Patent ID: 7678040
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for application for brachytherapy treatment to vaginal tissue, comprising: providing a handle with an axial opening therethrough, configured to be positioned outside the mouth of a vagina, with a flexible, conformable, inflatable mold balloon connected to a distal end of the handle as an extension of the handle, the mold balloon having a closed distal end and being sufficiently flexible to conform to vaginal interior tissue surfaces when inflated, using the handle, inserting the mold balloon into a vagina, admitting a conforming, essentially liquid, settable filler material into the mold balloon via the opening through the handle, with the balloon in the vagina, causing the mold balloon to expand and conform to the vaginal interior tissue surfaces, and curing the filler material in situ to form a custom-fitted gynecological brachytherapy applicator, providing a generally axially-extending lumen in the filler material, and with the custom-fitted applicator in the vagina, and with a radiation source in the lumen of the applicator, commencing irradiation of tissue adjacent to the applicator.