Patent GB-1219604-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for effecting medical treatments with radio active isotopes
IPC: A61N5/10
Filed: 1968-07-15
Abstract: 1,219,604. Irradiation apparatus. NUCLESANUCLEAR ENG. & EQUIPMENT S.A. 15 July, 1968 [19 July, 1967], No. 33546/68. Heading H5R. An irradiation apparatus comprises at least one tubular probe 4<SP>1</SP> serving as applicator for the radiation emitted by the unit sources positioned within it, which sources (black circles) are arranged in a row with or without the interposition of neutral non-radiation emitting units (white circles), the arrangement of units (active and neutral) in the probe being such as to provide a desired radiation distribution. The active and neutral units are stored in the apparatus in separate chambers 10, 11 and are taken from there in succession by suitable withdrawal means, assembled in the desired pattern and lead via. a network of conduits, e.g. 18, 21, 24, to a particular probe, e.g. 4, 4<SP>1</SP>, the means for withdrawal being programmed to select the desired array from the chambers 10, 11, the movement of the unit sources to and from the probes being achieved, at least in part by fluid pressure means. The units may have the same diameter as the conduits and the units from each chamber are preferably fed by a single dispenser 18 to the appropriate conduit 21 or 22 to reach the particular probe. The chambers may be tubes having diameters the same as those of the units, each tube being arranged in a non- horizontal position, the lower opening of each issuing on to a drawer 12 having housings 12a, 12b for the issued units, a magnetic unit 13 being provided to move the drawer in such a way as to position each housing alternately above the inlet to the dispenser 18, according to the programme detected by reader 15 on board 8 and fed to the drawer operator 13. The dispenser may consist of a flexible conduit 18, the lower end of which may be movable so as to be positioned opposite any of the network of conduits 21, 22 leading to the probes 4. Preferably the dispenser and the initial part of the conduit network is arranged so that the source array moves from dispenser into network under gravity. The source of pressure fluid 7 may be connected to the apparatus near the initial part of the conduits. Preferably each conduit in the network leading from the dispenser to the probes is fitted with a horizontal portion in which the source assemblies may be stored before being positioned in the probes 4. The dispenser tube 18 may be positioned by moving part 20 so that its upper end is adjacent conduit 23 when operation of valves 29, 30 together with closure of valves 27 and 28 enables the units to be returned to storage, conduit 23 terminating in a tube 32 fitted with a sliding drawer 34 having housing 33 and operated by motor 37 and cam 36 so that the housing and the sphere it contains is positioned alternately over chambers 10 and 11, feeding of neutral units to chamber 10 being prevented by making them of magnetic material, e.g. steel and positioning a magnet to prevent the fall of any such unit into chamber 10. As is shown, probes 4 consist of an inner tube perforated at its free end and an outer tube, the annulus so formed being connected via valves 29, 30 to the compressed air supply, the connection of said supply to the network 21, 22 being cut by operation of valves 27, 28 when the source arrays are forced back towards the dispenser 18 and when member 20 is suitably positioned back to the appropriate storage chamber. The operation of valves 29, 30 is effected automatically by timing devices 31 which thus automatically evacuate the probe when the irradiation treatment has ended. Valves 29, 30 are also operated to automatically evacuate the probe if the power supply to the apparatus fails or the pressure drops in pressure bottle 7.