A radiotherapy device for treating cancers in viscous organs such as the bladder

摘要

A device for the treatment of cancers in viscous organs such as the bladder by brachytherapy, such as high dose rate brachytherapy. The invention provides a brachytherapy device consisting of a double balloon system in which a smaller dosing balloon is present within a larger multi-purpose balloon, and more specifically an apparatus comprising: a flexible catheter for providing an access passageway into the body, which catheter has a distal end and a proximal end; one or more brachytherapy tubes carried within the catheter for receiving the radioactive source at the proximal end of the catheter and transferring the source into the cavity; an outer inflatable balloon element mounted at the distal end of the catheter for securing the catheter in the cavity and engaging the internal surface of the cavity and optionally distending the inner surface of the cavity; an inner inflatable balloon element mounted within the outer balloon element for positioning the brachytherapy tubes within the outer balloon element; a first fluid tube carried within the catheter for inflating the outer balloon element; a second fluid tube carried within the catheter for inflating the inner balloon element.