Abstract: A vacuum force is applied to simplify the routine of pick-up and handling of radioactive seeds, singly or in groups, and to quickly and safely transfer the seeds into a shielded direct-coupled holding vial. The shielded holding vial is part of a hand held probe which can be detached quickly and interchanged with another empty shielded holding vial, thereby permitting the sorting or separating of radioactive seeds into different groups. Due to its quick pick-up ability, light weight and quick-coupling shielded storage vial, the spring loaded probe can greatly reduce the pick-up and transfer time and hence, eliminate radiation exposure to an individual. As a simple vacuum transfer pick-up, the spring loaded probe is provided with an adaptive mouthpiece which permits manipulation of radioactive seeds, within a shielded area. In addition, the handling of small objects including non-radioactive objects such as TLD chips commonly used in radiation or radiation measurement areas is achieved.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted handling and loading of radioactive seeds into implant needles from a lead glass shielded glass tube and with seeds manipulated within an enclosed visible radiation shield. Radioactive seeds and spacers are located on a loading platform within a shield having at least two transparent side walls for viewing into the interior of the shield. A vacuum pickup probe is inserted into the shield to manipulate the radioactive seeds and spacers to lift and drop the radioactive seeds and spacers into the funnel leading to a glass tube, behind a lead glass window. The manipulation of the vacuum pickup probe is performed from outside of the shield and vacuum force exerted through the pickup probe and the glass tube on the radioactive seeds or spacers.