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  Apparatuses and methods for percutaneously implanting objects in patientsUSPTO Application #: 20060276680Title: Apparatuses and methods for percutaneously implanting objects in patients Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for percutaneously implanting objects, such as radioactive seeds or markers, in patients. In one embodiment, a device for percutaneously implanting an object in a patient includes a handle, a cannula projecting outwardly from the handle, and an actuator movably disposed relative to the handle. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cannula can be configured to releasably hold the object and percutaneously penetrate the patient. In another aspect of this embodiment, the actuator can be operably connected to the cannula and operable to move the cannula relative to the handle and release the object within the patient. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the cannula can include a tip portion having a restriction configured to releasably hold the object for implantation in the patient. (end of abstract)
Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea - Seattle, WA, US Inventors: Keith Seiler, Eric Hadford Related Keywords: actuator, implantation, radioactive USPTO Applicaton #: 20060276680 - Class: 600007000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Radioactive Substance Applied To Body For Therapy, Radioactive Substance Placed Within Body (e.g., Inhaled, Implanted, Injected, Etc.), Injectors/holders For Seeds Or Implants (e.g., Capsules) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060276680. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The following disclosure relates generally to medical devices for percutaneously implanting markers or other small objects in patients. BACKGROUND [0002] A number of existing medical treatments involve percutaneously inserting or implanting objects in a patient. One such treatment is brachytherapy for prostate cancer. In brachytherapy, radioactive sources or "seeds" are implanted relative to a tumor to provide a high dose of radiation to the tumor but not the surrounding healthy tissue. Other oncological treatments involve percutaneously implanting radio-opaque markers or signal-generating markers adjacent to the tumor. The markers identify the location of the tumor so that a high dose of radiation from a linear accelerator or other external source can be focused directly at the tumor. [0003] FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of a two-piece introducer 100 of the prior art. Referring first to FIG. 1A, the introducer 100 includes a needle 102 and a stylet 104 slidably disposed within the needle 102. The stylet 104 includes a first handle 101 and a blunt distal end 106. The needle 102 includes a second handle 103 and a cannula 108 extending through the second handle 103. The cannula 108 is configured to hold radioactive seeds 110 or other objects. The cannula 108 has a distal tip 105 configured to percutaneously penetrate the patient for implantation of the seeds 110 in the patient. Inert spacers 111 can be used to provide the desired spacing between the seeds 110 when the seeds 110 are implanted in the patient. The seeds 110 and spacers 111 are retained in the cannula 108 by a plug 112 made from bone wax or other suitable bio-compatible materials. [0004] To implant the seeds 110 at a target location in a patient (not shown) in the desired pattern as loaded in the cannula 108, an operator (also not shown) pushes the cannula 108 in a first direction 120 to insert the tip 105 into the patient. The operator then pushes the second handle 103 further in the first direction 120 to position the Up 105 at the desired depth within the patient where the seeds 110 are to be released. Throughout this motion, the operator moves the needle 102 and the stylet 104 together as a unit. At the desired depth, the operator grasps the first handle 101 with one hand and the second handle 103 with the other hand and, while holding the first handle 101 stationary, slides the second handle 103 back in a second direction 122 toward the first handle 101. As shown in FIG. 1B, this movement causes the cannula 108 to pull back from the plug 112, the seeds 110, and the spacers 111 to implant them in the patient. [0005] One shortcoming of the prior art introducer 100 is that the two-handed movement required to properly release the seeds 110 at the target location and in the desired pattern may be somewhat awkward and nonintuitive. As a result, the operator is prone to err and may inadvertently misplace the seeds 110. For example, to properly release the seeds 110, the operator must hold the first handle 101 stationary while sliding the second handle 103 back in the second direction 122 toward the first handle 101. If, instead, the operator accidentally pushes the first handle 101 toward the second handle 103, then the stylet 104 may push the seeds 110 out of the cannula 108 in the first direction 120. This movement could cause the seeds 110 and the spacers 111 to collide in a "train wreck" just beyond the tip 105 of the cannula 108. Either way, the seeds will not be positioned accurately relative to the target location or in the desired pattern. A further shortcoming of the prior art introducer 100 is that the bone wax used for the plug 112 in brachytherapy applications may melt prematurely allowing the seeds 110 to migrate out of the cannula 108 before reaching the desired target location. As such, conventional introducers for brachytherapy applications are custom loaded at the treatment facility and are not suitable for being transported in warm environments. SUMMARY [0006] The invention is directed to apparatuses and methods for implanting markers, radioactive seeds or other small objects in patients. In one aspect, a device for percutaneously implanting an object in a patent includes a handle, a cannula projecting outwardly relative to the handle, and an actuator operably connected to the cannula and movably disposed relative to the handle. The cannula can have a proximal portion positioned proximate to the handle and a distal portion configured to releasably hold the object and percutaneously penetrate the patient by movement of the handle. The actuator can be operable to slide the cannula relative to the handle and release the object within the patient. [0007] In another aspect, the device can further include a stylet extending at least partially within the cannula and being fixedly positioned with respect to the handle. [0008] Operating the actuator to slide the cannula relative to the handle causes the cannula to slide relative to the stationary stylet and release the object within the patient. [0009] In a further aspect, the cannula can include a tip portion having a restriction configured to releasably hold the object for implantation in the patient, and the actuator can be selectively movable from a first position to a second position. When the actuator is in the first position, the tip portion of the cannula can at least generally retain the object. When the actuator is in the second position, the cannula can be drawn back from the object to overcome the restriction and release the object within the patient. [0010] In yet another aspect, a method for percutaneously implanting an object in a patient includes moving a handle to percutaneously insert a cannula projecting from the handle within the patient, and moving the cannula relative to the handle to release the object within the patient. Moving the cannula relative to the handle can include sliding the cannula with respect to a stationary stylet extending coaxially through at least a portion of the cannula. Moving the handle to percutaneously insert the cannula can include driving the handle forward with a hand of an operator. Further, moving the cannula relative to the handle to release the object within the patient can include manipulating an actuator with a digit of the hand of the operator to move the cannula aft relative to the handle while the handle remains stationary in the hand of the operator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of a two-piece introducer of the prior art. [0012] FIGS. 2A and 2B are hidden isometric views of an introducer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention with a distal portion of the introducer shown in cross-section. [0013] FIG. 3 is a cut-away isometric view of the introducer shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B in accordance with an embodiment of the invention with a portion of the introducer shown in cross-section. [0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged hidden side and bottom views, respectively, of a tip portion of a cannula in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. [0015] FIGS. 5A-C are enlarged cross-sectional views of the introducer shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrating operation of an actuator in accordance with embodiments of the invention. [0016] FIG. 6 is a hidden isometric view of an introducer in accordance with another embodiment of the invention with a distal portion of the introducer shown in cross-section. [0017] FIGS. 7 is a cross-sectional isometric view of an introducer having an external actuator in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0018] The following disclosure describes medical devices and methods for percutaneously implanting objects, such as radioactive seeds or markers, in patients. [0019] Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 2A-6B to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Certain well-known details often associated with such medical devices are not set forth in the following disclosure to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the various embodiments of the invention. Further, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that they can practice other embodiments of the invention without several of the details described below. [00 1] In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify identical or at least generally similar elements. To facilitate the discussion of any particular element, the most significant digit or digits of any reference number refer to the figure in which that element is first introduced. For example, element 210 is first introduced and discussed with reference to FIG. 2A. Continue reading... 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