# US 12,594,436 B2 · Brachytherapy source assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,594,436 B2 - Document ID: US12594436B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/596,987 - Filed: 2020-06-25 - Published: 2022-07-28 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-27 - Assignees: Nucletron Operations B.V. - Applicants: Nucletron Operations B.V. - Inventors: Jeroen Anton Schuurman; Frits Pieter De Vries; Wim De Jager - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594436B2 ## CPC - A61N 5/1001: {using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy} - A61N 5/1007: {Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body} - A61N 2005/1024: {Seeds} - A61N 2005/1055: {using magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Embodiments of the disclosure may be drawn to brachytherapy source assemblies. Exemplary source assemblies may include a cable made of an electrically non-conductive material and a guide wire coupled to and extending from a distal end of the cable. The guide wire may have a distal end region and a proximal end region, and the guide wire may have a length that is shorter than a length of the cable. The assembly may also include a capsule located at a distal end region of the guide wire, and the capsule may include a chamber configured to contain a radioactive source. The capsule may be formed of a non-ferromagnetic material and may have a ferromagnetic coating that at least partially covers the capsule. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A brachytherapy source assembly for delivering brachytherapy treatment, the source assembly comprising: a cable made of an electrically non-conductive material, the cable having a proximal end and a distal end; a guide wire having a proximal end coupled to and extending from the distal end of the cable, the guide wire having a distal end region and a proximal end region, and the guide wire having a length that is shorter than a length of the cable; and a capsule located at a distal end region of the guide wire, the capsule including a chamber configured to contain a radioactive source, wherein the capsule is formed of at least one of a non-ferromagnetic material or austenitic 316 steel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises one or more of a plastic material, a ceramic material, metal, glass fibers, or a woven outer surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The brachytherapy source assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radioactive source includes an iridium source contained within the capsule. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The brachytherapy source assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a ferromagnetic coating at least partially covering the capsule. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 4, wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness of about 1 μm to about 15 μm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 4, wherein the guide wire comprises one or more of titanium or aluminum, wherein the capsule is formed of one or more of titanium, aluminum, or austenitic 316 steel, and wherein the coating is formed of one or more of nickel or iron oxide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The brachytherapy source assembly according to claim 1, wherein the guide wire has a length of about 10 cm to about 30 cm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The brachytherapy source assembly according to claim 1, wherein the guide wire is formed of at least one of a non-ferromagnetic material or austenitic 316 steel, wherein a length of the guide wire is less than or equal to 1/10 of a radiofrequency wavelength of a magnetic resonance imaging system with which the brachytherapy source assembly is configured for use, wherein a ferromagnetic coating covers at least a portion of the capsule and wherein the guide wire spaces the capsule away from the cable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 8, wherein the capsule and the guide wire comprise at least one of titanium or aluminum. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 8, wherein the coating has a thickness of about 1 μm to about 15 μm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 8, wherein the cable has a woven outer surface. ### Claim 12 A brachytherapy source assembly for delivering brachytherapy treatment, the source assembly comprising: a cable made of an electrically non-conductive material, the cable having a proximal end and a distal end; a guide wire having a proximal end coupled to and extending from the distal end of the cable, the guide wire having a distal end region and a proximal end region, and the guide wire having a length that is shorter than a length of the cable; and a capsule located at a distal end region of the guide wire, the capsule including a chamber configured to contain a radioactive source, wherein the capsule is formed of at least one of a non-ferromagnetic material or austenitic 316 steel, and wherein the radioactive source includes an iridium source contained within the capsule. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 12, wherein the cable comprises one or more of a plastic material, a ceramic material, metal, glass fibers, or a woven outer surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 12, wherein the guide wire comprises one or more of titanium or aluminum, and wherein the capsule is formed of one or more of titanium, aluminum, or austenitic 316 steel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The brachytherapy source assembly according to claim 12, wherein the guide wire has a length of about 10 cm to about 30 cm. ### Claim 16 A brachytherapy source assembly for delivering brachytherapy treatment, the source assembly comprising: a cable made of an electrically non-conductive material, the cable having a proximal end and a distal end; a guide wire having a proximal end coupled to and extending from the distal end of the cable, the guide wire having a distal end region and a proximal end region, and the guide wire having a length that is shorter than a length of the cable; a capsule located at a distal end region of the guide wire, the capsule including a chamber configured to contain a radioactive source, wherein the capsule is formed of at least one of a non-ferromagnetic material or austenitic 316 steel, and wherein the radioactive source includes an iridium source contained within the capsule; and a ferromagnetic coating at least partially covering the capsule. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 16, wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness of about 1 μm to about 15 μm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The brachytherapy source assembly according to claim 16, wherein the guide wire is formed of at least one of a non-ferromagnetic material or austenitic 316 steel, wherein a length of the guide wire is less than or equal to 1/10 of a radiofrequency wavelength of a magnetic resonance imaging system with which the brachytherapy source assembly is configured for use, and wherein the guide wire spaces the capsule away from the cable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 18, wherein the cable has a woven outer surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The brachytherapy source assembly of claim 16, wherein the capsule and the guide wire comprise at least one of titanium or aluminum.