Patent · US Expired

Interstitial brachytherapy device and method

US6213932A · kind A · utility

65Cited by
4References
14Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 12, 1997
Grant dateApr 10, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 12, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N2005/1011
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A disposable, plastic interstitial brachytherapy device includes an applicator, having the general appearance of a hypodermic syringe, and a transparent plastic cartridge, detachably connected to the applicator, for holding a plurality of radioactive tumor-killing seeds. The seeds in the cartridge are urged toward a seed discharge chamber by a loop-shaped bias member that forms an integral part of the cartridge. The seed discharge chamber is a bore formed in the radially innermost end of the cartridge. That bore is aligned with an elongate throughbore formed in the applicator when the cartridge is inserted into a radially extending opening formed in the applicator. A manually-operated elongate plunger rod is slidably mounted in the elongate throughbore and drives seeds from the seed discharge chamber, through the needle, and into the tumor. The device is usable with conventional luer lock needles.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.