The present application relates to a catheter apparatus including a tubular member, and four or more fluid-flow pipe members, each having a proximal end and a distal end, and each being disposed around a periphery of the tubular member along an axial direction thereof. Each of the four or more fluid-flow pipe members is provided with an independent positioning member at the distal end thereof, and the number of positioning members is four or more. A brachytherapy system and a method of reducing area of radiation exposure of normal tissue in a brachytherapy treatment using the catheter apparatus are also disclosed.

A radioactive biodegradable adhesive system can include a first component and a second component. The second component can include a radioactive material. The first component and the second component are configured to polymerize to form a radioactive bolus. A method for treating a patient in need of brachytherapy can include providing the radioactive biodegradable adhesive system. The first component and the second component can be applied to a predetermined location to form the radioactive bolus at the predetermined location.

Aspects of the present disclosure disclose a system and method for delivering for administering radiation to a patient. The method may include associating the patient with one of a plurality of coded dosage zones wherein each of the plurality of coded dosage zones corresponds to one or more values of a physical characteristic. The method may further include correlating the one of the plurality of coded dosage zones to a dose of radiation and then applying the dose of radiation to the patient.

An ultrasound calibration phantom comprises a portion including at least one fiducial structure having a selected geometric arrangement; a portion adapted for mechanical coupling of the ultrasound calibration phantom to a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) stepper; and a guide for at least one surgical instrument, the guide being mechanically coupled to the fiducial structure and/or to the TRUS stepper at a selected pose relative to the fiducial structure. A calibration method uses the calibration phantom and provides automatic, intraoperative calibration of ultrasound imaging systems. The invention is useful in ultrasound-guided clinical procedures.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a modular applicator for enabling a brachytherapy treatment, comprising a central core and an outer sleeve, wherein the central core is adapted with a fixation mechanism for affixing the outer sleeve to the central core, wherein the outer sleeve is manufactured from a substantially rigid or shapeable material.

A steerable surgical needle (10) includes an elongated needle shaft (12), a beveled tip portion (14), and a flexural element (16) that connects the needle shaft (12) with the tip portion (14) and permits the tip portion to deflect relative to the needle shaft. A method for steering the surgical needle (10) through tissue includes the steps of advancing the needle in the body tissue to induce tip flexure which causes the needle to follow a curved trajectory, and rotating the needle about its longitudinal axis in place, without advancement, to remove the tip flexure.

A surgical instrument navigation system is provided that visually simulates a virtual volumetric scene of a body cavity of a patient from a point of view of a surgical instrument residing in the cavity of the patient, wherein the surgical instrument, as provided, may be a steerable surgical catheter with a biopsy device and/or a surgical catheter with a side-exiting medical instrument, among others. Additionally, systems, methods and devices are provided for forming a respiratory-gated point cloud of a patient's respiratory system and for placing a localization element in an organ of a patient.

A catheter treatment apparatus comprises an elongate tubular member and an expandable support. The expandable support comprises a radioactive substance to treat cancerous tissue and is configured to expand from a narrow profile for insertion to a wide profile to engage and treat tissue remaining after resection. The expandable support can be sized to fit within a volume of removed tissue to place the radioactive substance in proximity to the capsule and remaining tissue, to spare the capsule and proximate nerves and vessels to treat tissue in proximity to the capsule. The elongate tubular member may comprise a channel such as a lumen to pass a bodily fluid such as urine when the expandable support engages the tissue to treat the patient for a plurality of days. The treatment apparatus can be used to resect and diagnose tissue concurrently. Based on the diagnosis, targeted segmental treatment may be given.

Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed directly in the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader. The accuracy of radiation placement is monitored during the cancer treatment. The location plan for the radioactive material may be adjusted during the cancer treatment based on real-time analysis of the location and dosage of radiation measured in, at and around the target tissue of the affected site.

A device may include a collimator positioned between a radiation source of a scanner and a bore of the scanner. The bore may include a detecting region configured to accommodate a subject. The collimator may be configured to prevent at least one portion of radiation rays emitted from the radiation source from being incident on the subject. The device may further include a first filter and a second filter. The first filter may be positioned between the radiation source and the collimator. The second filter may be positioned between the collimator and the bore. The first filter and the second filter may be configured to adjust a distribution of radiation impinging upon the subject.