Loading clip for radioisotope seeds

A method of loading radioisotope seeds into an automated cartridge for use in an automated system for low dose radioisotope procedures comprising:

• loading a replaceable cartridge into the automated system, the replaceable cartridge having a positionable member containing structure defining chambers for a plurality of radioisotope seeds and a housing arrangement having defined therein a first aperture through which an elongated member selectively ejects radioisotope seeds from chambers along a line of travel and a second aperture rearward of the positionable member along the line of travel of the elongated member through which radioisotope seeds are introduced into the line of travel of the elongated member and loaded into the chambers in the selectively positionable member;
• operably connecting a separate loading clip to the second aperture of the replaceable cartridge, the loading clip having a plurality of radioisotope seeds preloaded therein;
• and
• automatically loading radioisotope seeds into the selected chamber from the loading clip using the elongated member.

A system for loading an automated cartridge for use in an automated system for low dose radioisotope procedures, comprising:

• a housing arrangement, the housing arrangement including structure that mates with structure of the automated system;
• a selectively positionable member within the housing arrangement having structure defined therein for containing a plurality of radioisotope seeds in chambers defined in the positionable member;
• a first machine-readable storage medium in the housing accessible via a first electrical connector that stores indicia representing a content of each chamber in the positionable member;
• a first aperture in the housing arrangement through which an elongated member selectively ejects radioisotope seeds from chambers in the positionable member when a given chamber is aligned with the aperture along a line of travel of the elongated member;
• a second aperture in the housing arrangement rearward of the selectively positionable member along the line of travel of the elongated member through which radioisotope seeds are introduced into the line of travel of the elongated member and loaded into the chambers in the selectively positionable member;
• automated means for positioning the selectively positionable member;
• and
• a loading clip containing at least a plurality of radioisotope seeds and having structure for mating with the second aperture to introduce radioisotope seeds into the second aperture one at a time;
• a second machine-readable storage medium in the loading clip accessible via a second electrical connector that stores indicia representing a content of the loading clip, such that information from the indicia in the second machine-readable storage medium is transferred to the first machine readable storage medium under control of the automated system.

A system for loading an automated cartridge for use in an automated system for low dose radioisotope procedures, comprising:

• a housing arrangement, the housing arrangement including structure that mates with structure of the automated system;
• a selectively positionable member within the housing arrangement having structure defined therein for containing a plurality of radioisotope seeds in chambers defined in the positionable member;
• a first aperture in the housing arrangement through which an elongated member selectively ejects radioisotope seeds from chambers in the positionable member when a given chamber is aligned with the aperture along a line of travel of the elongated member;
• a second aperture in the housing arrangement rearward of the selectively positionable member along the line of travel of the elongated member through which radioisotope seeds are introduced into the line of travel of the elongated member and loaded into the chambers in the selectively positionable member;
• automated means for positioning the selectively positionable member;
• and
• a loading clip containing at least a plurality of radioisotope seeds and having structure for mating with the second aperture to introduce radioisotope seeds into the second aperture one at a time, the loading clip comprising:
• a body having a channel defined therein, the channel having a cavity adapted for receiving a radioisotope seed at a distal end;
• a slider member slidably positionable within the channel having a spring-biased tooth at a distal end;
• and
• a constant-force spring member slidably positionable within the channel between the slider member and the body, such that radioisotope seeds are magazined into the loading clip biased against the constant-force spring member by operation of the slider member extending the tooth over the cavity and retracting a radioisotope seed in the cavity into the channel.