BRACHYTHERAPY DEVICE INCLUDING AN ANTI-STATIC HANDLE

摘要

A brachytherapy device (10) for exposing to radioactivity a patient includes an elongate member such as a needle or cannula (12) adapted for introduction into the patient and also includes a stylet (14) slidably receivable in a longitudinal throughbore (16) in the needle (12). The device (10) also includes a portion (64) near either the proximal end (18) of the needle (12) or the distal end (24) of the stylet (14) which provides a local, defined amount of friction between the needle (12) and the stylet (14). The device (10) further includes an anti-static handle (34) connected to the needle (12 ). The handle (34) has an interior ramp surface (40) in communication with the throughbore (16) of the needle (12), frustoconical in shape and possessing a n included apical angle of at least about 16~.