# US 7,407,477 B2 · Strand with end plug > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,477 B2 - Document ID: US7407477B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/692,084 - Filed: 2007-03-27 - Published: 2007-08-16 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2001-11-02 - Assignees: Worldwide Medical Technologies LLC - Inventors: Gary A. Lamoureux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407477B2 ## CPC - A61N 5/1027: {Interstitial radiation therapy} - A61N 5/1007: {Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body} - B29C 48/157: Coating linked inserts, e.g. chains - G21G 4/08: specially adapted for medical application (radiation therapy using radioactive sources A61N5/10) - A61N 2005/1023: {Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers} - A61N 2005/1024: {Seeds} - B29C 48/03: characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion - B29C 48/151: Coating hollow articles - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - G21G: CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES (applications of radiation in general G21H5/00; handling particles, e.g. neutrons, or electromagnetic radiation not otherwise provided for G21K) ## Abstract A treatment strand for insertion into a patient using a needle. The treatment strand includes an elongated member having first and second longitudinal ends, and a plurality of treatments seeds spaced apart from one another between the longitudinal ends. One of the longitudinal ends of the elongated member is a needle plug. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A treatment strand loaded into a needle, the strand comprising: an elongated member having first and second longitudinal ends and configured to be loaded into the needle; a plurality of treatments seeds within said elongated member between said longitudinal ends; and a needle plug that is one of the longitudinal ends of said elongated member; wherein said needle plug is configured to keep said elongated member within the needle until said elongated member is expelled from the needle using a stylet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The treatment strand of claim 1, wherein said needle plug is a heated and reflowed one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The treatment strand of claim 1, wherein said elongated member and said needle plug are made from a bio-absorbable material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The treatment strand of claim 1, wherein said treatment seeds are radioactive treatment seeds. ### Claim 5 A treatment strand loaded into a needle, the treatment strand comprising: a molded elongated member; a plurality of treatments seeds molded within said elongated member; and a needle plug that is a longitudinal end of said elongated member; wherein said needle plug is configured to keep said molded elongated member within the needle until said molded elongated member is expelled from the needle using a stylet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The treatment strand of claim 5, wherein said plurality of treatment seeds comprise a plurality of radioactive treatment seeds. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The treatment strand of claim 5, wherein said elongated member and said needle plug are made of a bio-absorbable material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The treatment strand of claim 5, wherein said needle plug is a heated and reflowed end of said elongated member. ### Claim 9 A method for providing a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising: (a) loading into a needle an elongated member configured to be implanted into patient tissue, said elongated member including first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds within said elongated member between said longitudinal ends; and (b) transforming one of said longitudinal ends of said elongate member into a needle plug configured to keep said elongated member within the needle until said elongated member is expelled from the needle using a stylet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein step (b) comprises heating and reflowing said one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member to thereby transform said one of said longitudinal ends into said needle plug. ### Claim 11 A method for providing a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising: (a) loading into a needle an elongated member configured to be implanted into patient tissue and including with first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds molded within said elongated member between said longitudinal ends; and (b) heating one of said longitudinal ends of said molded elongated member to create a needle plug. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said treatments seeds comprise radioactive treatment seeds. ### Claim 13 A method for providing a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising: (a) providing an elongated member with first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds within said elongated member between said longitudinal ends; (b) inserting said elongated member into a needle; and (c) forming a needle plug at one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member by heating one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member after said elongated member is inserted into the needle. ### Claim 14 A method for creating a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising: (a) creating an elongated member with first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds between said longitudinal ends; (b) inserting said elongated member into a needle; and (c) heating one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member to create a needle plug. ### Claim 15 A method for providing a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising: (a) inserting an elongated member into a needle, the elongated member having first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds between the longitudinal ends; and (b) after the elongated member is inserted into the needle, heating one of said longitudinal ends of said elongate member to create a needle plug.