Apparatus and method for transporting radiopharmaceuticals

• US 20050247893A1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health 414 Incorporated (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cardinal Health 414 Incorporated (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fu, Monty Mong Chen, Zhu, Bing Bing
• Granted Patent: US 7,268,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/507.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/018 Syringe shields or holders syringe shielding for applying radioactive material to the body A61M5/1785
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transporting radiopharmaceuticals. Typically, the apparatus is a two-part assembly, each part having an exterior shell, a radiation shield and a non-porous lining. Additionally, the assembled apparatus has a sealed internal chamber suitable for carrying a syringe or a sharps container containing a syringe. The internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig is lined with a non-porous lining, typically a durable plastic, that prevents contamination of the radiopharmaceutical doses, the radiation shield, or the environment. Additionally, the non-porous lining can be quickly and easily cleaned and sterilized, avoiding the often difficult, to impossible, task of cleaning and sterilizing the radiation shield of the radiopharmaceutical pig. The non-porous lining is surrounded by a radiation shield that is typically comprised of elemental lead. The radiation shield prevents radiation from the radiopharmaceutical from contaminating the user or environment. The radiation shield is surrounded by an exterior shell that absorbs impact and prevents the radiopharmaceutical pig from breaking. Additionally, the exterior shell prevents environmental exposure to the potentially hazardous material of the radiation shield. Generally, a method of transporting a radiopharmaceutical by filling the container with a radiopharmaceutical, inserting the container into the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig having a non-porous lining, and assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig so the that the container is in the internal chamber and is encapsulated by the radiation shield, is also provided.

Claims

1-27. -27. (canceled)

37. A method for transporting a radiopharmaceutical pig containing a radiopharmaceutical, the method comprising:

providing an upper exterior shell, an upper radiation shield, and an upper non-porous lining, wherein the interior surface of the upper non-porous lining defines a upper portion of an internal chamber;

providing an lower exterior shell, an lower radiation shield, and an lower non-porous lining, wherein the interior surface of the lower non-porous lining defines a lower portion of an internal chamber;

fill the internal chamber with a radiopharmaceutical; and

attaching the upper exterior shell, upper radiation shield, and upper non-porous lining to the lower exterior shell, lower radiation shield, and lower non-porous lining.

38. A radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting radiopharmaceuticals comprising:

an upper portion removably securable to a lower portion, the upper portion and lower portion each including an exterior shell, a radiation shield and a non-porous lining, and defining an internal chamber for the radiopharmaceuticals, the upper and lower exterior shell, radiation shield and non-porous lining each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the non-porous lining of the upper and lower portions together defining an interior surface of the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig,

wherein the exterior shell of the upper portion surrounds the radiation shield and the non-porous lining of the upper portion,

wherein the exterior shell of the lower portion surrounds the radiation shield and the non-porous lining of the lower portion,

wherein the radiation shield of the upper portion surrounds the non-porous lining of the upper portion,

wherein the radiation shield of the lower portion surrounds the non-porous lining of the lower portion,

wherein the exterior surface of the non-porous lining of the upper portion is adhered to the interior surface of the radiation shield of the upper portion, and

wherein the exterior surface of the non-porous lining of the lower portion is adhered to the interior surface of the radiation shield of the lower portion.

39. A radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting radiopharmaceuticals comprising:

an upper portion and a lower portion removably securable together to define an internal chamber for the radiopharmaceuticals, the upper portion and lower portion each including an exterior shell, a radiation shield and a non-porous lining, the upper and lower exterior shell, radiation shield and non-porous lining each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the non-porous lining of the upper and lower portions together defining an interior surface of the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig,

wherein the exterior shell of the upper portion surrounds the radiation shield and the non-porous lining of the upper portion,

wherein the exterior shell of the lower portion surrounds the radiation shield and the non-porous lining of the lower portion,

wherein the radiation shield of the upper portion surrounds the non-porous lining of the upper portion,

wherein the radiation shield of the lower portion surrounds the non-porous lining of the lower portion, and

wherein the non-porous lining of the lower portion conforms in shape to the interior surface of the radiation shield of the lower portion.

40. A radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting radiopharmaceuticals comprising:

an upper portion and a lower portion removably securable together to define an internal chamber for the radiopharmaceuticals, the upper portion and lower portion each including an exterior shell, a radiation shield and a non-porous lining, the upper and lower exterior shell, radiation shield and non-porous lining each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the non-porous lining of the upper and lower portions together defining an interior surface of the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig,

wherein the exterior shell of the upper portion surrounds the radiation shield and the non-porous lining of the upper portion,

wherein the exterior shell of the lower portion surrounds the radiation shield and the non-porous lining of the lower portion,

wherein the radiation shield of the upper portion surrounds the non-porous lining of the upper portion,

wherein the radiation shield of the lower portion surrounds the non-porous lining of the lower portion, and

wherein the exterior surface of the non-porous lining of the lower portion is in permanent contact with the interior surface of the radiation shield of the lower portion.

