Chest tube and catheter grid for intrathoracic afterload radiotherapy

摘要

An apparatus and method for intraoperative internal placement of an afterloading catheter tube grid for post-operative radiotherapy using a semi-rigid tube having inserted within a plurality of catheters which extends outwardly from the distal end of the semi-rigid tube for a predetermined distance and attaching these distally outward extending catheter tubes to a soft sheet so that the catheter tube maintain a parallel position to one another over the predetermined distance. The proximal ends of these catheter tubes extend outwardly from the proximal end of the semi-rigid tube and are located on the outside of the body. These proximal ends of the catheters are left open for loading of the radioactive material into these catheter tubes, while the distal ends are closed to prevent airleak and to stop the radioactive material. The soft sheet is provided with eyelets at each of the four corners, and these eyelets are used to secure the soft sheet with sutures to the inside of the cavity wall over the area intended for radiation therapy. A stiff cover cap is provided so as to cover the furled soft sheet, and this cover cap attaches to the distal end of the semi-rigid tube. This cover cap is removed when the present invention is inserted into the body cavity.