Method and apparatus for radiation treatment of a desired area in the vascular system of a patient

A transfer device for use in an apparatus for treating a treatment site in an intraluminal passageway of a body, with the treatment elements being transported to and from the treatment site by a fluid, the apparatus also including a catheter comprising an elongated tubular member having first, second and third lumens therein, a proximal end and a distal end, the transfer device comprising:

• a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the transfer apparatus communicating with said first and second lumens through the proximal end of said catheter;
• an external housing having first and second fluid passageways therethrough communicating with said first and second lumens, respectively, of said catheter;
• a fluid control switch to selectively permit or prevent fluid from entering said first and second fluid passageways;
• and
• a gate mechanism to selectively permit or prevent passage of a treatment element to or from said catheter, said gate mechanism being operable only when said catheter is connected to said transfer device.

A unitary transfer device for use in an apparatus for administering radiation to a treatment site within the intraluminal passageways of a body with radiation treatment elements, the radiation treatment elements being transported to and from the treatment site by a fluid, the apparatus also including a catheter comprising an elongated tubular member including a proximal end and a distal end, first and second lumens having proximal and distal ends, the distal ends of said first and second lumens being closed to the intraluminal passageway and in communication with each other, and a lumen for receiving a guidewire, the unitary transfer device being connected to the proximal end of said catheter for transferring the radiation treatment elements to said first lumen of said catheter for delivery to and retrieval from the treatment side;

• the unitary transfer device comprising:
• an external housing having a first passageway adapted to communicate with a fluid source at one end, a second passageway communicating with a reservoir for receiving fluid, a third passageway communicating with said first catheter lumen, and a fourth passageway communicating with said second catheter lumen;
• a fluid control switch communicating with said first, second, third and fourth passageways and moveable among a first position in which said first passageway communicates with said third passageway and said second passageway communicates with said fourth passageway for directing fluid flow from said proximal end to said distal end of said first lumen and from said distal end to said proximal end of said second lumen to transport treatment elements from the transfer device to the distal end of said first catheter lumen, and a second position in which said first passageway communicates with said fourth passageway and said second passageway communicates with said third passageway for directing fluid flow from the proximal to the distal end of said second lumen and from the distal to the proximal end of said first lumen for returning treatment elements from the first catheter lumen to the transfer device;
• a separable interior housing for holding the radiation treatment elements, said separable housing including a passageway communicating with said third fluid passageway and said first catheter lumen, said separable housing comprising radiation blocking material;
• a plurality of radiation treatment elements emitting radiation disposed within said interior housing;
• and
• a gate mechanism communicating with said third passageway between said separable interior housing and said first catheter lumen and movable between first position to permit passage of said radiation treatment elements between said interior housing and said first catheter lumen and a second position to block passage of said radiation treatment elements between said interior housing and said first catheter lumen and a second position to block passage of said radiation treatment elements between said interior housing and said first catheter lumen.