Patent ID: 7601113

Claim:
An implantable brachytherapy treatment system for treating a target tissue region within a breast, comprising: at least one elongate tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction through tissue of a breast to a target tissue region, and a first lumen extending between an opening in the proximal end and the distal end; a strip of material extending along a therapy delivery portion between the proximal and distal ends of the tubular member within the tubular member adjacent the first lumen, the strip of material substantially fixed along the therapy delivery portion and having a cross-section defining a width extending transversely relative to the first lumen and a height orthogonal to the width, the height being smaller than the width; and a radiation source receivable in the first lumen of the tubular member for delivering radiation therapy to the target tissue region after the distal end of the tubular member has been introduced into the target tissue region, wherein the support member biases the tubular member for introduction through tissue in a straight configuration and deployment in a curved configuration within or around the target tissue region.