Injectable hydrogel spacer kit to shield healthy tissue in
This technology is a specialized hydrogel designed specifically for brachytherapy — a form of radiation treatment where radioactive sources are placed directly inside the body near a tumor. The hydrogel is injected in liquid form into a flexible container already positioned in a body cavity, then expands and solidifies to push surrounding healthy tissues and organs away from the radiation source, reducing collateral damage. Once treatment is complete, the hydrogel's stiffness can be tuned down and the entire system removed. The innovation combines a novel material chemistry (thiol-Michael addition crosslinking) with a purpose-built applicator system and delivery kit.
What you could build
A single-use kit — hydrogel precursor cartridges, a flexible container balloon, and a brachytherapy applicator — sold to radiation oncology departments at cancer centers and academic medical centers. The primary buyer would be hospital systems and outpatient radiation oncology practices performing gynecologic, rectal, or other intracavitary brachytherapy procedures.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based cancer treatment centers, academic medical centers such as UVA Health or VCU Health, and medical device distributors serving radiation oncology suites would be plausible partners or licensees.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Timothy Norman SHOWALTER, Timothy E. LONG, Nicholas G. MOON
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed January 18, 2022
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20220249366A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.