Theragenics Corporation

Michael R Moody

Jack C White

Richard A Brauckman

Glenn A Dill

Anthony D Coon

A catheter for the positioning of a radioactive material for therapeutic radiation treatment of the body is disclosed. The catheter includes a radioactive source positioned at the distal end thereof and is sufficiently flexible and strong to navigate in the body to the desired treatment location. The radioactive source may be provided to the catheter in a number of different ways. In one set of embodiments, the radioactive source is bonded to the inner or outer surface of the catheter body, a catheter attachment or a carrier positionable within the catheter body. In another set of embodiments, one of the catheter body, catheter attachment or carrier positionable within the catheter body includes a cavity within which the radioactive source is placed. In this set of embodiments, the radioactive source may be provided in a variety of different forms, depending upon the particular needs of the treatment method. The radioactive source may also be immobilized in a polymeric material such as an elastomer, gel, hydrogel, foam or other similar deformable material. Finally, the catheter body or carrier may include a removable portion which provides access to the cavity within which the radioactive source is housed.

Catheter attachment and catheter for brachytherapy

A dual lumen catheter system for the positioning of a radioactive material for therapeutic radiation treatment of the body is disclosed. The dual lumen catheter includes a guidewire lumen and a blind lumen provided for introduction of a radiation source wire. The dual lumen catheter provides the advantage that the radiation source wire does not contact body tissue thereby eliminating the need for sterilization of the wire for reuse. Also disclosed are a radiation source wire having a tapered distal end of the wire core such that radioactive material and other components of the source wire can be applied to the outer surface thereof without exceeding a predetermined maximum outside diameter. Also disclosed is a source train cask for use with the catheter system and radiation source wire of the invention. The source train cask permits convenient handling and feeding of the radiation source wire without exposure of the medical personnel to radiation.

Radioactive source wire and dual lumen catheter system for brachytherapy

Radiation delivery devices useful in brachytherapy which employ radioactive palladium-103 as the radiation source material are disclosed. Certain embodiments of the disclosed radiation delivery devices have the advantages that they can be fabricated with the desired specific activity, that the self-shielding effects of the devices are minimized, that the radioactive source material is bonded to a substrate in a manner which substantially prevents it from becoming detached, and that a variety of customizable radiation delivery devices can be made using the concepts of the invention. Also disclosed are processes for bonding radiation source material to various substrates using electroless plating, chemical vapor deposition and polymer matrices. These processes have the advantage that they can be applied to bond the radiation source material to a wide variety of substrates including different substrate materials and differently shaped substrates, thereby providing the ability to tailor the radiation delivery devices to the specific requirements of a particular brachytherapy treatment.

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Marietta, GA, United States of America

Michael R Moody