RADIATION SHIELDED CATHETER FOR DELIVERING A RADIOACTIVE SOURCE AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

A radiation delivery catheter which increases the margin of safety and reduces unintended exposure to radiation dosage during delivery thereof to a target area to reduce the likelihood of the development of restenosis. The catheter includes a shaft comprised of radiation shielding material, to shield the patient and staff from unintended radiation exposure. The catheter further includes a treatment section including a reservoir balloon comprised of radiation transparent material, which enables predetermined concentrations of radioactivity in the radiation source to permeate therethrough into the target area in a substantially uniform dosage pattern.