| 摘要 |
The invention relates to a device for sensing the presence of the distal end of a source wire in a reference position within a guidance channel of an afterloading apparatus, said afterloading apparatus being used for positioning an energy emitting source fixed to said distal end of said source wire at a desired position within an animal body for radiation therapy treatment purposes, by driving said source wire from said reference position towards said desired position through said guidance channel and a catheter tube, which catheter tube is connected with one tube end to the afterloading apparatus and implanted with its other tube end in said animal body. The invention aims to provide an afterloading apparatus provided with a sensing device is capable of more accurately and reliable detecting the presence of the distal end and more in particularly the presence of the energy emitting source at its reference position, allowing a more save handling of the energy emitting source and thus avoiding hazardous and harmful situations. According to the invention the sensing device is characterized in that a lever element is pivotally mounted near said guidance channel, which lever element is in a first position, when said distal end of said source wire is not present in its reference position and whereas said lever element is in a second position, when said distal end is present in its reference position. With this embodiment it is possible to sense the presence of the distal end and the energy emitting source at several important operational positions within the afterloading apparatus or patient, thus allowing a more exact positioning of the energy emitting source into the patient's body. |
