Radiation delivery centering catheter

Apparatus for centering a radiation delivery device at a predetermined location in a body vessel, which comprises:

• an elongated tubular catheter assembly having a distal end and a proximal end;
• insertion means for inserting said distal end of said catheter into a body vessel;
• centering means adjacent to said distal end for centering said catheter in said body vessel at said predetermined location and for allowing perfusion of bodily fluids through said body vessel past said centering means and said radiation delivery device;
• said centering means comprising a plurality of equal sized, spaced outwardly extending inflatable knobs each having a base on said catheter adjacent to said distal end;
• reinforcing wires extending around each of said knob bases and around said catheter adjacent to each radial set of knobs;
• means for inflating said knobs with a fluid;
• a central lumen in said catheter;
• means adapted for inserting an elongated radiation delivery device into said central lumen until said radiation device is at said predetermined site.

Apparatus for centering a radiation delivery device at a predetermined location in a body vessel, which comprises:

• an elongated tubular catheter assembly having a distal end and a proximal end;
• insertion means for inserting said distal end of said catheter into a body vessel;
• centering/perfusion means adjacent to said distal end for centering said catheter in said body vessel at said predetermined location and for allowing perfusion of bodily fluids through said body vessel past said radiation delivery device;
• said centering/perfusion means comprising at least three spaced torsion bars each secured at a first end to said catheter and at a second end to means for moving said second end toward and away from said first end to cause each torsion bar to bulge outwardly from said catheter when said first and second ends are brought toward each other and to lie contiguous with said catheter when said first and second ends are moved away from each other;
• a sleeve over said torsion bars;
• a central treatment lumen in said catheter;
• and
• means adapted for inserting a radiation delivery device into said central treatment lumen until said radiation device is at said predetermined site.