Bladder Brachytherapy Applicator

An intracavitary bladder brachytherapy applicator to enable precise control over bladder geometry for optimal radiotherapy delivery

Background

Brachytherapy is an alternative or complementary radiotherapy technique to external radiation that involves the placement of a radioactive source in close contact with the tumour. It is considered a standard of care for multiple pelvic cancers including cervical, prostate, and uterine, and has the potential to better spare healthy surrounding tissues. There are also several potential advantages for the use of brachytherapy in bladder cancers such as intensification to the primary lesion, dose sparing of the non‑involved bladder and other organs at risk, reduction of scatter dose to lymphatic tissue, and as an alternative route for bladder radiotherapy palliation. Interstitial brachytherapy for bladder cancer can be done but is a highly specialized and resource-intensive technique limited to centres of excellence in the Netherlands as it requires implantation of interstitial catheters inside the bladder wall through laparoscopic and cystoscopic guidance. Consequently there is a need for a less complex and more easily adoptable brachytherapy technique for bladder cancers.

Technology Overview

This bladder brachytherapy applicator is a novel fully intracavitary applicator resembling a 3‑way Foley catheter, with a single interior channel reserved for the radioactive source. Of the remaining two ports, one is used to inflate/deflate a balloon asymmetrically while the other port is used to drain urine or fluids located in the bladder. The novel design allows for precise control over the size and dimensions of the balloon to allow for optimal displacement of non‑target tissue away from the radiation source while allowing for placement of the radiation source near the cancerous tissue.

Benefits

A simple, minimally invasive, brachytherapy applicator that allows precise and consistent asymmetric expansion of the bladder geometry. This results in important dose sparing of the non‑involved bladder walls and focal radiation treatment to the cancerous tissue thanks to brachytherapy’s unmatched physical properties (such as a steep dose fall‑off and no entrance dose). Moreover, this brachytherapy technique does not involve cutting or suturing and its placement can be performed with no need for general anesthesia. Ultimately, this device may allow delivery of bladder brachytherapy in a less resource‑intensive and more patient‑friendly way, potentially resulting in a universal treatment for patients with bladder cancer.

Applications

• Intracavitary bladder cancer brachytherapy:
  • As a boost to external radiotherapy
  • Monotherapy in early cancers
  • To Palliate symptoms (bleeding for example)
• Intracavitary esophageal and stomach cancer brachytherapy.

Opportunity

Seeking a licensee/development partner.

Patents

• US Provisional Application No. 63/458,794

Seeking

• Development partner
• Licensing
• Commercial partner

IP Status

• Patent application submitted
  
  

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