1. Radiation shielding apparatus for use in conjunction with ionizing radiation therapy, comprising:
a flexible sheet-like structure including a radiation absorbent material for moderating x-ray or gamma radiation,
the sheet-like structure having the ability to be manually shaped to a desired size and configuration, and
the sheet-like structure being bio-compatible, for use inside a human patient.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is bio-absorbable.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is non-bio-absorbable.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is a hydrogel.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is hyaluron.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is a polymer.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is a collagen.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material is an elastomer.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material comprises a radiation attenuating filler in the sheet-like structure.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said radiation attenuating filler comprises a barium compound.
11. A method of delivering differentiated doses of ionizing radiation from a radiation source to adjacent regions of patient anatomy during brachytherapy, comprising:
placing between the radiation source and an area of patient anatomy within the patient’s tissue, a structure comprising generally a sheet of material including a radiation absorber for moderating x-ray or gamma radiation behind said structure; and
irradiating the patient’s tissue using the radiation source.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the structure is flexible.
13. The method of claim 12, including making an incision in the patient’s skin and adjacent tissue, and wherein the flexible structure is placed subcutaneously within the incision.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the radiation is applied from within a brachytherapy applicatorcomprising a balloon positioned within a surgical cavity from which brachytherapy will be applied, and the flexible structure is affixed to a portion of the balloon.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible structure is positioned within a surgical brachytherapy cavity and affixed directly to at least a portion the tissue surrounding said cavity.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible structure is retained in position within the patient’s tissue by suturing.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein said material is bio-absorbable.
18. A method of delivering differentiated doses of ionizing radiation to adjacent regions of patient anatomy during brachytherapy, comprising:
selecting a spacer device of desired thickness, the spacer device being a substantially flexible structure which is biocompatible,
placing the spacer device between the radiation source and an area of patient anatomy, within the patient’s tissue, and irradiating the patient’s tissue using the radiation source, with the spacer device holding said area of patient anatomy at a desired spacing away from the radiation source, such that radiation received by said area of patient anatomy is attenuated by increased distance from the source.
19. The method of claim 18, including making an incision in the patient’s skin and adjacent tissue, and wherein the spacer device is placed subcutaneously within the incision.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the radiation is applied from within a brachytherapy applicator comprising a balloon positioned within a surgical cavity from which the brachytherapy will be applied, the spacer device being positioned between the balloon and said area of patient anatomy.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein the spacer device is positioned within a surgical brachytherapy cavity and affixed directly to a region of tissue surrounding the cavity, said region of tissue being said area of patient anatomy.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the spacer device is affixed to said region of tissue by suturing.
23. A radiation attenuating device for use in conjunction with ionizing radiation therapy, comprising:
a set of flexible generally sheet-like spacer structures having a series of different thicknesses,
each of the set of spacer structures being biocompatible, for use inside a human patient.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the set of flexible generally sheet-like spacer structures includes spacer structures of varying length or width, as well as thickness.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each of the flexible generally sheet-like spacer structures has the ability to be manually shaped to a desired size and configuration.
26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the flexible generally sheet-like spacer structures are bio-absorbable.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for manufacturing a housing, the method comprising:
providing a hollow cylindrical liner formed of a thermoplastic polymer, said liner having an inner surface, an outer surface and a first open end;
providing a hollow head assembly, said head assembly comprising
a collar portion formed of a thermoplastic polymer, said collar portion including a connecting portion adapted to be joined to said liner at said first open end, and
a barrel portion formed of a fiber-reinforced polymer, said barrel portion being overmolded onto said collar portion so as to at least partially cover said outer side of said collar portion, said barrel portion including an opening on an end opposite said collar portion;
joining said connecting portion of said collar portion to said liner at said first open end; and
overwrapping said outer surface of said liner and an outer side of said head assembly with an overwrap layer comprising wound filaments and a polymeric resin.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said connecting portion of said collar portion is joined to said liner at said first open end by spin-welding.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said head assembly is made by
overmolding a preform formed of said fiber-reinforced polymer with said thermoplastic polymer to form a blank; and
removing material from said blank to form said head assembly.
4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps:
boring a hole through said overwrap layer and said collar portion; and
installing a side port in said hole.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said side port comprises a tubular body portion and a flange portion, and wherein said installing step further comprises:
providing a counter bore in an inner side of said collar to form a seat surrounding said hole; and
engaging said flange portion of said side port with said seat with said tubular body portion extending through said collar portion and said overwrap layer.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein an O-ring is captured between said flange portion and said seat.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said outer side of said head assembly includes an annular first bulge, said first bulge including a tapered side portion proximal to said opening in said barrel portion, and wherein said overwrap layer covers said tapered side portion of said first bulge.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein an annular slot is formed in an inner side of said barrel portion opposite said first bulge, said slot being adapted to receive a split ring for retaining an end plug within said barrel portion.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein an inner diameter of said head assembly proximal to said opening in said barrel portion is greater than an inner diameter of said liner.
10. The method according to claim 9 wherein an inner side of said head assembly includes an annular first bevel.
11. The method according to claim 7 wherein said outer side of said head assembly includes an annular second bulge, said second bulge being located intermediate said first bulge and said liner.
12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the liner is formed of an olefinic thermoplastic polymer or copolymer.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein no fibers or other reinforcing fillers are present in the liner.
14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said head assembly is made by a molding process in which a molten polymer used to form one of the barrel portion or the collar portion is injected into a mold containing the other of the barrel portion or the collar portion or a precursor thereof.