Expandable brachytherapy device

A brachytherapy treatment apparatus for treating tissue surrounding a cavity within a body, comprising:

• an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end sized for introduction into the cavity within the body;
• a plurality of flexible tubes extending from the proximal end to the distal end and comprising source lumens for receiving a radiation source therein, the flexible tubes being movable from an unexpanded state for introduction into the cavity within the body, and an expanded state, thereby positioning at least a portion of the source lumens closely adjacent to tissue to be treated;
• a plurality of openings communicating with respective source lumens for inserting the radiation source into the source lumens;
• and
• an outer tube surrounding a proximal portion of the flexible tubes, the outer tube being movable relative to the elongate body for moving the flexible tubes from the unexpanded state to the expanded state.

A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue adjacent a surgical cavity created by excision of a tumor within a breast, comprising:

• advancing an elongate body carrying a plurality of elongate flexible tubes via an incision in breast tissue into the surgical cavity with the elongate flexible tubes in an unexpanded state extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body, wherein the flexible tubes are secured to the elongate body at a distal portion of said flexible tubes;
• directing the elongate flexible tubes to an expanded state within the surgical cavity to position at least a portion of the elongate flexible tubes further away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body than in the unexpanded state, thereby positioning said portion of the elongate flexible tubes closely adjacent to the tissue to be treated;
• and
• delivering radiation via the elongate flexible tubes to treat tissue adjacent the surgical cavity.

A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue adjacent a surgical cavity created by excision of a tumor within a breast, comprising:

• advancing an elongate body carrying a plurality of elongate members via an incision in breast tissue into the surgical cavity with the elongate members in an unexpanded state extending substantially parallel to a central control rod of the elongate body;
• directing the elongate members to an expanded state within the surgical cavity by moving the central control rod to position at least a portion of the elongate members further away from the control rod than in the unexpanded state, thereby positioning said portion of the elongate members closely adjacent to the tissue to be treated;
• and
• delivering radiation via the elongate members to treat tissue adjacent the surgical cavity.

A device for use in brachytherapy comprising:

• a plurality of source lumen tubes comprising distal ends and proximal ends sufficiently long to extend outside a body when the distal ends are positioned for brachytherapy in a body cavity, the source lumen tubes defining enclosed source lumens that extend from the proximal portion to the distal ends for sequentially receiving a source of radiation therein;
• a central control member secured to the distal ends of the source lumen tubes;
• and
• an actuator operatively associated with the source lumen tubes and the control member for expanding an expandable portion of the source lumen tubes between the proximal and distal ends from a first unexpanded state to a second expanded state.

A device for use in brachytherapy comprising:

• a plurality of source lumen tubes comprising distal ends and proximal ends sufficiently long to extend outside a body when the distal ends are positioned for brachytherapy in a body cavity, the source lumen tubes defining source lumens that extend from the proximal portion to the distal ends for receiving a source of radiation therein;
• a central control rod secured to the distal ends of the source lumen tubes, the control rod comprises a source lumen for receiving a source of radiation therein;
• and
• an actuator operatively associated with the source lumen tubes and the control rod for expanding an expandable portion of the source lumen tubes adjacent the distal ends from a first contracted position to a second expanded position.