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.