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US 2017/0021191 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for loading radioactive seeds into carriers
AssigneeGammaTile LLC
InventorsDavid Brachman, Evan Fram, Heyoung McBride, Peter Nakaji, Theresa Thomas, Emad Youssef
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for loading brachytherapy carriers with radioactive seeds in order to implement brachytherapy treatment protocols with more precise and predictable dosimetry. These apparatuses and methods enable a medical team to create a radionuclide carrier for each patient and tumor reliably, reproducibly and efficiently.
Claims3
(canceled)
An apparatus comprising:
- a carrier comprising collagen and configured to receive a radioactive seed;
- a loader having:
- a first surface;
- an opposing second surface parallel to the first surface;
- a receiving surface between the first and second surfaces at first ends of each of the first surface and the second surfaces;
- a loading port at an entrance of a loading channel extending through the receiving surface of the loader, the loading port defining a first alignment interface on an outer surface of the receiving surface;
- and
- a loading bed between the first and second surfaces sized to support the carrier on the loading bed;
- an injection device having:
- an injection channel configured to contain a radioactive seed, the injection channel and the loading channel having substantially equal diameters;
- a distal end having a second alignment interface sized and shaped to engage with the first alignment interface of the loading port;
- and
- a plunger having a first end comprising a longitudinal rod extending at least partially within the injection channel and a second end outside of the injection channel configured for engagement by a human operator in order to move the longitudinal rod within the injection channel;
- wherein with at least a portion of the injection device inserted into the loading port such that the first alignment interface engages the second alignment interface, the radioactive seed is movable out of the injection device into the collagen carrier on the loading bed in response to movement of the second end of the plunger towards the distal end of the injection device.
11 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a bio-compatible carrier configured for implantation into a cavity to deliver radioactive energy from a radioactive seed embedded in the bio-compatible carrier to tissue around the cavity;
- a loader having:
- a loading bed between first and second surfaces of the loader, the loading bed sized to support the carrier on the loading bed;
- a loading port defining a first alignment interface on an outer surface of the loader;
- and;
- an injection device having:
- an injection channel configured to contain a radioactive seed;
- a distal end having a second alignment interface adapted to engage with the first alignment interface of the loading port;
- and
- a plunger having a first end comprising a longitudinal rod extending at least partially within the injection channel and a second end outside of the injection channel configured for engagement in order to move the longitudinal rod within the injection channel;
- wherein with at least a portion of the injection device inserted into the loading port such that the first alignment interface engages the second alignment interface, the radioactive seed is movable out of the injection device into the bio-compatible carrier on the loading bed in response to movement of the second end of the plunger towards the distal end of the injection device.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.