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:
Aug. 29, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 07, 2003
Johann Kindlein, Oberhausen, DE;
Frits Van Krieken, Dieren, NL;
Arie Luite Visscher, Driebergen, NL;
Johann Kindlein, Oberhausen, DE;
Frits van Krieken, Dieren, NL;
Arie Luite Visscher, Driebergen, NL;
Nucletron B.V., Veenendaal, NL;
Abstract
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.