Patent ID: 7497820

Claim:
A device for use in brachytherapy comprising: a proximal portion; a plurality of source lumen tubes comprising proximal ends and distal ends, the distal ends coupled together, the source lumen tubes defining an expandable structure proximate to the distal ends, said source lumen tubes extending a sufficient distance into the proximal portion of said device such that said proximal ends of said source lumen tubes are located outside a body when said device is positioned for brachytherapy in a body cavity of said body, and each said source lumen tube defining at least one source lumen that extends from said distal end through the expandable structure to said proximal portion of said device for positioning a source of radiation therein; a ring which surrounds at least a portion of said source lumen tubes; a movable member operatively associated with said distal ends of said source lumen tubes such that movement of said movable member moves said expandable structure from a first position to a second treatment position that is at a greater radial distance from a longitudinal axis of the device than a radial distance from said expandable structure to the longitudinal axis of the device when said expandable structure is in said first position, said movable member defining a central lumen extending at least from a location within said expandable structure to a sufficient distance into the proximal portion of said device to allow insertion of a radiation source into said central lumen when said device is positioned for brachytherapy; and a kinematic mechanism operatively associated with said movable member such that actuation of said kinematic mechanism causes movement of said movable member to enable expansion of said expandable structure.