BRACHYTHERAPY SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING MEDICATION

摘要

A delivery system for interstitial radiation therapy that uses a brachytherapy needle assembly for simultaneously dispensing an effective amount of medicine, such as anti-inflammatory agents, along with radioactive seeds. Medicine can be stored in and dispensed from a reservoir attached to a needle hub or to a stylet handle or it can be injected into the needle via a three-way fitting. Alternatively, medication can be added directly to the needle cannula. Additionally, the brachytherapy needle or the radioactive seeds and spacers can be coated with medication that would be absorbed by the body upon implantation.