A method of detecting migration of tumor cells is provided by implanting in a region of tumor cells one or more implants having a matrix material of a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix material and functionalized to bind tumor cells. Nanoparticles bound to the tumor cells that have migrated out of the region can be detected by various imaging modalities. The implant can be in the shape of a brachytherapy spacer or radiotherapy fiducial maker or can be a coating on a brachytherapy spacer or fiducial marker. A method of treating cancer is provided by implanting one or more brachytherapy spacers or fiducial markers including the matrix material and an anti-cancer therapeutic agent dispersed within the matrix material.

A locator for the placement of a fiducial support device for brachytherapy may be used to perform a brachytherapy treatment in which one or more radioactive seeds are implanted into a treatment region of a patient.

A brachytherapy device includes a bioabsorbable support and a plurality of microcapsules on the support. Each of the plurality of the microcapsules includes a plurality of microspheres and a bioabsorbable microcapsule wall that encloses the plurality of microspheres. The plurality of microspheres includes radiation-emitting microspheres comprising a radioactive material, radio-opaque microspheres comprising a radio-opaque material or a combination thereof.

A flexible or elastic brachytherapy strand that includes an imaging marker and/or a therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic agent such as a drug in a biocompatible carrier that can be delivered to a subject upon implantation into the subject through the bore of a brachytherapy implantation needle has been developed. Strands can be formed as chains or continuous arrays of seeds up to 50 centimeters or more, with or without spacer material, flaccid, rigid, or flexible.

Carriers for embodying radioactive seeds, as well as a device for loading and customizing brachytherapy carriers based on the principles of optimizing a more precise and predictable dosimetry, and adaptable to the geometric challenges of a tumor bed in a real-time setting. The present disclosure relates to a specialized loading device designed to enable a medical team to create a radionuclide carrier for each patient and tumor reliably, reproducibly and efficiently.

This disclosure provides design, material, manufacturing method, and use alternatives for medical devices. An example medical device includes a stent having a first strut. The first strut may include an inner surface and an outer surface. The medical device may also include a first attachment member coupled to the strut and a radioactive element. The radioactive element may be coupled to the attachment member.

The disclosure pertains to improvements in a gamma radiation source, typically containing low-density alloys or compounds or composites of iridium in mechanically deformable and compressible configurations, within a sealed encapsulation, and methods of manufacture thereof.

A flexible or elastic brachytherapy strand that includes an imaging marker and/or a therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic agent such as a drug in a biocompatible carrier that can be delivered to a subject upon implantation into the subject through the bore of a brachytherapy implantation needle has been developed. Strands can be formed as chains or continuous arrays of seeds up to 50 centimeters or more, with or without spacer material, flaccid, rigid, or flexible.

Disclosed is a spacer for radiotherapy that can be easily compressed into a reduced thickness, and has a high capacity to reconstitute itself from a compressed state back to its initial thickness after removal of external force. The spacer for radiotherapy is a flexible structure having front and back main faces and thickness therebetween, and composed of strands of biocompatible and biodegradable synthetic fibers, wherein the spacer consists of (a) a pair of main face portions opposing each other with a gap therebetween and respectively defining the main faces of the structure, and (b) a linker portion linking between the pair of main face portions, (c) wherein the main face portions comprise a knitted-fabric structure or a weave structure made of the strands, and (d) wherein the linker portion is composed as a collection of linker strands formed of the said strands and respectively extending in the thickness direction of the spacer and linking the pair of main face portions with each other.

Carriers for embodying radioactive seeds, as well as a device for loading and customizing brachytherapy carriers based on the principles of optimizing a more precise and predictable dosimetry, and adaptable to the geometric challenges of a tumor bed in a real-time setting. The present disclosure relates to a specialized loading device designed to enable a medical team to create a radionuclide carrier for each patient and tumor reliably, reproducibly and efficiently.