Kenneth J Weeks

US Patent:

63224909, Nov 27, 2001

Filed:

Feb 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/514143

Inventors:

Richard S. Stack - Chapel Hill NC
Kenneth J. Weeks - Chapel Hill NC

Assignee:

Duke University - Durham NC

International Classification:

A61N 500

US Classification:

600 3

Abstract:

Methods and apparatuses for irradiating stent structures that are selectively collapsible or reducible along their longitudinal axis to reduce the total length thereof are described. Providing a collapsible stent structure reduces the effective surface area which must be exposed to the radiation beam, thereby reducing the time required for the irradiation process. Stent structures suitable for irradiation using the method and apparatus are also described.

US Patent:

50123572, Apr 30, 1991

Filed:

Mar 20, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/325604

Inventors:

Sonja L. Schoeppel - Whitmore Lake MI
Kenneth J. Weeks - Chapel Hill NC
Kent R. Pruss - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

A61N 510

US Classification:

378 65

Abstract:

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 colpostats and tandem are formed of a material which is transparent to an imaging modality, such as CT scanning. Imaging-transparent source carriers containing dummy, or test, sources are placed in the colpostats. After the location of the colpostats, for example, has been determined, by imaging, the dummy source carriers are removed therefrom and replaced with selected source carriers containing actual radiation sources. The radiation source carriers further contain shielding which controls the strength and radiation pattern of the emitted radiation, all of which may be selected in response to the image. In a preferred embodiment, the dummy source carriers are provided with markings thereon which are opaque to imaging, so that the position and orientation of the source carriers with respect to the tissue region to be irradiated can be determined from the images. In an additional preferred embodiment wherein two colpostats are employed, certain ones of the source carriers are configured to be employed only with certain ones of the colpostats and/or visual markers are provided on the source carriers and the colpostats to avoid inadvertent misplacement.

US Patent:

55625940, Oct 8, 1996

Filed:

Jun 10, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/257884

Inventors:

Kenneth J. Weeks - Chapel Hill NC

Assignee:

Duke University - Durham NC

International Classification:

A61N 500

US Classification:

600 3

Abstract:

This invention provides a novel applicator system for brachytherapy of the uterine cervix which overcomes the problems of the prior art. In particular, this invention provides a Fletcher-like system having an attenuation effect functionally similar to previous applicators, but produced in a smaller sized applicator by a novel arrangement of high and low density metals. The applicator system according to the present invention is constructed so that radiation from the source must transit high density material obliquely to reach the protected tissue, traversing a greater distance in the high density material of the applicator system, with resultant greater attenuation of the radiation for a given amount of high density material. Thus, a far lesser radial extent of highly attenuating material is needed to attain the desired attenuation, and the size of the applicator can be far smaller.