Apparatus for transporting and positioning a capsule in which a radioactive source is present

An apparatus for transporting and positioning multiple capsules, in which a radioactive source is present, from a screened safe into an applicator to be temporarily placed in the body of a patient, which apparatus is provided with:

• multiple capsules each connected with one end of a respective transport wire, which is slidable by a drive motor;
• a safe for storage of the capsules and provided with channels for guiding the movement of capsules into and out of the safe by means of the transport wires;
• a switch-connecting plate with multiple passages, the passages connectable to a number of transport tubes corresponding with a number of applicators;
• a first switch with a passageway which at one end can successively be brought into a position in line with one of the passages in the switch-connecting plate and at the other end connect to a first end of a tube whose other end connects to a channel through the safe so that a capsule on a transport wire can be displaced by a drive motor from the safe, via the tube, the passageway, and a passage determined by the position of the switch;
• at least one further switch with a passageway, which can be brought in line with another one of the passages in the switch-connecting plate, in substantially the same manner to that for the passageway of the first switch;
• wherein each first and further switch are provided with at least one connecting element, wherein the connecting elements of the respective switches are detachable from the switch-connecting plate, and
• wherein said passageway of said further switch connects to a first end of a further tube whose other end connects to a further channel through the safe, so that a further capsule on a further transport wire can be displaced by a further drive motor from the safe, via the tube, the passageway, and a passage determined by the position of the further switch;
• actuators for actuating said switches and said transport wires said actuators being programmable so that said capsules can he introduced into an applicator and can be withdrawn into the safe again, in a manner independent of other capsules with regard to selection of the applicator as well as the location and the residence time of the capsule in the selected applicator.