Hinged spacer element for joining radioactive seeds used in treatment of cancer
First Claim
1. A spacer element for use with radioactive seeds in needle implant treatment of prostate cancer, comprising:
- a spacer element having a central section and two end sections extending outwardly therefrom, the spacer element comprising two separate portions joined by a longitudinal hinge element, such that the two portions come adjacent one another in a closed position of the spacer element and move apart from one another about the hinge element into an open position, wherein the two end sections are each configured and adapted, respectively, to receive and hold a portion of a radioactive seed when the spacer element is in its closed position and to permit convenient loading of radioactive seeds into the respective end sections when the spacer element is in its open position, thereby permitting convenient assembly of a series string of radioactive seeds and spacers; and
wherein said string of spacer elements and radioactive seeds is fittable within a hollow needle for subsequent insertion into the prostate for use in radioactive seed therapy treatment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The spacer element (10) includes a central portion (16) and two end portions (18, 20). The spacer element is generally cylindrical in configuration and the two end sections are adapted to receive and hold a portion of radioactive seed elements (12, 14). The spacer element comprises two half-portions (22, 24) joined by a hinge element (26) positioned along a longitudinal edge of the spacer element. The two half-portions rotate about the longitudinal hinge element, moving from an open position, in which the radioactive seeds can be loaded by an operator into the spacer element, to a closed position, in which the radioactive seeds are held in the spacer element. A plurality of seeds and spacers can thus be conveniently assembled into a series string thereof for loading into a needle and subsequent insertion into the prostate.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A spacer element for use with radioactive seeds in needle implant treatment of prostate cancer, comprising:
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a spacer element having a central section and two end sections extending outwardly therefrom, the spacer element comprising two separate portions joined by a longitudinal hinge element, such that the two portions come adjacent one another in a closed position of the spacer element and move apart from one another about the hinge element into an open position, wherein the two end sections are each configured and adapted, respectively, to receive and hold a portion of a radioactive seed when the spacer element is in its closed position and to permit convenient loading of radioactive seeds into the respective end sections when the spacer element is in its open position, thereby permitting convenient assembly of a series string of radioactive seeds and spacers; and
wherein said string of spacer elements and radioactive seeds is fittable within a hollow needle for subsequent insertion into the prostate for use in radioactive seed therapy treatment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification