System for safe implantation of radioisotope stents

A system for preventing health care workers from being exposed to ionizing radiation when delivering a temporary radioisotope stent into a vessel of a human body, the system comprising:

• an axially extending catheter assembly having a distal portion forming the temporary radioisotope stent adapted to be placed into a vessel of a human body;
• and
• a radiation shield coaxially disposed externally about the temporary radioisotope stent for shielding health care workers using the system from exposure to ionizing radiation during insertion of the temporary radioisotope stent catheter assembly into a vessel of a human body, the catheter assembly being axially displaceable relative to the radiation shield, the radiation shield being maintained external to the vessel of the human body.

A system for preventing health care workers from being exposed to ionizing radiation when delivering a high intensity radioisotope source into a vessel of a human body, the system comprising:

• an axially extending catheter assembly having a distal portion forming the high intensity radioisotope source having an approximate intensity of at least one milliCurie;
• and
• a radiation shield coaxially disposed externally about the high intensity radioisotope source for shielding health care workers using the system from exposure to ionizing radiation during insertion of the high intensity radioisotope source catheter assembly into a vessel of a human body, the catheter assembly being axially displaceable relative to the radiation shield, the radiation shield being maintained external to the vessel of the human body.