Abstract: A spacer for use in brachytherapy, and radiotherapy, is formed of an encapsulating material in a generally cylindrical or elongated shape. Regions are formed within the spacer and retaining therapeutic loads, such as radiation sources and/or pharmaceutical therapeutic loads, and/or other substances to treat a patient, such as drug liquids, powder or particles (e.g., microparticles or nanoparticles), with the particles or powders combined with binders, such as polyacrylamide, that are selected to gradually disperse the powder or particles at a desired rate. Such regions can be formed at various locations within the spacer, and can have various shapes depending on the particular design and intended usage. The outer surface of the encapsulating material can optionally include one or more fins, ribs or other physical protuberances or features that improve the fixity of the spacer when implanted within a patient's body.

Abstract: A therapeutic member for use in brachytherapy deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle comprises a single radioactive source encapsulated by a bio-absorbable material having an outer surface including one or more ribs encircling the single radioactive source, a leading edge endcap rib and a trailing edge endcap rib. The one or more ribs reduces a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. The encapsulating material further includes a first rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, and a second rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, the second rail arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the first rail is arranged.

Abstract: A spacer for use in brachytherapy, and radiotherapy, is formed of an encapsulating material in a generally cylindrical or elongated shape. Regions are formed within the spacer and retaining therapeutic loads, such as radiation sources and/or pharmaceutical therapeutic loads, and/or any other substances to treat a patient, such as drug liquids, powder or particles (e.g., microparticles or nanoparticles), with the particles or powders combined with binders, such as polyacrylamide, that are selected to gradually disperse the powder or particles at a desired rate. Such regions can be formed at various locations within the spacer, and can have various shapes depending on the particular design and intended usage. The outer surface of the encapsulating material can optionally include one or more fins, ribs or other physical protuberances or features that improve the fixity of the spacer when implanted within a patient's body.

Abstract: A therapeutic member for use in brachytherapy deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle comprises a single radioactive source encapsulated by a bio-absorbable material having an outer surface including one or more ribs encircling the single radioactive source, a leading edge endcap rib and a trailing edge endcap rib. The one or more ribs reduces a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. The encapsulating material further includes a first rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, and a second rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, the second rail arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the first rail is arranged.

Abstract: A therapeutic strand implant, for use in brachytherapy and deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle, includes a plurality of radioactive sources, and a polymeric material molded to encapsulate the radioactive sources. A space is defined by the polymeric material between each adjacent pair of the radioactive sources. A plurality of protrusions is defined by an outer surface of the encapsulating polymeric material.

Abstract: Spacers for use in brachytherapy, radiotherapy, and other medical therapy, which can be used to improve a patient's outcome, assist in treating difficult cases and/or combine multiple modalities that are currently performed separately into a single procedure. In accordance with an embodiment, a spacer is formed of an encapsulating material in a generally cylindrical or elongated shape. One or more regions are formed within the spacer for receiving and retaining therapeutic loads, such as radiation sources and/or pharmaceutical therapeutic loads, and/or any other substances that a physician might select to treat a patient, such as drug liquids, powder or particles (e.g., microparticles or nanoparticles), with the particles or powders combined with binders, such as polyacrylamide, that are selected to retain and gradually disperse the powder or particles at a desired rate.

Abstract: An anchor mechanism includes a sleeve to fit around a structure such as a radioactive source, a thermal ablation implant, a spacer, a strand or a radiopaque marker. The sleeve has a bore that extends an entire longitudinal length of the sleeve, and through which the structure fits, such that the structure can extend out from both longitudinal ends of the sleeve. One or more protrusion extends from an outer surface of the sleeve to engage surrounding patient tissue after implantation of the structure into a patient, to thereby reduce a tendency for the structure to migrate and rotate after implantation.

Abstract: In one embodiment a therapeutic member includes a radioactive source and a material (e.g., a bio-absorbable polymeric material) that encapsulates the radioactive source. An outer surface of the encapsulating material includes a plurality of protrusions to reduce a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. In an embodiment, the encapsulating material includes an anchor mechanism that extends from at least one of the longitudinal ends of the radioactive source to reduce a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to strands that include similar protrusions and/or anchor mechanisms. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention are directed to spacers that resist migration and rotation. Embodiments are also directed to radiopaque markers that resist migration and rotation. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of the invention.

