Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A microirradiator, comprising:a non-radioactive conducting electrode;an insulating sheath disposed about at least a portion of the non-radioactive conducting electrode along a longitudinal axis of the non-radioactive conducting electrode; anda radioactive source in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein the radioactive source is positioned at a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode via electroplating;wherein the insulating sheath is disposed about at least a portion of the radioactive source along a longitudinal axis of the radioactive source. 2. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein a terminus of the insulating sheath is level with a terminus of the radioactive source. 3. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein a terminus of the insulating sheath extends beyond a terminus of the radioactive source to define a channel within the insulating sheath. 4. The microirradiator of claim 1, further comprising a contact electrode in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode. 5. The microirradiator of claim 4, wherein the contact electrode is electrically coupled to the non-radioactive conducting electrode within the insulating sheath. 6. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein the average thickness of the electroplated radioactive source along the longitudinal axis is less than or equal to about 50 micrometers. 7. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein the microirradiator produces an absolute radiation of less than or equal to about 1000 Becquerels and a radiation flux density of greater than or equal to about 104 Becquerels per square centimeter. 8. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein the non-radioactive conducting electrode is an inert metal, the insulating sheath is a glass capillary tube, and the radioactive source is an elemental radioisotope. 9. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein a target of radiation has an average longest cross-sectional dimension of less than or equal to about 30 micrometers. 10. A microirradiator, comprising:a non-radioactive conducting electrode;an insulating sheath disposed about at least a portion of the non-radioactive conducting electrode along a longitudinal axis of the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode extends beyond the insulating sheath to define a probe; anda radioactive source in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein the radioactive source is electroplated on the probe. 11. The microirradiator of claim 10, further comprising a contact electrode in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode. 12. The microirradiator of claim 11, wherein the contact electrode is electrically coupled to the non-radioactive conducting electrode within the insulating sheath. 13. The microirradiator of claim 10, wherein the average thickness of the electroplated radioactive source on the probe is less than or equal to about 50 micrometers. 14. The microirradiator of claim 10, wherein the microirradiator produces an absolute radiation of less than or equal to about 1000 Becquerels and a radiation flux density of greater than or equal to about 104 Becquerels per square centimeter. 15. The microirradiator of claim 10, wherein the non-radioactive conducting electrode is an inert metal, the insulating sheath is a glass capillary tube, and the radioactive source is an elemental radioisotope. 16. The microirradiator of claim 10, wherein the microirradiator is configured to be inserted into a target of radiation. 17. The microirradiator of claim 16, wherein the target of radiation has an average longest cross-sectional dimension of less than or equal to about 30 micrometers. 18. A method for making a microirradiator, the method comprising:disposing an insulating sheath about at least a portion of a non-radioactive conducting electrode; andelectroplating a radioactive source at or about a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode. 19. The method for making a microirradiator of claim 18, wherein the disposing comprises inserting the non-radioactive conducting electrode into the insulating sheath. 20. The method for making a microirradiator of claim 18, further comprising electrically coupling a contact electrode to the non-radioactive conducting electrode.