Experts at the Reactor Materials Institute (IRM), part of Rosatom’s Scientific Division, have unveiled new ionizing radiation sources based on iridium-192 for brachytherapy, an internal radiotherapy method used to treat malignant tumors.

The innovative high-dose therapy is designed to be both effective and safe for patients and healthcare practitioners.

What sets Rosatom’s solution apart is its compact design. The system features a needle irradiated in a research reactor and sealed within a capsule.

A specialized cable, manufactured using advanced techniques, is welded to the capsule. All these steps are executed remotely via manipulators in a high-temperature chamber, ensuring precision and safety.

“We have completed prototypes and are now ready to deliver them to clinics for testing,” said Denis Butakov, Head of Radiation Technologies at IRM.

“We aim to certify and register our product as a medical device by 2025, launching it initially in Russia and subsequently across the CIS region once the necessary permits are obtained.”

The brachytherapy system, branded as “Brachium,” uses closed-source gamma radiation based on cobalt-60 or iridium-192 radionuclides.

Its design enables precise localized treatment through small applicators, which deliver high doses of ionizing radiation directly to or near the tumor.

This approach allows for targeted destruction of cancer cells while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue.

The breakthrough highlights Rosatom’s commitment to advancing medical technologies, offering a promising new tool in the fight against cancer.

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