IMPLANTS FOR USE IN BRACHYTHERAPY AND OTHER RADIATION THERAPY THAT RESIST MIGRATION AND ROTATION

摘要

Therapeutic members and strands for use in brachytherapy are designed to reduce the tendency for the members and strands (and thus the radioactive sources, thermal ablation implants and/or radiopaque makers, etc. therein) to migrate and/or rotate within a patient's body. In one embodiment a member includes a radioactive source and a material that encapsulates the radioactive source. Such encapsulating material, which is preferably, but not necessarily, bioabsorbable, is likely polymeric or some other plastic material. An outer surface of the encapsulating material includes at least one protrusion, and preferably a plurality of protrusions, to reduce the tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. Other embodiments are also provided.