Brachytherapy apparatus, systems, and methods for using them

A brachytherapy treatment apparatus, comprising:

• an elongate core member comprising a core member proximal end and a core member distal end defining a central longitudinal axis therebetween;
• an actuator adjacent the core member proximal end and movable axially relative to the elongate core member;
• and
• a plurality of elongate members comprising elongate member proximal ends and elongate member distal ends and pathways extending between the elongate member proximal ends and the elongate member distal ends for receiving a source of radiation therealong, the elongate member proximal ends coupled to the actuator and the elongate member distal ends coupled to the core member distal end such that all of the elongate members move simultaneously from a collapsed configuration extending substantially parallel to the elongate core member and an expanded configuration when the actuator is directed distally relative to the core member distal end, the elongate members arranged asymmetrically around the elongate core member such that the elongate members are disposed adjacent the elongate core member within or on a first side of a plane within which distal portions of two of the elongate members lie in both the collapsed configuration and the expanded configuration and there are no elongate members adjacent the elongate core member on a second side of the plane.

A brachytherapy treatment apparatus, comprising:

• an elongate core member comprising a core member proximal end and a core member distal end defining a central longitudinal axis therebetween;
• an actuator adjacent the core member proximal end and movable axially relative to the elongate core member;
• and
• a plurality of elongate members comprising elongate member proximal ends and elongate member distal ends and pathways extending between the elongate member proximal ends and the elongate member distal ends for receiving a source of radiation therealong, the elongate member proximal ends coupled to the actuator and the elongate member distal ends coupled to the core member distal end such that the elongate members are movable from a collapsed configuration extending substantially parallel to the elongate core member and an expanded configuration when the actuator is directed distally relative to the core member distal end, the elongate members forming a shape that bulges at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis near the core member distal end such that the elongate member distal ends define an abrupt angle relative to the longitudinal axis and the elongate member proximal ends taper tangentially towards the actuator in the expanded configuration at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis that is smaller than the first angle.

A method for brachytherapy treatment of tissue within a body cavity of a patient, comprising:

• introducing a distal portion of an applicator through a passage through tissue into the body cavity with the distal portion of the applicator in a collapsed configuration, the applicator comprising a plurality of pathways adjacent an elongate core member extending from outside the patient's body to the distal portion, the pathways disposed adjacent the elongate core member within or on a first side of a plane extending substantially parallel to the elongate core member in the collapsed configuration and there are no elongate members adjacent the elongate core member on a second side of the plane;
• directing the distal portion of the applicator to an expanded configuration within the body cavity such that the pathways are simultaneously directed away from a central longitudinal axis of the applicator, the pathways disposed asymmetrically about the central longitudinal axis such that all of the pathways are within or on the first side of the plane in the expanded configuration;
• and
• delivering radiation to a target location adjacent the body cavity via the distal portion of the applicator.