Patent · US Expired

Interstitial brachytherapy device and method

US6561967B2 · kind B2 · utility

40Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 9, 2001
Grant dateMay 13, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 9, 2021

Classification

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

Abstract

An interstitial brachytherapy device includes an applicator having an elongate barrel and a plurality of radioactive seed-containing cartridges releasably connected to the elongate barrel along its longitudinal extent. Each cartridge includes a handle, a hollow housing within which is stacked the seeds, and a neck formed integrally with the handle. The neck is slideably received within the hollow housing and its free end abuts the top of the stack of seeds. A plurality of seed-discharging chambers is formed in the elongate barrel at longitudinally spaced intervals along the extent of the elongate barrel and each chamber is in alignment with each cartridge. The seeds in each hollow housing are urged toward their associated seed-discharging chamber by a bias member having a leading end connected to the hollow housing and a trailing end connected to the handle.

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