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.

A brachytherapy needle guidance device is a device that facilitates the placement of a brachytherapy needle into a treatment region in tissue. This tissue may a breast tissue and the brachytherapy needle may be a fiducial needle. The brachytherapy needle guidance device may have an anchoring feature that anchors the brachytherapy needle guidance device into the tissue once it is properly positioned. The brachytherapy needle guidance device is used by software for treatment planning.

A replaceable cartridge can be used in a system for providing a radiation source for brachytherapy. The cartridge configured to be received into a base defining a receptacle. The cartridge can comprise a radiation source. A shield can be configured to receive the radiation source. A guidewire can be coupled to the radiation source. At least one motor can be configured to move the guidewire to thereby adjust the position of the radiation source.

A brachytherapy needle guidance device is a device that facilitates the placement of a brachytherapy needle into a treatment region in tissue. This tissue may a breast tissue and the brachytherapy needle may be a fiducial needle. The brachytherapy needle guidance device may have an anchoring feature that anchors the brachytherapy needle guidance device into the tissue once it is properly positioned. The brachytherapy needle guidance device is used by software for treatment planning.

A portable device for insertion of radioactive seeds in percutaneous interstitial brachytherapy applications is described. The device includes: an elongated main body in form of a handpiece; a shielded container of radioactive seeds, received within the main body and having a rotating drum suitable, in use, to release one or more radioactive seeds from the container; means for driving the rotating drum, activatable by an operator and based on lever mechanisms and gears; and means for introducing one or more radioactive seeds in a body site of interest, comprising a substantially wire-shaped pusher. The pusher urges the radioactive seed(s) released from the rotating drum through a cannula unit.

A transparent loading apparatus (also referred to herein as a “loader”) may partially or entirely comprise transparent material that allows light to pass through the loader and provides the viewer (whether manual or automated) a view of a radioactive seed, a seed carrier, a loading needle, etc. within the loader. In some embodiments, carrier material (e.g., collagen and/or other biocompatible material) and radioactive seeds (e.g., including a metal shielding and radioactive isotope) may transmit light to different degrees. For example, certain carriers, such as collagen carriers, may be translucent, while seeds may be opaque (or mostly opaque) to light. The systems discussed herein allow a viewer to detect location of a seed within a loader, and even within a carrier, because of these different light transmissivity characteristics.

A modular applicator for enabling a brachytherapy treatment comprising a central element and one or more of peripheral elements, wherein the central element is adapted with a fixation mechanism having a core for affixing the said peripheral elements thereto, wherein the fixation mechanism prevents a rotational displacement of the peripheral elements attached to the core of the fixation element with respect to the central element.

A brachytherapy template adaptor for performing brachytherapy procedures using needles smaller in diameter than the template is designed to accommodate. Additionally, a kit for adapting a brachytherapy template is provided.

Magnetic resonance (“MR”) visible markers for use in MR-guided placement of brachytherapy seeds, and for use in other MR-guided interventional procedures, are described. The MR-visible markers generally include a tube in which an absorbent thread assembly is disposed. The tube is made fluid-tight by sealing it at both ends with suitable end plugs. The absorbent thread assembly is soaked in a suitable MR-visible fluid.

The present invention relates to an applicator device (10; 10; 10″) for interventional radiotherapy treatments (brachytherapy), perineal intervention and/or diagnostic procedures on a patient, comprising a substantially plate-like and on the whole T-shaped main body (1; 1′; 1″), which main body (1; 1′; 1″) comprises two peripheral portions (19) having a profile with curved, preferably concave, route, each one intended to abut on a patient's leg.