Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.

An apparatus for providing at least one treatment to at least one tissue having a first structural arrangement configured to expand a first portion at a distal end of the apparatus, a second structural arrangement configured to expand a second portion at the distal end and at least one lumen associated with at least one of the first structural arrangement and/or the second structural arrangement. The first structural arrangement and/or the second structural arrangement can be configured to position the at least one lumen at a particular position with respect to the tissue. A tip is configured to aid in the insertion of the apparatus into the tissue(s).

The disclosure describes devices and methods for asymmetrical irradiation at a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or cancer. One device includes a lumen which is off-set or off-settable from a longitudinal axis to increase the intensity of radiation received from a radiation source by a first tissue portion surrounding the body cavity and to reduce or minimize radiation received by a second tissue portion (e.g. healthy tissue) surrounding the body cavity.

According to one general aspect, there is a multi-balloon catheter for medical applications that includes a multi-balloon inflator that inflates multiple balloons on a single catheter, an extraction point used to remove human fluids from the human body, and a connecting point that allows a syringe or a machine to insert air or any other liquid, such as a liquid saline solution, for inflation of a corresponding balloon of the multiple balloons or insert radioactive isotopes into the multi-balloon inflator.

Aspects herein are directed to an anchorable brachytherapy device configured to be permanently implanted in a tumor bed at the time of operative removal of the tumor. In example aspects, the brachytherapy device may comprise a plurality of hollow tubes that form a spherical or ellipsoid shape. Protrusions or grooves may be formed on an outer surface of the tubes to help anchor the brachytherapy device in the tumor bed. Radioactive seeds or strands may be positioned within the tube channels to provide radiation to the tumor bed.

A system for delivery of radiation to a target portion of a native tissue is provided. The system includes a catheter having a catheter body with a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a longitudinally oriented lumen therebetween. The system further includes an expansion device disposed about at least a portion of the catheter body and having an expanded configuration and a non-expanded configuration. The system also includes a plurality of tubes disposed about at least a portion of the expansion device. Each of the plurality of tubes is configured to selectively guide exposure of a radiation source to the target portion of the native tissue.

Devices and methods for brachytherapy treatment are disclosed. One aspect is a poly(methyl methacrylate) apparatus for brachytherapy treatment at the vaginal apex. Another aspect is a poly(methyl methacrylate) apparatus for brachytherapy treatment in the distal two-thirds of the vagina. Another aspect is a poly(methyl methacrylate) apparatus for brachytherapy treatment of cancers that are offset from the vaginal apex. Other aspects include methods for guiding needles for treatment of cancers at the vaginal apex, in the distal two-thirds of the vagina, and that are offset from the vaginal apex.

An apparatus for providing at least one treatment to at least one tissue having a first structural arrangement configured to expand a first portion at a distal end of the apparatus, a second structural arrangement configured to expand a second portion at the distal end and at least one lumen associated with at least one of the first structural arrangement and/or the second structural arrangement. The first structural arrangement and/or the second structural arrangement can be configured to position the at least one lumen at a particular position with respect to the tissue. A tip is configured to aid in the insertion of the apparatus into the tissue(s).

A system includes a device associated with an endoscopy guided procedure including a housing defining a housing channel with at least a portion of the housing configured for deployment within a cavity. The device further includes a plurality of bodies defining respective channels defined within the housing. The housing defines a longitudinal axis, and the plurality of channels extends throughout the housing around the longitudinal axis. Each of the plurality of channels accommodates selective activation of radiation emittance from a predetermined different position along the housing via one or more radiation elements such that the plurality of channels collectively provides a predetermined spatial distribution of a radiation treatment to a target area along the cavity.

Systems and methods are provided for delivering therapy using an applicator guide and a plurality of catheters for delivering, e.g., radiation, drug, RF, laser or ultrasound therapy. The applicator guide includes a through hole channels through which the catheters may be introduced. The through hole channels may be sized such that the plurality of catheters may freely and independently traverse the through hole channels. By positioning the applicator guide over a target area of a patient's skin, the catheters are free to make contact with the patient's skin and conform to any contours of the patient's skin. The catheters may be microneedles that may be locked in the conformed orientation, such that the microneedles may non-invasively penetrate the patient's skin to deliver the therapy transdermally. The applicator guide may be coupled to an afterloader, drug reservoir, pulse generator, and/or power generator controlled by a healthcare provider via a computing device.