Patent ID: 8221302

Claim:
A brachytherapy seed cartridge assembly comprising: an elongate cartridge body defining first and second transversely-opposed openings, a first open end, and an elongate seed passageway extending therebetween; an elongate housing body comprising a first open end securable to said first open end of said cartridge body, a second end defining a plunger aperture, and an elongate cylindrical wall extending between said first open end and said second end; an elongate plunger having a first end, a second end, and an elongate plunger body extending therebetween; a spring means acting between said second end of said housing body and said plunger so as to urge the first end of said plunger towards said first and second transversely-opposed openings of said cartridge body; and an elongate movable shield comprising an elongate cylindrical shield wall formed from a radiation-shielding material, said shield wall being slideably supported over said housing body so as to movable between an extended position about said seed passageway and a retracted position towards said second end of said housing body from said extended position.