X-RAY AND GAMMA RAY EMITTING TEMPORARY HIGH DOSE RATE BRACHYTERAPY SOURCE

摘要

Radioactive sources (10) are manufactured for treating a tumor or cancerous area occurring around a conduit or duct in the body by emitting X-rays to destroy or reduce the tumors. The sources (10) contain ytterbium which is substantially enriched in 168Ytterbium and which is activated by exposure to neutron flux so as to contain a minor, but significant, fraction of X-ray and gamma-emitting 169Ytterbium. The radioactive 169Ytterbium source (10) is inserted through a catheter or applicator or needle to the site of the cancer where it is maintained in position for a period of time to reduce the occurrence of cancer. The ytterbium also acts as an X-ray-opaque marker to facilitate external visualization of the sources during their delivery to the treatment site. The sources are encased in a shell to prevent direct contact of the radioactive material with human tissue. This encapsulation may be formed by welding a pair of end caps (16) to a tubular member (15).