Force sensing mechanism
First Claim
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1. A force sensing mechanism comprising:
- a beam having a stationary portion;
a housing for an afterloader, said housing coupled to said beam and having a coupling portion to accommodate a portion of a device to couple to said afterloader; and
a force sensor coupled to said beam to monitor a force of said device, wherein said sensor is of a plurality of sensors, said stationary portion is a first stationary portion adjacent a second stationary portion of said beam, said receptacle of said housing located adjacent said beam and positioned between said first stationary portion and said second stationary portion, said plurality of sensors positioned uniformly equidistant from a location adjacent said coupling portion.
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Abstract
A force sensing mechanism. The mechanism is provided with a beam having a stationary portion. A housing accommodates a portion of a device coupled to an afterloader and is coupled to the beam. A force sensor coupled to the beam monitors a force of the device. An afterloader system includes a processor and a cartridge to house the force sensing mechanism. In a method, the force sensing mechanism is provided to which a portion of a device coupled to an afterloader is coupled. A device force of the device is monitored.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A force sensing mechanism comprising:
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a beam having a stationary portion;
a housing for an afterloader, said housing coupled to said beam and having a coupling portion to accommodate a portion of a device to couple to said afterloader; and
a force sensor coupled to said beam to monitor a force of said device, wherein said sensor is of a plurality of sensors, said stationary portion is a first stationary portion adjacent a second stationary portion of said beam, said receptacle of said housing located adjacent said beam and positioned between said first stationary portion and said second stationary portion, said plurality of sensors positioned uniformly equidistant from a location adjacent said coupling portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A force sensing mechanism comprising:
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a beam having a stationary portion;
a housing for an afterloader, said housing coupled to said beam and having a coupling portion to accommodate a portion of a device to couple to said afterloader; and
a force sensor coupled to said beam to monitor a force of said device, wherein said housing includes a movable latch extending into said receptacle to cooperate with a notch of said device to secure said device to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An afterloader system comprising:
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a processor;
a force sensing mechanism to deliver information to said processor regarding a force of a device to couple to an afterloader; and
a cartridge to house said force sensing mechanism, said force sensing mechanism having a beam with a stationary portion, a housing coupled to said beam to accommodate a portion of said device, and a force sensor coupled to said beam to monitor said force of said device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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providing a force sensing mechanism having a beam with a stationary portion and a force sensor coupled to said beam;
coupling a portion of a device to a housing for an afterloader, said housing coupled to said beam; and
monitoring a device force of said device, wherein said coupling is of said portion of said first device to a predetermined precise location of said housing, said method further comprising;
withdrawing said source implement from said lumen; and
connecting a portion of a second device to said precise location.
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16. A method comprising:
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providing a force sensing mechanism having a beam with a stationary portion and a force sensor coupled to said beam;
coupling a portion of a device to a housing for an afterloader, said housing coupled to said beam;
monitoring a device force of said device; and
advancing a source implement at a prescribed rate through a lumen of said first device prior to said monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
prescribing a slow-down force; and
slowing said advancing from said prescribed rate in response to said monitoring indicating said device force as attaining a value of said slow-down force.
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18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
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prescribing a stop force; and
stopping said advancing in response to said monitoring indicating said device force as attaining a value of said stop force.
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19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
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prescribing a first stop force, said advancing to be stopped upon said monitoring indicating said device force as attaining said first stop force when a distal portion of said source implement is within a first portion of said lumen; and
prescribing a second stop force, said advancing to be stopped upon said monitoring indicating said device force as attaining said second stop force when a distal portion of said source implement is within a second portion of said lumen.
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20. The method of claim 16 wherein said monitoring of said device force includes taking multiple readings of said device force during said advancing, said method further comprising:
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prescribing a stop force; and
stopping said advancing in response to said monitoring indicating said device force as attaining a value of said stop force in successive readings of said multiple readings.
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21. The method of claim 16 further comprising identifying said first device prior to said advancing.
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22. The method of claim 21 further comprising prescribing a slow-down force based upon an identity obtained from said identifying, said advancing to be slowed from said prescribed rate upon said monitoring indicating said device force as attaining said slow-down force.
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23. The method of claim 21 further comprising prescribing a stop force based upon an identity obtained from said identifying, said advancing to be stopped upon said monitoring indicating said device force as attaining said stop force.
Specification