Patent ID: 6213932
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An interstitial brachytherapy device, comprising:an applicator;a cartridge that is releasably connected to said applicator, said cartridge adapted to hold a plurality of radioactive seeds therewithin in vertically stacked relation to one another;said applicator including an elongate barrel;an elongate throughbore formed in said barrel coincident with a longitudinal axis of symmetry thereof;a radially extending opening formed in said barrel having a radially innermost end in open communication with said elongate throughbore;a seed discharge chamber formed in a radially innermost end of said cartridge, said seed discharge chamber aligning with said elongate throughbore when said cartridge is fully seated within said barrel;a manually-operated, elongate plunger rod slidably mounted in said elongate throughbore;a hollow needle detachably secured to said barrel at a leading end thereof;a bias means, integrally formed with said cartridge, that automatically and continuously urges said seeds in said cartridge toward said seed discharge chamber, said seed discharge chamber being sized to receive only one seed at a time;said bias means having a leading end that is positioned within said seed discharge chamber when said cartridge is empty;whereby retraction of said plunger rod to a preselected location on a trailing side of said seed discharge chamber enables said bias means to automatically urge a seed into said seed discharge chamber when at least one seed is stored within said cartridge; andwhereby advancement of said plunger rod from said preselected location in a trailing-to-leading direction drives a seed from said seed discharge chamber through said needle and into an internal organ into which said needle is inserted.