Abstract: An afterloader for use in radiation oncology or intravascular radiotherapy comprises a wire storage mechanism for storing a radioactive-tipped sourcewire, a drive mechanism for advancing the sourcewire into a catheter or other channel implanted in a patient. A computer control system receives information from an encoder and a force sensor, which monitor the displacement of and the force exerted on the sourcewire, respectively. The displacement and force information are used to advance the wire at the fastest possible speed to the treatment site without exceeding a pre-programmed force profile designed to ensure the sourcewire does not puncture the catheter. The force profile is dynamic depending on the particular catheter being used, and catheter information may be inputted into the computer controller using a bar code or other information storage means in the catheter itself.

Abstract: A treatment wire is provided for the delivery of a treatment to a site within the body that is composed of two stages. This treatment wire includes a single wire drive portion that is optimal for the proximal end of the treatment wire and engages any storage and/or drive mechanism that may be used in storing and/or deploying the treatment wire. The single drive wire is ground at its distal end to a smaller diameter and encased within a tube forming the second stage of the treatment wire. Because the drive wire terminates proximally to the tube, a cavity is formed that can retain the treating substance to be delivered to the patient. Shape-memory/superelastic material is preferably used for the construction of the treatment wire. When such material is used, the distal end of the treatment wire can be heat treated in order to render it more ductile and, therefore, more desirable for use in the tortuous passageways of the body.

Abstract: An automatic prescription dispensing system includes a housing or frame having a plurality of pill dispenser units mounted therein, a plurality of vial supply assemblies at one end of the housing, and a filled vial offload carousel at an opposite end. A vial manipulator assembly is mounted on the housing to enable translational movement of a vial manipulator frame vertically and horizontally and pivoting about a vertical axis to retrieve vials from the supply assemblies, fill the vials at the dispenser units, and deposit the filled vials onto the carousel. The vial manipulator frame includes spring loaded grippers to engage and carry the vials and a drive motor and gear for meshing with dispenser unit gears to operate the dispenser units. The system includes a controller including an interface for coupling to the printer port of a pharmacy host computer printer port for intercepting drug name and quantity data for a prescription which was directed to a prescription label printer.