Flexible Push Cable for Radioactive Seed Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brachytherapy devices for loading and pushing radioactive seeds face reliability issues due to clogging and lack of flexibility in seed spacing, which can delay treatments and affect the number of patients that can be treated effectively.
Innovation Solution
A device with a reservoir of free radioactive seeds and a flexible push cable, driven by a motor-driven guide and actuator system, which ensures reliable loading and pushing of seeds by retracting and deploying the push cable to prevent jamming and allow for adjustable seed spacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reservoir of free radioactive seeds is used, then adaptability in seed spacing is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to clogging and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
A push cable is introduced as an intermediary component between the seed reservoir and the delivery system. The push cable actively pushes seeds out of the reservoir, preventing them from getting stuck or jamming, thereby maintaining reliability while allowing the reservoir to maintain its flexible, free-seed configuration for adaptable spacing
Solution Approach 2:
The push cable is made flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the position and orientation of seeds in the reservoir. This flexibility enables the cable to reliably push out seeds regardless of their random positions, maintaining both reliability and adaptability
2Ease of operation
If a rigid push cable is used, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to navigate flexible pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The push cable transitions from a rigid to a flexible construction, allowing it to dynamically bend and follow the catheter's pathway while still being easily operated. The flexibility enables navigation through complex anatomical pathways while the motor-driven actuator maintains simple automated operation
3Productivity
If the push cable remains deployed, then productivity is improved by continuous pushing capability, but reliability deteriorates due to interference with seed loading
Solution Approach 1:
The push cable is designed to dynamically change its state between retracted and deployed positions. It is retracted during seed loading to avoid interference, then deployed for pushing, and retracted again after delivery. This dynamic behavior ensures both reliable loading and efficient delivery without continuous deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The push cable operates in periodic cycles: retract for loading, deploy for pushing, retract for reloading. This periodic action pattern ensures that the cable is only deployed when needed for pushing, preventing interference with the loading process while maintaining productivity through rapid cyclic operation
Data Source
AI summary
A radioactive seed loading and pushing device suitable for a brachytherapy treatment, the device including: a seed reservoir containing radioactive seeds, free with respect to one another; a flexible push cable and a motor-driven device for driving and guiding the push cable configured to make the push cable switch from a retracted position, clearing a loading area for a radioactive seed, up to a deployed position ensuring pushing of the seed; and a system ensuring loading of a seed from the reservoir up to the loading area.