Implant for targeting therapeutic procedure

1. A method for treating a proliferative tissue disease in a patient comprising:

excising diseased tissue from the patient and thereby creating a tissue cavity;

placing a bioabsorbable implant within the tissue cavity, the implant having a body that is rigid and has a predetermined size and shape that remains constant prior to implantation, during implantation, and after implantation, the body being configured to exhibit negative contrast under ultrasonic or x-ray visualization;

determining a location of the implant within the patient using ultrasonic or x-ray imaging apparatuses; and

treating tissue surrounding the tissue cavity with therapeutic energy sources, wherein the implant remains within the tissue cavity following treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises collagen.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating of tissue with energy sources comprises applying external beam radiation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is sized to fill the tissue cavity.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant maintains its predetermined shape for a period of about at least six weeks.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the implant is approximately 2 to 4 centimeters.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a rigid spherical shape including a core and an outer layer, wherein the outer layer is manufactured from a stiffer material as compared to the core.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the outer layer further comprises one or more of air, gas pockets, or bubbles to facilitate visualization under ultrasound.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a core and an outer layer, wherein the outer layer is manufactured from a stiffer material as compared to the core.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the outer layer further comprises one or more of air, gas pockets, or bubbles to facilitate visualization under ultrasound.

11. A method for targeting and delivering therapeutic rays to a patient's soft tissue, comprising:

(a) preparing a treatment plan for a patient, the treatment plan including one or more sessions of radiation treatment;

(b) imaging an implanted device within soft tissue in the patient, the implanted device comprising a body that is rigid and has a predetermined size and shape that remains constant prior to implantation, during implantation, and after implantation, wherein the implanted device has a density that is lower than a density of the patient's soft tissue, wherein the shape of the body comprises a rigid spherical shape;

(c) determining a region of target tissue surrounding the implanted device;

(d) targeting an energy dose from an energy source external to the patient to the region of target tissue; and

(e) delivering the targeted energy dose, wherein the implanted device remains within the patient's soft tissue following completion of the treatment plan.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

without removing the implanted device or acting to alter its configuration, repeating, following a passage of time, steps (b) through (e).

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the implanted device has a density of less than or equal to about 1.03 g/cc.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the implanted device is implanted in a patient's breast.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the implanted device is bioabsorbable.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the implanted device remains substantially rigid during the delivery of the targeted energy doses before absorbing.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing fiducial markers in or on the device in order to track the device's position.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising delivering to the patient a treatment material from the implanted device.