Abstract: A therapeutic member for use in brachytherapy deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle comprises a single radioactive source encapsulated by a bio-absorbable material having an outer surface including one or more ribs encircling the single radioactive source, a leading edge endcap rib and a trailing edge endcap rib. The one or more ribs reduces a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. The encapsulating material further includes a first rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, and a second rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, the second rail arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the first rail is arranged.

Abstract: A therapeutic member for use in brachytherapy deliverable to an implant site by way of a needle comprises a single radioactive source encapsulated by a bio-absorbable material having an outer surface including one or more ribs encircling the single radioactive source, a leading edge endcap rib and a trailing edge endcap rib. The one or more ribs reduces a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. The encapsulating material further includes a first rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, and a second rail formed from the bio-absorbable material extending at least from opposite sides of the outer surface of the encapsulating material along the longitudinal axis of the therapeutic member, the second rail arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the first rail is arranged.

Abstract: In an embodiment a therapeutic member includes a single radioactive seed and is adapted to be implanted into patient tissue using a hollow needle. The seed includes a metallic housing with radioactive material contained within the metallic housing. A polymeric bio-adherent and/or bio-adhesive material surrounds at least a portion the housing of the single radioactive seed. The polymeric bio-adherent and/or bio-adhesive material reduces a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation of the member.

Abstract: In an embodiment a therapeutic member includes a solitary radioactive seed. The seed includes a metallic housing with radioactive material contained within the metallic housing. The metallic housing has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end and a longitudinal length between the first and second longitudinal ends. A polymeric material is molded to completely and monolithically encapsulate the metallic housing of the solitary radioactive seed. The implantable therapeutic member is adapted to be implanted into patient tissue using a hollow needle. A portion of the molded polymeric material extends from one of the first and second longitudinal ends of the metallic housing to reduce a tendency of the seed to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation of the member.

Abstract: After-loader devices, kits, and methods for using the same are provided. Such after-loader devices are useful for loading implants into hollow needles, especially after the needles are inserted into patient tissue. The after-loader devices can be pre-loaded with implants, before the after-loaders are connected to hubs of hollow needles, or loaded thereafter.

Abstract: After-loader devices, kits, and methods for using the same are provided. Such after-loader devices are useful for loading implants into hollow needles, especially after the needles are inserted into patient tissue. The after-loader devices can be pre-loaded with implants, before the after-loaders are connected to hubs of hollow needles, or loaded thereafter.

Abstract: The present invention is an automated ice vending machine for delivering ice to consumers. The machine of the present invention includes an insulated enclosure, an ice manufacturing apparatus, a cooling unit, an ice inventory storage bin, an ice agitating device, an incline ice transport device, and a bagger assembly. The present invention also includes a method of vending ice to a consumer.

Abstract: An anchor mechanism includes a sleeve to fit around a structure such as a radioactive source, a thermal ablation implant, a spacer, a strand or a radiopaque marker. The sleeve has a bore that extends an entire longitudinal length of the sleeve, and through which the structure fits, such that the structure can extend out from both longitudinal ends of the sleeve. One or more protrusion extends from an outer surface of the sleeve to engage surrounding patient tissue after implantation of the structure into a patient, to thereby reduce a tendency for the structure to migrate and rotate after implantation.

Abstract: In one embodiment a therapeutic member includes a radioactive source and a material (e.g., a bio-absorbable polymeric material) that encapsulates the radioactive source. An outer surface of the encapsulating material includes a plurality of protrusions to reduce a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. In an embodiment, the encapsulating material includes an anchor mechanism that extends from at least one of the longitudinal ends of the radioactive source to reduce a tendency of the member to migrate and rotate within a patient's body after implantation. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to strands that include similar protrusions and/or anchor mechanisms. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention are directed to spacers that resist migration and rotation. Embodiments are also directed to radiopaque markers that resist migration and rotation. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of the invention.