Brachytherapy seed cartridge

• US 6,267,718 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rupp, Kip M., Bishop, Gregory D., Vitali, Dario, Barton, Scott N., Sierocuk, Thomas J., Ruder, David H., Colbert, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US09/359,867
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 600/1-8, 604/97-100, 604/33, 604/57, 604/59, 604/60, 604/280, 604/283, 604/118, 604/533, 604/537, 604/539, 604/249
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/101 Magazines or cartridges for seeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a seed cartridge assembly including a cartridge body, a seed drawer slideably disposed within the cartridge body, a radiation shield slideably disposed around the cartridge body and a seed retainer in the seed drawer. Further embodiments of the present invention include a seed cartridge assembly as described above including a gravity lock between the seed drawer and the cartridge body. Further embodiments of the present invention include a seed cartridge assembly as described above, wherein the cartridge body includes a magnification lens positioned above the seed drawer. Further embodiments of the present invention include a seed cartridge assembly as described above wherein a seed channel extends axially along the seed drawer and a plurality of vents extending from the seed channel to an exterior surface of the seed drawer. Further embodiments of the present invention include a seed cartridge assembly as described above wherein the gravity lock includes a moveable locking element, a first locking recess in an interior surface of the cartridge body and a second locking recess in an exterior surface of the drawer opposite the first locking recess.

Claims

1. A seed cartridge assembly comprising:

a cartridge body;

a seed drawer slideably disposed within said cartridge body;

a radiation shield slideably disposed around said cartridge body;

a gravity lock between said seed drawer and said cartridge body; and

a seed retainer in said seed drawer.

2. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge body includes a magnification lens positioned above said seed drawer.

3. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 2 wherein said magnification lens comprises a substantially flat inner surface and a substantially convex outer surface.

4. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 1 wherein said seed drawer comprises:

a seed channel extending axially along said seed drawer from a proximal end of said seed drawer to a distal end of said seed drawer; and

a plurality of vents extending from said seed channel to an exterior surface of said seed drawer.

5. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 4 wherein said seed retainer comprises:

a first deflection element positioned at a proximal end of said seed channel, said first deflection element substantially blocking said channel, wherein said first deflection element comprises;

a first ramped surface at a proximal end of said first deflection element, wherein said first ramped surface is positioned at an angle of approximately thirty degrees with respect to at least one wall of said seed channel;

a first square surface at a distal end of said first deflection element, wherein said first square surface is positioned at an angle of approximately ninety degrees with respect to one wall of said seed channel;

a second deflection element positioned at a distal end of said seed channel, said second deflection element substantially blocking said channel, wherein said second deflection element comprises;

a second ramped surface at a distal end of said second deflection element, wherein said second ramped surface is positioned at an angle of approximately thirty degrees with resect to said one wall of said seed channel;

a first square surface at a proximal end of said second deflection element, wherein said second square surface is positioned at an angle of approximately ninety degrees with respect to said one wall of said seed channel.

6. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 1 wherein said gravity lock comprises:

a moveable locking element;

a first locking recess in an interior surface of said cartridge body said moveable element being positioned in said first locking recess when said seed cartridge assembly is in an inverted position wherein a portion of said moveable element protrudes from said first locking recess when said seed cartridge assembly is in said inverted position;

a second locking recess in an exterior surface of said drawer opposite said first locking recess, said removeable element being positioned fully within said second locking recess when said seed cartridge assembly is in an upright position.

7. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 6 wherein said locking element comprises a cylinder.

8. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 7 wherein said first locking recess has a depth which is less than the diameter of said cylinder;

and

said second locking recess has a depth which is greater than the diameter of said cylinder.

9. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 1 wherein said seed cartridge assembly includes a luer opening at a distal end thereof, said opening including a plurality of stops positioned at an angle of approximately sixty degrees with respect to one axis of said luer opening.

10. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 1 wherein said seed cartridge further includes a plurality of brachytherapy seeds positioned in said seed drawer.

11. A seed cartridge assembly comprising:

a cartridge body;

a seed drawer slideably disposed within said cartridge body;

a radiation shield slideably disposed around said cartridge body; and

a seed retainer in said seed drawer.

12. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 11 wherein said cartridge body includes a magnification lens positioned above said seed drawer.

13. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 12 wherein said magnification lens comprises a substantially flat inner surface and a substantially convex outer surface.

14. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 13 wherein said seed drawer comprises:

a seed channel extending axially along said seed drawer from a proximal end of said seed drawer to a distal end of said seed drawer;

a handle at said proximal end of said seed drawer; and

a plurality of vents extending from said seed channel to an exterior surface of said seed drawer.

15. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 14 wherein said seed retainer comprises:

a first deflection element positioned at a proximal end of said seed channel, said first deflection element substantially blocking said channel, wherein said first deflection element comprises;

a first ramped surface at a proximal end of said first deflection element, wherein said first ramped surface is positioned at an angle of approximately thirty degrees with respect to at least one wall of said seed channel;

a first square surface at a distal end of said first deflection element, wherein said first square surface is positioned at an angle of approximately sixty degrees with respect to one wall of said seed channel;

a second deflection element positioned at a distal end of said seed channel, said second deflection element substantially blocking said channel, wherein said second deflection element comprises;

a second ramped surface at a distal end of said second deflection element, wherein said second ramped surface is positioned at an angle of approximately thirty degrees with respect to said one wall of said seed channel;

a first square surface at a proximal end of said second deflection element, wherein said second square surface is positioned at an angle of approximately sixty degrees with respect to said one wall of said seed channel.

16. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 15 wherein said seed cartridge further comprises a gravity lock between said seed drawer and said cartridge body, wherein said gravity lock comprises:

a moveable locking element;

a first locking recess in an interior surface of said cartridge body said moveable element being positioned partially in said first locking recess when said seed cartridge assembly is in an inverted position wherein a portion of said moveable element protrudes from said first locking recess when said seed cartridge assembly is in said inverted position;

a second locking recess in an exterior surface of said drawer opposite said first locking recess, said removeable element being positioned fully within said second locking recess when said seed cartridge assembly is in an upright position.

17. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 16 wherein said locking element comprises a cylinder.

18. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 17 wherein said first locking recess has a depth which is less than the diameter of said cylinder;

and

said second locking recess has a depth which is greater than the diameter of said cylinder.

19. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 11 wherein said seed cartridge assembly includes a luer opening at a distal end thereof, said opening including a plurality of stops positioned at an angle of approximately sixty degrees with respect to one axis of said luer opening.

20. A seed cartridge assembly according to claim 11 wherein said seed cartridge further includes a plurality of brachytherapy seeds positioned in said seed drawer.