Kingston General Hospital Cancer Centre Collection
Category
Diagnostic & Treatment Artifacts
Classification
Radiotherapy
Accession Number
005020001 a-f
Description
A brachytherapy radioactive material applicator in a case; consists of the applicator device (a) which is basically a long needle in a thick round cylinder with two finger rings on the bottom; the case (b) is made of pine and has a rubber handle; the lid of the case is lined with thick gray foam; i…
A brachytherapy radioactive material applicator in a case; consists of the applicator device (a) which is basically a long needle in a thick round cylinder with two finger rings on the bottom; the case (b) is made of pine and has a rubber handle; the lid of the case is lined with thick gray foam; inside the case is a removable stainless steel sterilization tray (c) which is fitted to hold the applicator and additional pieces; also included are a cartridge (d) which would hold the radioactive seeds, and unidentified tool (e) which consists of a cylindrical steel handle and a short black metal tip sticking out from it about an inch; there is also a needle with a thick cylindrical base (f) of unknown purpose, and six needle cleaners (which are too small to number individually, which are thin rods that would be inserted into a needle to remove residue, and about 35 small needles (also too small to individually number) which are fitted securely into slots on in the tray.
Number Of Parts
6
Part Names
a - applicator - Size: Length 41.5 cm x Width 8.1 cm x Depth 3.7 cm
b - case - Size: Length 47.5 cm x Width 19.5 cm x Depth 6.3 cm
c - tray - Size: Length 45.5 cm x Width 15.0 cm x Depth 3.8 cm
d - cannister - Size: Length 5.1 cm x Diam. 1.1 cm
e - tool - Size: Length 7.3 cm x Diam. 1.1 cm
f - needle - Size: Length 15.8 cm x Diam. 0.9 cm
Provenance
The applicator was used at the Cancer Clinic at Kingston General Hospital.
"Mick Radio-Nuclear Instruments, Inc. // 1470 Outlook Avenue Bronx, New York 10465 // Telephone (212) 597-3999 // Mod. # 7308 Ser. # 8335" on two metal panels on the lid of the case (the second does not include the model or serial numbers)
"KT 0376" engraved on a panel on the front of the case
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-F3-10
Condition Remarks
The instruments are like new; the foam in the case is deteriorating badly.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Internet
Reference Comments
Dr. John Schreiner; Website "Mick Radio-Nuclear Instruments, Inc. "The Brachytherapy Company""
Research Facts
Brachytherapy is a form of radiation therapy in which sources of radioactive material are placed in tumours (interstitial implants) or in body cavities near tumours (intracavitary insertions); using this method, high doses of radiation can be given to tumours while sparing normal tissues; the word "brachytherapy" means "short therapy" implying that the radiation is limited to short distances; surgery, chemotherapy, external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy can be used to treat various malignancies, and a combination of two or more of these can often improve the results of any modality alone; this applicator was used intraoperatively to insert radioactive Iodine-125 seeds into a patient's prostate during an operation to sample his lymph nodes; the radiation oncologist inserted the needles into that prostate at the locations determined by a medical physicist and then attached the cartridge containing the seeds to the side of the applicator and attached to applicator to each needle in turn and inserted the seeds at the predetermined spacing; as the seeds were deposited, the needle was withdrawn, leaving the seeds in the prostate; the seeds remained in the prostate, so the procedure was known as a permanent implant.