Applicators and methods for intraoperative treatment of proliferative diseases of the breast

A device for administering brachytherapy to the tissue of a living patient, comprising:

• a vessel formed of a material at least partially transparent to x-ray radiation, with a substantially closed outer end on the vessel and an internal chamber;
• a source guide having proximal and distal ends with the proximal end disposed outside of the vessel and the distal end extending into the vessel, the source guide for receiving an x-ray source;
• a catheter carrying an x-ray source and positioned within the source guide in the vessel,
• wherein the vessel can be positioned in an open resection cavity, and with the x-ray source positioned within the source guide in the vessel so that brachytherapy treatment can be administered to tissues surrounding the vessel;
• and
• a manipulator for moving the source guide so that the radiation source can be moved to different lateral positions within the internal chamber of the vessel during the brachytherapy treatment so as to cover a total chamber coverage area that is greater than the area of the source guide itself.

A device for administering brachytherapy to the tissue of a living patient, comprising:

• a vessel formed of a material at least partially transparent to x-ray radiation, with a substantially closed outer end on the vessel and an internal chamber;
• a source guide having proximal and distal ends with the proximal end disposed outside of the vessel and the distal end extending into the vessel, the source guide for receiving an x-ray source;
• a catheter carrying an x-ray source and positioned within the source guide in the vessel,
• wherein the vessel can be positioned in an open resection cavity, and with the x-ray source positioned within the source guide in the vessel so that brachytherapy treatment can be administered to tissues surrounding the vessel;
• and
• a manipulator that includes a pivot arm for supporting the source guide for control of the pivot angle of the source guide so that the radiation source can be moved to different positions within the internal chamber of the vessel during the brachytherapy treatment.

A device for administering brachytherapy to the tissue of a living patient, comprising:

• a vessel formed of a material at least partially transparent to x-ray radiation, with a substantially closed outer end on the vessel and an internal chamber;
• a source guide having proximal and distal ends with the proximal end disposed outside of the vessel and the distal end extending into the vessel, the source guide for receiving an x-ray source;
• a catheter carrying an x-ray source and positioned within the source guide in the vessel,
• wherein the vessel can be positioned in an open resection cavity, and with the x-ray source positioned within the source guide in the vessel so that brachytherapy treatment can be administered to tissues surrounding the vessel;
• and
• a manipulator for moving the source guide so that the radiation source can be moved to different lateral positions within the internal chamber of the vessel during the brachytherapy treatment so as to cover a total area that is greater than the area treated when the source guide is stationary.