Within the recent resurgence of brachytherapy as treatment for prostate cancer, many new devices have been conceived in the preparation of surgical brachytherapy equipment. Specifically, this work encompasses the automated preparation of preloaded surgical brachytherapy applicators or “needles” through the loading of radioactive seed elements and benign spacer elements. While traditionally a manual operation, current device methodology in this application revolves around semi-automatic mechanical interaction within the element loading procedure. Mechanical interaction can subject elements to damage, specifically seed elements due to thin metallic construct. Damage to elements within a loading system can result in failure of the performed brachytherapy treatment causing potential harm to the patient. Hesitancy in acceptance of these mechanical separation element loading devices can be attributed to the failure nature of these devices. This work seeks to solve the current issue of element damage through noninteraction while offering improvement through full automation of the loading procedure.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: jproffitt@avltech.com
e-mail: ballaaron@wcu.edu
Article navigation
June 2012
Research Papers
A Device for the Automated Loading and Detection of Brachytherapy Elements Using Nonmechanical Methods for use in Prostate Cancer Treatment
Jason A. Proffitt,
Jason A. Proffitt
Graduate Researcher
Department of Engineering and Technology,
e-mail: jproffitt@avltech.com
Western Carolina University
, Cullowhee, NC 28723
Search for other works by this author on:
Aaron K. Ball
Aaron K. Ball
Professor
Department of Engineering and Technology,
e-mail: ballaaron@wcu.edu
Western Carolina University
, Cullowhee, NC 28723
Search for other works by this author on:
Jason A. Proffitt
Graduate Researcher
Department of Engineering and Technology,
Western Carolina University
, Cullowhee, NC 28723e-mail: jproffitt@avltech.com
Aaron K. Ball
Professor
Department of Engineering and Technology,
Western Carolina University
, Cullowhee, NC 28723e-mail: ballaaron@wcu.edu
J. Med. Devices. Jun 2012, 6(2): 021009 (8 pages)
Published Online: May 7, 2012
Article history
Received:
July 11, 2011
Revised:
February 2, 2012
Online:
May 7, 2012
Published:
May 7, 2012
Citation
Proffitt, J. A., and Ball, A. K. (May 7, 2012). "A Device for the Automated Loading and Detection of Brachytherapy Elements Using Nonmechanical Methods for use in Prostate Cancer Treatment." ASME. J. Med. Devices. June 2012; 6(2): 021009. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4006542
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Development of an Anatomically Accurate Three-Dimensional Simulation Model for Pediatric Central Line Placement
J. Med. Devices (March 2024)
Related Articles
Design of a Bending Section Auto-Driven Mechanism for Colonoscope
J. Med. Devices (June,2009)
Innovative Renal Cooling Device for Use in Minimally Invasive Surgery
J. Med. Devices (June,2011)
Multiscale Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling for Personalized Liver Cancer Radioembolization Dosimetry
J Biomech Eng (January,2021)
Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Direct Current Ablation for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
J. Med. Devices (June,2009)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Validation of Elekta iViewGT A-Si EPID Model for Pre-Treatment Dose Verification of IMRT Fields
International Conference on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering, 4th (ICACTE 2011)
Colorectal Cancer Prognosis in Gene Expression Data
Intelligent Engineering Systems through Artificial Neural Networks Volume 18
The Human Factor in Network System Survivability (PSAM-0090)
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM)