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.

A brachytherapy system includes a brachytherapy applicator. The brachytherapy applicator includes an applicator tube and a radiation source configured to deliver radiation to a tumor. At least a portion of the applicator tube is configured to conform to at least a portion of a patient's anatomy. At least one ultrasound element or probe is coupled to or embedded with the applicator tube.

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.

A method for brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity of a breast including, positioning a distal end of a brachytherapy device within the cavity, expanding an expandable surface portion located between proximal and distal ends of the device within the cavity, the source lumen tubes defining a curved configuration within the cavity; and positioning a source of radiation sequentially within one or more source lumens of the source lumen tubes according to a brachytherapy treatment plan. The device includes an inner tube, and a plurality of source lumen tubes located around the inner tube and including distal ends secured together with the inner tube at the distal end disposed within the body cavity, the source lumen tubes comprising proximal portions sufficiently long to extend outside the breast.

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.

Radiation therapy devices, systems and methods are in general sheet-like form, are characterized by flexibility, and include at least one spacer that can be a balloon or bubble that assists in placement of radio therapeutic members at desired treatment locations along or around a limb, within an existing body cavity, or at a site that was formed under a patient's skin for treatment purposes. Sarcoma treatment is particularly conducive to treatment by these devices, systems and methods. One or more detectors, such as microdiodes, are accommodated when desired on the device, and a hyperthermia tube or the like is also includable that delivers hyperthermia treatment for the target treatment site or sites. Data collected by the detector allows the medical professional to monitor radiation treatment and, when desired, interaction between hyperthermia treatment and radiation delivery by the radiation treatment member.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a present embodiment includes: an ultrasonic probe attached to a puncture adaptor including puncture holes; and a processing circuitry configured to (A) set a target site of puncturing within an object, the target site of puncturing being specified in an ultrasonic image based on data detected by the ultrasonic probe, (B) identify a puncture hole out of the puncture holes, the puncture hole being at a position corresponding to a position of the target site of puncturing, (C) generate projection information regarding the identified puncture hole, and (D) control a projection apparatus that optically projects information to control the projection information to be projected onto the puncture adaptor.

Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to methods of forming an applicator body of an applicator for insertion into an anatomical cavity of a patient for delivering a treatment to the patient. In some instances, the method may include receiving a first three-dimensional image of the anatomical cavity, which was generated while the anatomical cavity contained an expandable container adjacent a tissue region of the patient, and while the expandable container was filled with fluid such that the container was expanded to substantially conform to the shape of at least a portion of the tissue region. The method also may include isolating, from the first three-dimensional image, a first sub-image corresponding to an image of the filled expanded container. The method further may include using the first sub-image as a design template for forming the applicator body for use with the patient.

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).

Described here are brachytherapy applicators that comprise a modular support matrix. The modular support matrix may define the arrangement of radiation source lumens within the brachytherapy applicator. The modular support matrix can be adjusted to position the radiation sources to obtain a certain dose and dose profile. A series of modular support matrices may be operably connected according to patient anatomy or dosing requirements. Systems and methods for using such modular brachytherapy applicators are also described.