Proportional attenuation of radiation in brachytheraphy treatment

A catheter apparatus with x-ray radiation attenuation for selectively protecting sensitive tissues during irradiation of adjacent tissues of a living patient, comprising:

• a catheter carrying a source of ionized radiation, generally in the range of about 40-60 kV, and a catheter element associated with the catheter,
• said catheter element disposed about said catheter, and
• an attenuator mask positioned on the catheter element and adjacent to the source, positioned to attenuate a portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern surrounding the source, the mask comprising an attenuating material having atomic number in the range of about 40 to about 53,
• whereby the mask attenuates the x-ray radiation by a desired factor essentially consistently throughout the range of said portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern,
• a manipulator for independently controlling the catheter element and catheter,
• wherein the catheter element comprises an outer sheath, and said manipulator includes a first manipulator for controlling the catheter and a second manipulator for controlling the sheath,
• a first control motor on each of the manipulators for controlling axial translation of either the sheath or catheter.

A catheter apparatus with x-ray radiation attenuation for selectively protecting sensitive tissues during irradiation of adjacent tissues of a living patient, comprising:

• a catheter carrying a source of ionized radiation, generally in the range of about 40-60 kV, and a catheter element associated with the catheter,
• said catheter element disposed about said catheter, and
• an attenuator mask positioned on the catheter element and adjacent to the source, positioned to attenuate a portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern surrounding the source, the mask comprising an attenuating material having atomic number in the range of about 40 to about 53,
• whereby the mask attenuates the x-ray radiation by a desired factor essentially consistently throughout the range of said portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern,
• a manipulator for independently controlling the catheter element and catheter,
• wherein the catheter element comprises an outer sheath, and said manipulator includes a first manipulator for controlling the catheter and a second manipulator for controlling the sheath,
• wherein each manipulator includes a control mechanism for controlling axial translation.

A catheter apparatus with x-ray radiation attenuation for selectively protecting sensitive tissues during irradiation of adjacent tissues of a living patient, comprising:

• a catheter carrying a source of ionized radiation, generally in the range of about 40-60 kV, and a catheter element associated with the catheter,
• said catheter element disposed about said catheter, and
• an attenuator mask positioned on the catheter element and adjacent to the source, positioned to attenuate a portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern surrounding the source, the mask comprising an attenuating material having atomic number in the range of about 40 to about 53,
• whereby the mask attenuates the x-ray radiation by a desired factor essentially consistently throughout the range of said portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern,
• a manipulator for independently controlling the catheter element and catheter,
• wherein the catheter element comprises an outer sheath, and said manipulator includes a first manipulator for controlling the catheter and a second manipulator for controlling the sheath,
• wherein each manipulator includes a control mechanism for controlling rotation.

A catheter control system having x-ray radiation attenuation for selectively protecting sensitive tissues during irradiation of adjacent tissues of a living patient, said system comprising:

• a catheter that defines an inner lumen;
• a source of radiation separate from and for positioning within the catheter inner lumen;
• a catheter element that is disposed about the catheter,
• an attenuator mask positioned on the catheter element and adjacent to the source, positioned to attenuate a portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern surrounding the source;
• a manipulator for independently controlling an outer catheter element and catheter;
• said catheter element comprising an outer sheath, and said manipulator comprising a first manipulator for controlling the catheter and a second manipulator for controlling the sheath,
• wherein each manipulator includes a control mechanism for controlling axial translation.

A catheter control system having x-ray radiation attenuation for selectively protecting sensitive tissues during irradiation of adjacent tissues of a living patient, said system comprising:

• a catheter that defines an inner lumen;
• a source of radiation separate from and for positioning within the catheter inner lumen;
• a catheter element that is disposed about the catheter,
• an attenuator mask positioned on the catheter element and adjacent to the source, positioned to attenuate a portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern surrounding the source;
• a manipulator for independently controlling an outer catheter element and catheter;
• said catheter element comprising an outer sheath, and said manipulator comprising a first manipulator for controlling the catheter and a second manipulator for controlling the sheath,
• wherein each manipulator includes a control mechanism for controlling rotation.

A catheter control system having x-ray radiation attenuation for selectively protecting sensitive tissues during irradiation of adjacent tissues of a living patient, said system comprising:

• a catheter that defines an inner lumen;
• a source of radiation separate from and for positioning within the catheter inner lumen;
• a sheath that is disposed about the catheter,
• an attenuator mask positioned on one of the sheath and catheter and adjacent to the source, positioned to attenuate a portion of the spatial radiation emission pattern surrounding the source;
• a manipulator for independently controlling the sheath, source and catheter;
• said manipulator comprising a first manipulator for controlling the catheter, a second manipulator for controlling the source, and a third manipulator for controlling the sheath;
• wherein each manipulator includes a control mechanism for controlling at least axial translation.