The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 22, 1998
Filed:
May. 08, 1995
Kenneth M Bueche, Friendswood, TX (US);
Richard T Thornton, League City, TX (US);
Anthony J Bradshaw, Missouri City, TX (US);
Omnitron International, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An afterloader for use in radiation oncology or intravascular radiotherapy comprises a wire storage mechanism for storing a radioactive-tipped sourcewire, a drive mechanism for advancing the sourcewire into a catheter or other channel implanted in a patient. A computer control system receives information from an encoder and a force sensor, which monitor the displacement of and the force exerted on the sourcewire, respectively. The displacement and force information are used to advance the wire at the fastest possible speed to the treatment site without exceeding a pre-programmed force profile designed to ensure the sourcewire does not puncture the catheter. The force profile is dynamic depending on the particular catheter being used, and catheter information may be inputted into the computer controller using a bar code or other information storage means in the catheter itself.