Device for loading radioactive seeds
First Claim
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1. A loader device for dispensing seeds from a seed magazine and spacers into a seed implant needle, wherein the seed magazine includes a plurality of serially-aligned seeds within a locating arm and means for intermittently advancing the seeds to a position aligned with a seed outlet defined by the locating arm, said loader device comprising:
- an elongate loader body defining a seed input aperture, a spacer input aperture, and a dispense aperture, a substantially longitudinally-oriented seed passageway extending between said seed input aperture and said dispense aperture, and a substantially longitudinally-oriented spacer passageway extending between said spacer input aperture and said dispense aperture, said loader body further defining means for retentatively accommodating the seed magazine so as to position the seed outlet of the magazine in registry with said seed passageway; and
a plunger assembly operably associated with said loader body, said plunger assembly including an elongate plunger rod positionable in spaced registry with the seed outlet of the seed magazine, said plunger rod urgeable against a seed aligned with the seed outlet of the seed magazine so as to eject the seed into said seed passageway.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a loader device, for dispensing implantation seeds from a seed magazine and, optionally, a spacer magazine.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A loader device for dispensing seeds from a seed magazine and spacers into a seed implant needle, wherein the seed magazine includes a plurality of serially-aligned seeds within a locating arm and means for intermittently advancing the seeds to a position aligned with a seed outlet defined by the locating arm, said loader device comprising:
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an elongate loader body defining a seed input aperture, a spacer input aperture, and a dispense aperture, a substantially longitudinally-oriented seed passageway extending between said seed input aperture and said dispense aperture, and a substantially longitudinally-oriented spacer passageway extending between said spacer input aperture and said dispense aperture, said loader body further defining means for retentatively accommodating the seed magazine so as to position the seed outlet of the magazine in registry with said seed passageway; and
a plunger assembly operably associated with said loader body, said plunger assembly including an elongate plunger rod positionable in spaced registry with the seed outlet of the seed magazine, said plunger rod urgeable against a seed aligned with the seed outlet of the seed magazine so as to eject the seed into said seed passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Method for dispensing seeds and spacers, the seeds being dispensed from a seed magazine, wherein the seed magazine includes a plurality of serially-aligned seeds within a locating arm and means for intermittently advancing the seeds to a position aligned with a seed outlet defined by the locating arm, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) providing a loader with a body, seed magazine receiving and locating means, seed dispensing means for ejecting seeds from a seed magazine, a seed-transporting path communicating with a dispensing outlet, and a spacer-transporting path communicating with the dispensing outlet;
(ii) mounting a seed magazine containing one or more seeds in said seed transporting path and dispensing a seed through said dispensing outlet;
(iii) placing a spacer in said spacer transporting path;
(iv) dispensing said spacer through said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification