Evaluation of an automatic needle-loading system.
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the dosimetric capabilities and the radiation protection (RP) performance of a new automatic needle-loading system for permanent prostate implants, the Isoloader (Mentor Corp.). The unit has been used in more than 100 clinical cases at our institution. The Isoloader is a computerized workstation that allows automated seed testing by a solid-state CdZnTe radiation detector and loading in surgical needles. The seeds are received in a shielded and ready-to-use cartridge. Radiation protection measurements were done on a cartridge filled with 67 (125)I seeds and during dosimetric seed verification and needle loading. The reproducibility of the detector was tested and its accuracy was determined by comparison to specified activities of six calibration seeds and to their measurements in a calibrated well-chamber (WC). Finally, the times required to complete dosimetric verification and needle loading were evaluated. The cartridge was found to be adequately shielded, since no significant amount of radiation was detected around it. Radiation during seed assay was found to be worst at the cartridge's bottom, where it has a value of 15.2 microSv/h (1.4 microSv/h at 10 cm). For the needle-loading task, measurements were performed with a typical needle (three seeds) at the shielded needle holder surface yielding 307.2 microSv/h (8.3 microSv/h at 20 cm). Seed dosimetric verification takes an average of 15 s/seed, while it takes a mean time of 50 s/needle to complete the loading task. Measurements of the six seed activities were within 0.65% of the ordered activities and 1.9% higher on average than those from the WC (min = 0.7%; max = 3.5%). The reproducibility of the measurements of the CdZnTe detector was excellent, with an average of 0.01% of deviation from a reference measurement (N = 120; = 1.9%). We therefore conclude that the Isoloader is a safe, fast, and effective needle-loading system.