Described embodiments include an apparatus (20, 21), which includes a support (22), including an outer surface (24) and configured for insertion into a body of a subject. The apparatus further includes multiple atoms (26) of a radionuclide, which radioactively decays to produce a daughter radionuclide, coupled to the outer surface, and a layer (28, 33) of a polymer, which is permeable to the daughter radionuclide, that covers the atoms. Other embodiments are also described.

A dual double balloon catheter includes a catheter having a proximal end portion, a central portion and a distal end portion, and a secondary treatment balloon for a catheter. The catheter includes a plurality of lumens within the catheter extending from the proximal end portion, a plurality of inflatable balloons positioned in the central portion and a secondary treatment balloon communicatively associated with the distal end portion of the catheter, and the balloons and the secondary treatment balloon being communicatively connected with a corresponding one of the plurality of lumens to selectively inflate/deflate the corresponding inflatable balloon or to receive a radioactive dose or a therapeutic agent for a treatment.

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.

The invention relates to the radiation treatment of colorectal cancerous tissue in the rectum of a human or animal subject. In particular the invention relates to an endorectal probe device for effecting radiation treatment of colorectal cancerous tissue in the rectum of a human or animal subject. Furthermore the invention relates to an afterloading apparatus for effecting radiation treatment of colorectal cancerous tissue in the rectum of a human or animal subject using an endorectal probe device according to the invention. Moreover the invention relates to a method for effecting radiation treatment of colorectal cancerous tissue in the rectum of a human or animal subject, wherein the method implements the endorectal probe device according to the invention.

A multi-purpose balloon intra-cavity catheter includes a catheter having a proximal end portion, a central portion and a non-branching distal end portion, a plurality of lumens associated with the catheter extending from the proximal end portion, and a plurality of inflatable balloons positioned in the central portion and/or the non-branching distal end portion. Each of the plurality of inflatable balloons is communicatively associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of lumens, the plurality of inflatable balloons being selectively inflated or deflated to position and stabilize the catheter in a cavity for delivery of a medical treatment. The catheter can include an extraction opening associated with a lumen to remove fluids and materials from the cavity, and a connector associated with a corresponding lumen adapted to selectively receive one or more of a fluid medium or a radioactive isotope provided to a corresponding lumen for delivery of the medical treatment.

A surgical implant includes a biocompatible member configured for securement to an underlying target surgical site and a radiation source integrated into or onto the biocompatible member. The surgical implant may be one of a clip, pin, or coil and the radiation source includes at least one brachytherapy capsule, or other radioactive material incorporated therein or provided thereon. The radioactive material provides a dose of radiation to the target surgical site. The surgical implant may also be formed from titanium, stainless steel or polymers. A surgical applier is provided for allowing a surgeon to apply the implant to a patient's tissue.

The invention relates to the radiation treatment of colorectal cancerous tissue in the rectum of a human or animal subject. In particular the invention relates to an endorectal probe device for effecting radiation treatment of colorectal cancerous tissue in the rectum of a human or animal subject. Furthermore the invention relates to an afterloading apparatus for effecting radiation treatment of colorectal cancerous tissue in the rectum of a human or animal subject using an endorectal probe device according to the invention. Moreover the invention relates to a method for effecting radiation treatment of colorectal cancerous tissue in the rectum of a human or animal subject, wherein the method implements the endorectal probe device according to the invention.

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.

The present invention discloses an intracavitary radiotherapy apparatus, which is used for carrying radioactive particles or particle strips, comprising: a body that is formed by winding metal wires, and is a wire mesh having a hollow cavity penetrating through same in the forward and backward directions; and a radioactive particle groove that is provided on the outer surface of the body, is a cylindrical wire mesh having a hollow cavity penetrating through same in the forward and backward directions, and is used for accommodating the radioactive particles or particle strips. The radioactive particle groove comprises a plurality of groove bodies arranged in parallel, and the spacing between two adjacent groove bodies is less than the length of the radioactive particles or particle strips.

A brachytherapy treatment planning system includes a processor that: receives a planning image corresponding to at least a portion of a prostate; generates a brachytherapy treatment plan comprising, for each of a plurality of brachytherapy seeds or catheters, a corresponding brachytherapy seed or catheter position in the planning image such that the plurality of brachytherapy seed or catheter positions in the planning image together satisfy a desired radioactive dose objective in the prostate; receives a pre-treatment image corresponding to the at least a portion of a prostate; and maps each brachytherapy seed or catheter position in the planning image to a corresponding position in the pre-treatment image by performing a registration between the planning image and the pre-treatment image.