Devices and methods are provided for temporarily maintaining access to a
body cavity in a targeted tissue region within a patient's body. One embodiment of the
catheter device includes an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section which is flexible enough to be folded or coiled into a configuration for deployment within the patient. An alternate embodiment includes a
catheter device having one or more detachable proximal shaft sections and having at least one one-way valve to
restrict fluid flow of inflation fluid to flow to the
balloon. After deployment of the
catheter device completely within the patient, the opening through which the
catheter device is deployed is closed, e.g. by sutures, adhesives and the like to minimize infection at the site. Within a few days or weeks after the tissue has been evaluated for
cancer, the temporary
catheter device may be removed from the patient. If
cancer or pre-
cancer cells are found in the specimen removed from the cavity, then a
radiation balloon catheter or other
irradiation device can be inserted into the patient to irradiate tissue surrounding the
biopsy cavity to ensure that cancer cells within the tissue surrounding the cavity are killed.