Disposable and shielded seed magazine and spacer magazine assembly

Abstract

A magazine assembly for use in a medical instrument, for example, a radioactive seed applicator, includes a housing, a cartridge, a seed plunger and a spring element. The housing is formed of a material adapted to shield transmission of radioactive energy.

1 . A seed magazine, comprising: 
 a cartridge portion configured to receive at least one radioactive seed; and    a housing portion formed of a material, the material having a radiation shield effectiveness substantially equal to that of lead for at least one of I-125, TI-201, Xe-133, Tc-99m and Pd-103.    
   
   
       2 . The seed magazine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge portion is configured to receive a plurality of seeds.  
   
   
       3 . The seed magazine according to  claim 1 , wherein the material includes a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       4 . The seed magazine according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is lead-free.  
   
   
       5 . The seed magazine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a seed plunger configured to eject the seed from the cartridge portion.  
   
   
       6 . The seed magazine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge portion is configured to be non-refillable after ejection of the at least one seed.  
   
   
       7 . The seed magazine according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is injection moldable.  
   
   
       8 . The seed magazine according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing portion is configured to connect to a seed applicator device.  
   
   
       9 . The seed magazine according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is autoclaveable.