Fiberoptic-guided interstitial seed manual applicator and seed cartridge

An implantation device for implanting seeds within or adjacent to a target area, located within a patient, comprising:

• an implantation needle having a bore extending therethrough along a first longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end of the needle, the needle bore being adapted to permit at least one seed to pass therethrough;
• an elongated member having a seed alignment channel extending along a second axis, the seed alignment chamber adapted to retain the seeds in aligned relation within the implantation device prior to selectively advancing at least one of the seeds retained therein into aligned relation with the needle bore along the first longitudinal axis ;
• and
• an elongated plunger extending through the implantation device along the first longitudinal axis, the plunger being in aligned relation to the needle bore and being selectively movable in the longitudinal direction relative the needle from a retracted position spaced apart from the needle to an extended position wherein the plunger is advanced through the needle bore to eject at least one of the seeds aligned with the needle bore along the first longitudinal axis through the needle bore, out of the distal end of the needle and into the target area,
• wherein the elongated member further comprises an optical channel extending longitudinally through the elongated member for slidingly receiving the plunger along the first longitudinal axis, the optical channel being spaced apart and substantially parallel to the seed alignment channel and also being in aligned relation to and in communication with the needle bore through the needle.

An implantation device for implanting seeds within or adjacent to a target area located within a patient, comprising:

• an implantation needle having a bore extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end of the needle, wherein the needle bore permits at least one seed to pass therethrough;
• an elongated plunger extending longitudinally with respect to the implantation device, wherein the plunger is in aligned relation to the needle bore and is selectively movable in the longitudinal direction relative the needle from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the plunger can be advanced through the needle bore to eject at least one of the seeds through the needle bore at the distal end of the needle into the target area;
• and
• an optical device operatively connected to the plunger of the implantation device so that when the plunger is selectively moved to the extended position, the optical device is carried by the plunger through the needle bore to a position proximate the distal end of the needle, whereby the optical device can provide visual assistance to an operator of the implantation device to guide and verify implantation of the ejected seed into the target area.

An implantation device for implanting seeds within or adjacent to a target area, located within a patient, comprising:

• an implantation needle having a bore extending therethrough along a first longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end of the needle, the needle bore being adapted to permit at least one seed to pass therethrough;
• an elongated member having a seed alignment channel extending along a second axis, the seed alignment chamber adapted to retain the seeds in aligned relation within the implantation device prior to selectively advancing at least one of the seeds retained therein into aligned relation with the needle bore along the first longitudinal axis;
• an elongated plunger extending through the implantation device along the first longitudinal axis, the plunger being in aligned relation to the needle bore and being selectively movable in the longitudinal direction relative the needle from a retracted position spaced apart from the needle to an extended position wherein the plunger is advanced through the needle bore to eject at least one of the seeds aligned with the needle bore along the first longitudinal axis through the needle bore, out of the distal end of the needle and into the target area;
• and
• an optical device carried by and operatively connected to the implantation device, the optical device providing visual assistance to an operator of the implantation device to guide and verify implantation of the ejected seed into the target area,
• wherein the optical device is at least temporarily positioned within the implantation device adjacent the distal end of the needle, and
• wherein the optical device is carried by and operatively connected to the plunger so that when the plunger is selectively moved to the extended position, the optical device is carried by the plunger through the needle bore to a position proximate the distal end of the needle.

An implantation device for implanting seeds within or adjacent to a target area, located within a patient, comprising:

• an implantation needle having a bore extending therethrough along a first longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end of the needle, the needle bore being adapted to permit at least one seed to pass therethrough;
• an elongated member having a seed alignment channel extending along a second axis, the seed alignment chamber adapted to retain the seeds in aligned relation within the implantation device prior to selectively advancing at least one of the seeds retained therein into aligned relation with the needle bore along the first longitudinal axis;
• an elongated plunger extending through the implantation device along the first longitudinal axis, the plunger being in aligned relation to the needle bore and being selectively movable in the longitudinal direction relative the needle from a retracted position spaced apart from the needle to an extended position wherein the plunger is advanced through the needle bore to eject at least one of the seeds aligned with the needle bore along the first longitudinal axis through the needle bore, out of the distal end of the needle and into the target area;
• and
• a seed transfer barrel having at least one seed chamber adapted to receive single seed, the seed chamber being selectively movable from a loading position in aligned relation with the second axis and in communication with the seed alignment channel to a firing position in aligned relation to the needle and plunger along the first longitudinal axis, wherein, in the loading position, a single seed may be advanced from the seed alignment channel into the seed chamber, and, in the firing position, the plunger may be selectively advanced through the seed chamber to eject the seed contained within the seed chamber out of the transfer barrel, through the needle bore and into the target area as the plunger moves from the retracted position to the extended position.

An implantation device for implanting seeds within or adjacent to a target area, such as a tumor, located within a patient, comprising:

• an implantation needle having a bore extending therethrough along a first longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end of the needle, the needle bore being adapted to permit at least one seed to pass therethrough;
• an elongated member having a seed alignment channel extending along a second axis, the seed alignment chamber adapted to retain the seeds in aligned relation within the implantation device prior to selectively advancing at least one of the seeds retained therein into aligned relation with the needle bore along the first longitudinal axis;
• an elongated plunger extending through the implantation device along the first longitudinal axis, the plunger being in aligned relation to the needle bore and being selectively movable in the longitudinal direction relative the needle from a retracted position spaced apart from the needle to an extended position wherein the plunger is advanced through the needle bore to eject at least one of the seeds aligned with the needle bore along the first longitudinal axis through the needle bore, out of the distal end of the needle and into the target area;
• and
• an elongated outer sheath substantially enclosing the plunger, wherein the outer sheath is selectively movable in predetermined increments in the longitudinal direction along the first longitudinal axis relative the needle.