Radiotherapy seeds and applicators

Apparatus for brachytherapy, comprising:

• a casing;
• one or more brachytherapy seeds for implanting in a patient, carrying atoms of a radioactive element for radiotherapy treatment, within the casing;
• and
• a viscous liquid within the casing, in a manner preventing radiation from-the one or more brachytherapy seeds from exiting the casing,
• wherein the casing comprises a seed applicator including an elongated tube adapted for insertion into a patient and a stylet within the tube,
• wherein the casing comprises a hub at a proximal end of the elongate tube, wherein the hub has an empty chamber configured to collect excess viscous liquid from the elongate tube when the viscous liquid expands due to heat sterilization.

A method of loading a needle with brachytherapy seeds, comprising:

• grasping a needle, having a sharp tip for entering tissue, in a manner preventing movement of the needle;
• bringing a brachytherapy seed to a point adjacent the tip of the needle;
• pushing the brachytherapy seed forward into the needle, through the sharp tip;
• and
• loading a viscous liquid into the needle, through the sharp tip.

A brachytherapy seed loading device, comprising:

• a central chamber storing a brachytherapy seed carrying Radium;
• a needle port, configured to lock a needle in an orientation such that a sharp tip of the needle is aligned with the brachytherapy seed in the central chamber;
• and
• a piston configured to push the brachytherapy seed into the needle locked in the needle port,
• wherein the central chamber additionally stores a viscous liquid, which prevents Radon released by the brachytherapy seed from leaving the loading device.

A brachytherapy seed applicator, comprising:

• a hollow needle;
• a non-metallic elongated tube configured for insertion into tissue, within the hollow needle;
• a hub at a proximal end of the tube;
• one or more brachytherapy seeds carrying radioactive particles, within the tube;
• and
• a stylet configured to be inserted into the tube and to push the one or more brachytherapy seeds to a distal end of the elongated tube.

A method of inserting a brachytherapy seed into body tissue, comprising:

• inserting a needle into body tissue through a first point until a tip of the needle exits the tissue at a second point;
• pushing a distal end of a strand carrying one or more brachytherapy seeds out of the distal tip of the needle;
• grasping the distal end of the strand;
• and
• retrieving the needle proximally from the tissue while grasping the distal end of the strand, so that the one or more brachytherapy seeds remain in the tissue.