Apparatus and method for in-situ radiation treatment

摘要

A miniaturized energy transducer that emits x-ray radiation is coupled to a catheter shaft to permit x-ray radiation treatment within a human body. The catheter shaft incorporates optical fibers and/or electrical conductors to supply optical and/or electrical energy to the energy transducer. Use of the miniaturized energy transducer in combination with the catheter shaft eliminates most of the problems related to the methods based on the use of radioactive transducers and offers a method for efficient and controllable radiation treatment. Specifically, a catheter shaft and energy transducer are designed to provide access to very narrow blood vessels for x-ray radiation treatment.