Brachytherapy device
View Patent ↗A brachytherapy device is configured for use in a system having a fluid source. The brachytherapy device includes a balloon assembly including an inflation conduit coupled to a distensible portion. The inflation conduit is configured to facilitate passage of an inflation fluid received from the fluid source to the distensible portion. The distensible portion is configured to respond to the inflation fluid by expanding. The distensible portion has an outer surface with an oval profile. A treatment delivery shaft extends into a region within the distensible portion. The treatment delivery shaft is configured to deliver a treatment material to a location in the region.
1. A brachytherapy device configured to facilitate treatment of tissue adjacent a body cavity, the brachytherapy device being configured for use in a system having a fluid source for providing an inflation fluid and a vacuum source for providing a vacuum, the brachytherapy device comprising:
a balloon assembly including an inflation conduit coupled to a distensible portion, said inflation conduit being configured to facilitate passage of the inflation fluid received from the fluid source to said distensible portion, said distensible portion being configured to respond to the inflation fluid by expanding, said distensible portion having an outer surface with an oval profile;
a sheath assembly configured to enclose said balloon assembly, said sheath assembly being effective to define an intermediate space between said distensible portion of said balloon assembly and said sheath assembly, said intermediate space configured to be in fluid communication with the vacuum source; and
a treatment delivery shaft that extends into a region within said distensible portion, said treatment delivery shaft being configured to deliver a treatment material to a location in said region.
2. The brachytherapy device of claim 1 , wherein said outer surface is configured to transition in shape from said oval profile to a circle-like profile as said distensible portion is further inflated.
3. The brachytherapy device of claim 1 , wherein said balloon assembly includes:
an inner balloon with a distensible inner balloon wall defining an internal lumen, said treatment delivery shaft being configured to deliver the treatment material to a location in said internal lumen of said inner balloon.
4. The brachytherapy device of claim 3 , wherein said sheath assembly includes a sheath wall configured to enclose said inner balloon wall to define said intermediate space between said inner balloon wall and said sheath wall.
5. The brachytherapy device of claim 4 , wherein said sheath wall comprises a hole therethrough in fluid communication with said intermediate space.
6. The brachytherapy device of claim 4 , wherein said sheath wall comprises a woven material to provide a fluid-permeable sheath wall in fluid communication with said intermediate space.
7. The brachytherapy device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of separation elements spaced apart within said intermediate space configured to maintain a separation between said sheath assembly and said distensible portion.
8. The brachytherapy device of claim 4 , wherein said sheath wall is made of a flexible material.
9. The brachytherapy device of claim 4 , wherein said sheath wall is a fluid-permeable sheath wall that comprises a biocompatible polymer.
10. Te brachytherapy device of claim 4 , wherein said sheath wall is a fluid-permeable sheath wall that comprises a radiation-resistant polymer.
11. The brachytherapy device of claim 3 , wherein said inner balloon is configured to substantially enclose the treatment material delivered through said treatment delivery shaft to said location in said internal lumen.
12. The brachytherapy device of claim 1 , said brachytherapy device being configured to apply the vacuum to the body cavity to draw tissue adjacent the body cavity toward said distensible portion.
13. A brachytherapy device configured to facilitate treatment of tissue adjacent a body cavity, the brachytherapy device being configured for use in a system having a fluid source for providing an inflation fluid and a vacuum source for providing a vacuum, the brachytherapy device comprising:
an inner balloon assembly including:
an inflation conduit configured to facilitate passage of the inflation fluid received from the fluid source, and
an inner balloon having a distensible inner balloon wall defining an internal lumen, said inner balloon being operatively connected to said inflation conduit to receive the inflation fluid into said internal lumen effective to inflate said inner balloon with the inflation fluid;
a treatment delivery shaft that extends into said internal lumen of said inner balloon, said treatment delivery shaft being configured to deliver a treatment material to a location in said internal lumen of said inner balloon;
a sheath assembly configured to enclose said inner balloon assembly, said sheath assembly being effective to define an intermediate space between said inner balloon assembly and said sheath assembly; and
a vacuum conduit configured for coupling to said vacuum source and configured to provide vacuum to said intermediate space.
14. The brachytherapy device of claim 13 , said sheath assembly including a sheath wall configured to enclose said inner balloon wall to define said intermediate space between said inner balloon and said sheath wall.
15. The brachytherapy device of claim 14 , wherein said sheath wall is a fluid-permeable sheath wall.
16. The brachytherapy device of claim 15 , wherein said fluid-permeable sheath wall comprises a radiation-resistant polymer.
17. The brachytherapy device of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of separation elements spaced apart within said intermediate space configured to maintain a separation between said sheath wall and said inner balloon wall.
18. A system for treating tissue adjacent a body cavity, comprising:
a vacuum source for generating a vacuum;
a fluid source configured to supply an inflation fluid;
an inner balloon assembly including an inflation conduit and an inner balloon, said inflation conduit being coupled to said fluid source, said inner balloon being configured to facilitate passage of said inflation fluid, said inner balloon comprising a distensible inner balloon wall defining an internal lumen, said inner balloon being operatively connected to said inflation conduit and configured to receive said inflation fluid in said internal lumen to inflate said inner balloon with said inflation fluid; and
a sheath assembly comprising a vacuum conduit coupled to said vacuum source, said sheath assembly having a sheath wall configured to enclose said inner balloon assembly to define an intermediate space between said inner balloon assembly and said sheath assembly, said vacuum conduit being configured to communicate the vacuum to said intermediate space, said sheath wall being configured to facilitate vacuum communication between said intermediate space and the body cavity.