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:
Jun. 12, 2007
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2003
Daniel M. Elliott, Shorewood, MN (US);
George M. Hoedeman, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
John J. Berkey, St. Louis Park, MN (US);
Jonathan D. Elliott, St. Paul, MN (US);
Daniel M. Elliott, Shorewood, MN (US);
George M. Hoedeman, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
John J. Berkey, St. Louis Park, MN (US);
Jonathan D. Elliott, St. Paul, MN (US);
Mills Biopharmaceuticals LLC, Oklahoma City, OK (US);
Abstract
An automated system for loading low dose radioisotope seeds into a plurality of implant needles is comprised of a loading station into which a replaceable cartridge may be positioned. The cartridge is preloaded with a plurality of radioisotope seeds and a plurality of spacers. The cartridge has at least one aperture and preferably the radioisotope seeds and spacers are loaded around the periphery of a rotatable drum within the cartridge. The loading station has a cartridge receiving structure and an automated motion control system. When the cartridge is positioned in the cartridge receiving structure, the automated motion control system preferably drives a pair of stepper motors within the cartridge, one for rotating the rotatable drum and one for sliding a pushrod to selectively eject radioisotope seeds and spacers from the cartridge into each of a plurality of implant needles positioned so as to receive the radioisotopes seeds and spacers within the implant needle. In one embodiment, the implant needles are positioned tip first into the loading station, and once a predetermined arrangement of radioisotope seeds and spacers are loaded into the implant needle, a plug is positioned in the tip of the implant needle. Preferably, the automated system includes a computer processor having a touch screen user interface that is connected to and directs the operation of the automated motion control system to load the plurality of implant needles in accordance with a predetermined dose plan.