CATHETER WITH INFLATABLE BALLOON ASSEMBLY AND OPTICALLY ACTIVATED X-RAY SOURCE

摘要

An apparatus delivers x-rays to at least a portion of an interior surface of a body cavity. The apparatus includes a flexible catheter, at least one balloon or inflatable element affixed to the catheter, one or more flexible probe assemblies, and an x-ray generator assembly coupled to each probe assembly. The flexible catheter includes one or more interior channels, and each flexible probe assembly is slidably positionable within a respective interior channel of the catheter. Each balloon, when inflated, defines a predetermined surface contour disposed about an interior region of a body cavity. Each flexible probe includes a transmission path for transmitting activating energy. The x-ray generator assembly includes an electron source and a target element. The electron source emits electrons in response to activating optical energy transmitted through the transmission path. The target element generates x-rays in accordance with a desired radiation profile.