| 摘要 |
This patent is a radiation delivery system (10) having an expandable radiati on source (14) made of a pliable material. The source body is made of a materia l such as foam or sponge, or a fibrous material such as soft bristles of a pip e cleaner. The spongy or fibrous material is made radioactive by the implantation of a radioactive isotope. The radioactive isotope can be locate d throughout the pliable source material (14), or concentrated in a desired region, such as the surface or near-surface region (32). The compressible radioactive source material (14), when constrained by a constraining housing (38) or catheter (38), has a very low profile. When the constraining housing (38) or catheter (38) is withdrawn, the expandable source material (14) expands, and the expandable source material (14) is brought into direct contact with a vessel wall.
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