Hollow suture member with radioactive seeds positioned therein for treatment of prostate cancer
US6264600A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/1023
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The method and apparatus includes a length of hollow suture material in which an alternating plurality of radioactive seeds and intermediate spacers are located. The suture member includes a portion which extends a substantial distance beyond the first radioactive seed in the suture member. The combination of the hollow suture member, the radioactive seeds and spacers is then moved into a insertion needle through a hub end thereof, to the point where the free end of the hollow suture member extends past the tip end of the insertion needle. The suture member then is pulled through the hollow insertion needle until the first radioactive seed in the suture member is positioned at the tip end of the insertion needle. The extended portion of the hollow suture member is then severed in the vicinity of the tip end of the insertion needle. The loaded insertion needle is then inserted into the prostate of the patient.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.