IP Library Granted Patent US 7,407,477
Granted Patent B2
US 7,407,477 · App. 11/692,084 · Granted Aug 5, 2008

Strand with end plug

Assignee: Worldwide Medical Technologies LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,407,477
App. No.
11/692,084
Granted
Aug 5, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A treatment strand for insertion into a patient using a needle. The treatment strand includes an elongated member having first and second longitudinal ends, and a plurality of treatments seeds spaced apart from one another between the longitudinal ends. One of the longitudinal ends of the elongated member is a needle plug.

Claims (35)

1. A treatment strand loaded into a needle, the strand comprising:

an elongated member having first and second longitudinal ends and configured to be loaded into the needle;

a plurality of treatments seeds within said elongated member between said longitudinal ends; and

a needle plug that is one of the longitudinal ends of said elongated member;

wherein said needle plug is configured to keep said elongated member within the needle until said elongated member is expelled from the needle using a stylet.

2. The treatment strand of claim 1 , wherein said needle plug is a heated and reflowed one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member.

3. The treatment strand of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member and said needle plug are made from a bio-absorbable material.

4. The treatment strand of claim 1 , wherein said treatment seeds are radioactive treatment seeds.

5. A treatment strand loaded into a needle, the treatment strand comprising:

a molded elongated member;

a plurality of treatments seeds molded within said elongated member; and

a needle plug that is a longitudinal end of said elongated member;

wherein said needle plug is configured to keep said molded elongated member within the needle until said molded elongated member is expelled from the needle using a stylet.

6. The treatment strand of claim 5 , wherein said plurality of treatment seeds comprise a plurality of radioactive treatment seeds.

7. The treatment strand of claim 5 , wherein said elongated member and said needle plug are made of a bio-absorbable material.

8. The treatment strand of claim 5 , wherein said needle plug is a heated and reflowed end of said elongated member.

9. A method for providing a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising:

(a) loading into a needle an elongated member configured to be implanted into patient tissue, said elongated member including first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds within said elongated member between said longitudinal ends; and

(b) transforming one of said longitudinal ends of said elongate member into a needle plug configured to keep said elongated member within the needle until said elongated member is expelled from the needle using a stylet.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein step (b) comprises heating and reflowing said one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member to thereby transform said one of said longitudinal ends into said needle plug.

11. A method for providing a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising:

(a) loading into a needle an elongated member configured to be implanted into patient tissue and including with first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds molded within said elongated member between said longitudinal ends; and

(b) heating one of said longitudinal ends of said molded elongated member to create a needle plug.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said treatments seeds comprise radioactive treatment seeds.

13. A method for providing a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising:

(a) providing an elongated member with first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds within said elongated member between said longitudinal ends;

(b) inserting said elongated member into a needle; and

(c) forming a needle plug at one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member by heating one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member after said elongated member is inserted into the needle.

14. A method for creating a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising:

(a) creating an elongated member with first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds between said longitudinal ends;

(b) inserting said elongated member into a needle; and

(c) heating one of said longitudinal ends of said elongated member to create a needle plug.

15. A method for providing a device for use in interstitial radiation therapy, comprising:

(a) inserting an elongated member into a needle, the elongated member having first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of treatments seeds between the longitudinal ends; and

(b) after the elongated member is inserted into the needle, heating one of said longitudinal ends of said elongate member to create a needle plug.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2016
From: ECKERT & ZIEGLER BEBIG S.A.
To: THERAGENICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037475/0823 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE TOTAL ATTACHMENTS TO INCLUDE SCHEDULE A. DOCUMENT ID# 502678702. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 032145 FRAME 0713. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT.. Recorded Feb 12, 2014
From: BIOCOMPATIBLES UK, LTD.
To: ECKERT & ZIEGLER BEBIG S.A.
Reel/Frame 032435/0086 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2014
From: BIOCOMPATIBLES UK, LTD.
To: ECKERT & ZIEGLER BEBIG S.A.
Reel/Frame 032145/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2008
From: WORLD WIDE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: BIOCOMPATIBLES UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 021354/0292 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 1140980500 · Apr 24, 2006
Division 1039794000 · Mar 26, 2003
Continuation 1003508300 · Dec 28, 2001
Provisional Application 6033632900 · Nov 2, 2001
Related Publication 20070191669A1 · Aug 16, 2007