treatment of patients with carcinoma of the cervix and uterus. An elongated uterovaginal tandem having a curved proximal end is inserted in the uterine cavity, and an intravaginal applicator having a bor... | 11/26/1985 |
| 4510924 | Brachytherapy devices and methods employing americium-241 Sources and methods for radiation therapy, particularly brachytherapy, employing americium-241 radioisotope. The physical properties of americium-241 (60 keV gamma emission and 433 year half-life) provide major advantages for radiotherapy, including simpl... | 04/16/1985 |
| 4434789 | Apparatus for treating carcinoma of the uterine cervix Disclosed is an apparatus for treating carcinoma of the uterine cervix by judiciously applying radioactive material immediately adjacent the uterine cervix for an extended period of time empirically determined by the radiologist. The novel apparatus compr... | 03/06/1984 |
| 4331131 | Method for treating carcinoma of the uterine cervix Disclosed is a method for treating carcinoma of the uterine cervix by judiciously applying radioactive material immediately adjacent the uterine cervix for an extended period of time empirically determined by the radiologist. The novel method comprises in... | 05/25/1982 |
| 4294264 | Cervix-to-rectum measuring device in a radiation applicator for use in the treatment of cervical cancer A cervix-to-rectum measuring device to be used in the treatment of cervical cancer which includes a handle and a probe pivotably connected to the handle for insertion in the rectum. The measuring device further includes means for coupling the handle to an... | 10/13/1981 |
| 4292960 | Apparatus and method for application of radioactive and microwave energy to the body Apparatus for applying radioactive and microwave energy to the walls of an internal body organ such as the uterus. An applicator having two ovoids and a tandem is positionable in the female vagina such that the ovoids are placed at the walls of the cervix... | 10/06/1981 |
| 4244357 | Method and apparatus for homogeneously irradiating the vaginal mucosa with a linear source uterovaginal applicator Cancer of the uterine cervix is treated with a combination of external beam radiation to the pelvis and a linear source uterovaginal applicator which utilizes the maximum distance available between the source and vaginal mucosa, thus achieving an improved... | 01/13/1981 |
| 3970073 | Positioning device for radiation treatment of cervical carcinoma A collapsible, toroidal shaped chamber having top and bottom outwardly extending flanges and an inlet tube to permit collapsing the toroid and filling the toroid. Ovoids containing radioactive material and held in place by tubes which extend down from the... | 07/20/1976 |
