Nucletron B.v.

Frits Van Krieken

Johann Kindlein

Arie Luite Visscher

Hans Martin Schot

Albert Dirk Adrianus Koster

Albert Dirk Koster

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for temporarily inserting and positioning at least one energy emitting source in an animal body, wherein the apparatus comprises at least: a hollow open needle having a proximal needle end and a distal needle end to be inserted into the body, so as to provide a channel in the body; a guide tube having a proximal guide tube end and a distal guide tube end to be inserted into the hollow open needle; the hollow open needle being retractable from the body over the guide tube; a first fixing element for fixating the guide tube with said proximal guide tube end relative to the body; a catheter tube having a closed distal catheter tube end and an open proximal catheter tube end to be inserted with its distal catheter tube end until a predetermined depth into the guide tube and the body via said proximal guide tube end and fixating the catheter tube to the guide tube; at least one energy emitting source for insertion into the catheter tube via said proximal catheter tube end and, which at least one energy emitting source is removed after a predetermined period of time from the catheter tube. According to the invention the hollow open needle and said guide tube are inserted through a part of said body leaving both proximal and distal ends of said guide tube exposed outside either sides of said part of said body, and a second fixing element for fixing the guide tube with said distal guide tube end relative to the body.

Method and apparatus for temporarily inserting and positioning at least one energy emitting source in an animal body

The invention relates to an after loader apparatus for treatment of tumours in an animal body comprising a housing with at least one exchangeable radiation source connected to a first end of a transport wire, which wire is connected with its other end to transport means for advancing said transport wire and said radiation source through a guide tube to and from a tumour in said body, where at least the radiation source and the transport wire are mounted in an exchangeable radiation shielded after loader cartridge, which cartridge can be placed in a suitable receptable opening present in said housing. It is an object of the invention to provide an after loader apparatus wherein in a more safe manner to the environment a cartridge containing a radioactive source can be replaced by another cartridge containing a new radioactive source and according to the invention the after loader apparatus is characterized in that, for exchanging said radiation source after use an exchanging device is present for, in a first step, removing the cartridge with the used radiation source from said receptable opening and, in a second step, inserting a further cartridge containing a new radiation source in said receptable opening. The invention relates furthermore to a device for exchanging an after loader cartridge in an after loader apparatus according to the invention.

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Dieren, Netherlands

Frits Van Krieken