Sterile radioactive seeds

Abstract

Radioactive seeds, particularly I-125 radioiodine seeds, are sterilised by being subjected to dry heat at a temperature of at least 140° C., preferably 150-200° C. A container having loose sterile radioactive seeds therein is disclosed. The container is preferably of glass with a label and a removable heat-resistant silicone closure.

1 . A method of sterilising one or more radioactive seeds, which method comprises subjecting the radioactive seeds to dry heat for a time sufficient to effect sterilisation, and cooling the radioactive seeds.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is 150 to 200° C.  
     
     
         3 . The method of claims  1  or  2 , wherein the temperature is at least 160° C.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the radioactive seeds are loose.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the radioactive seeds are in a closed container.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the closed container is a vessel having a removable gas-impermeable closure.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  or  claim 6 , wherein the closed container carries during sterilisation a label or marker indicating the contents of the closed container.  
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein a plurality of containers of radioactive seeds, comprising the same or different numbers of radioactive seeds, are sterilised together.  
     
     
         9 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the radioactive seeds comprise  125 I-radioiodine or  103 Pd-palladium.  
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the radioactive seeds are free of moisture.  
     
     
         11 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  10 , where the seeds are echogenic.  
     
     
         12 . A product comprising one or more radioactive seeds in a sterile condition, prepared by a dry heat sterilisation process.  
     
     
         13 . The product of  claim 12 , where the radioactive seeds are in a closed container.  
     
     
         14 . A product comprising a closed container containing one or more radioactive seeds in a sterile condition, wherein the radioactive seeds are free of moisture and of chemical residues characteristic of chemical sterilisation, and wherein the product is free of degradation characteristic of sterilisation by gamma irradiation.  
     
     
         15 . The product of  claims 12  to  14 , wherein the closed container carries a marker or label giving details of the contents.  
     
     
         16 . The product of any one of  claims 12  to  15 , wherein the closed container is a vessel having a removable gas-impermeable closure.  
     
     
         17 . The product of  claim 16 , wherein the vessel is of glass and the removable gas-impermeable closure comprises silicone.  
     
     
         18 . The product of any one of  claims 12  to  17 , wherein the dose distribution of each radioactive seed is substantially isotropic.  
     
     
         19 . The product of any one of  claims 12  to  18  wherein the radioactive seeds comprise  125 I-radioiodine or  103 Pd-palladium.  
     
     
         20 . The product of any one of  claims 12  to  19  wherein the seeds are echogenic.