41. A radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting radiopharmaceuticals comprising:

an exterior shell, a radiation shield and a non-porous lining, and having an internal chamber for the radiopharmaceuticals, the exterior shell, radiation shield and non-porous lining each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the non-porous lining defining an interior surface of the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig,

wherein the interior surface of the exterior shell is in contact with and surrounds the exterior surface of the radiation shield, and

wherein the interior surface of the radiation shield is adhered to and surrounds the exterior surface of the non-porous lining.

28. The method as defined in claim 41, further comprising providing a housing sized to contain a syringe and inserting the housing into the internal chamber.

29. The method as defined in claim 28, further comprising placing a cap on the housing.

30. The method as defined in claim 28, further comprising placing a label having information that is useful to the user or patient on the housing before inserting the housing into the internal chamber.

31. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the information is selected from a group consisting of a patient'"'"'s name, a production lot number, an expiration date for the radioactive material, a quantity of the radioactive material, a name of an intended medical procedure, a half life for the radioactive material, a bar code, and a color code.

32. The method as defined in claim 41, further comprising placing the radiopharmaceutical pig into a shipping container for transportation to the location for use.

33. The method as defined in claim 32, further comprising transporting the radiopharmaceutical pig to the location for use.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, further comprising placing a label having information that is useful to the user or patient on the radiopharmaceutical pig before transporting the radiopharmaceutical pig to the location for use.

35. The method as defined in claim 34, wherein the information is selected from a group consisting of a patient'"'"'s name, a production lot number, an expiration date for the radioactive material, a quantity of the radioactive material, a name of an intended medical procedure, a half life for the radioactive material, a bar code, and a color code.

36. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig includes screwing one portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig to another portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig.

42. A radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting radiopharmaceuticals comprising:

an exterior shell, a radiation shield and a non-porous lining, and having an internal chamber for the radiopharmaceuticals, the exterior shell, radiation shield and non-porous lining each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the non-porous lining defining an interior surface of the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig,

wherein the interior surface of the exterior shell is in contact with and surrounds the exterior surface of the radiation shield,

wherein the interior surface of the radiation shield is in contact with and surrounds the exterior surface of the non-porous lining, and

wherein the exterior surface of the non-porous lining conforms in shape to the interior surface of the radiation shield.

43. A radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting radiopharmaceuticals comprising:

an exterior shell, a radiation shield and a non-porous lining, and having an internal chamber for the radiopharmaceuticals, the exterior shell, radiation shield and non-porous lining each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the non-porous lining defining an interior surface of the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig,

wherein the interior surface of the exterior shell is in contact with and surrounds the exterior surface of the radiation shield,

wherein the interior surface of the radiation shield is in permanent contact with and surrounds the exterior surface of the non-porous lining.

44. A method of preparing a radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting a radiopharmaceutical, the radiopharmaceutical pig comprised of an exterior shell, a radiation shield, and a non-porous lining adhered to the radiation shield, and having an interior surface defining an internal chamber sized to contain a container of radiopharmaceuticals, the method comprising:

inserting the container into the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig, and

assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig, wherein the container is disposed in the internal chamber surrounded by the non-porous lining and encapsulated by the radiation shield.

45. A method of preparing a radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting a radiopharmaceutical, the radiopharmaceutical pig comprised of an exterior shell, a radiation shield, and a non-porous lining conforming to the shape of the radiation shield, and having an interior surface defining an internal chamber sized to contain a container of radiopharmaceuticals, the method comprising:

inserting the container into the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig, and

assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig, wherein the container is disposed in the internal chamber surrounded by the non-porous lining and encapsulated by the radiation shield.

46. A method of preparing a radiopharmaceutical pig for transporting a radiopharmaceutical, the radiopharmaceutical pig comprised of an exterior shell, a radiation shield, and a non-porous lining in permanent contact with the radiation shield, and having an interior surface defining an internal chamber sized to contain a container of radiopharmaceuticals, the method comprising:

inserting the container into the internal chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig, and

assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig, wherein the container is disposed in the internal chamber surrounded by the non-porous lining and encapsulated by the radiation shield.