Radiopharmaceutical dispensing, administration, and imaging

• US 20080195249A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics Medical Ltd
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics LLC
• Inventors: Rousso, Benny, Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Dickman, Dalia, Nagler, Michael, Melman, Haim, Bronshtine, Zohar, Zilberstien, Yoel, Omer, Einav
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for use with at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, the apparatus including a container (22) containing the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and a portable computer-communicatable data carrier (120, 24) associated with the container (22), the data carrier (120, 24) containing imaging protocol information for use with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1-102. -102. (canceled)

103. An automated radiopharmaceutical dispensing system for use with a container and a computer-communicatable container data carrier associated with the container, the system comprising:

a robot, configured to manipulate the container;

a communication element; and

a control unit, configured to;

receive radiopharmaceutical information regarding at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, the radiopharmaceutical information selected from the group consisting of;

imaging protocol information for use with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and authenticatable information regarding a commercial license for use of an imaging protocol with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent,

receive patient information regarding a patient,

drive the robot to automatically dispense a dose of the labeled radiopharmaceutical agent to the container, and

drive the communication element to transmit to the container data carrier at least a portion of the radiopharmaceutical information and at least a portion of the patient information.

104. The system according to claim 103, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the radiopharmaceutical information regarding a plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and drive the robot to automatically dispense respective doses of the labeled radiopharmaceutical agents to the container.

105. The system according to claim 103, wherein the patient information includes an identifier of an imaging protocol assigned to the patient for performance using the dose, and wherein the control unit is configured to drive the communication element to transmit the imaging protocol identifier to the container data carrier.

106. The system according to claim 103, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the communication element to transmit to the container data carrier at least one of:

a time of dispensing of the labeled radiopharmaceutical agent to the container, and information regarding a radioactivity of the dose at the time of dispensing.

107. The system according to claim 103, comprising:

a mother vial that contains the labeled radiopharmaceutical agent prior to dispensing thereof; and

a computer-communicatable mother vial data carrier associated with the mother vial, which mother vial data carrier contains the radiopharmaceutical information,

wherein the control unit is configured to receive the radiopharmaceutical information from the mother vial data carrier.

108. The system according to claim 103, wherein the radiopharmaceutical information comprises the imaging protocol information.

109. The system according to claim 108, wherein the imaging protocol information comprises SPECT imaging protocol information.

110. The system according to claim 109, wherein the imaging protocol information comprises at least one kinetic parameter of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent.

111. The system according to claim 103, wherein the radiopharmaceutical information comprises the authenticatable information regarding the commercial license.

112. The system according to claim 111, wherein the information regarding the commercial license comprises information regarding the commercial license for use of a SPECT imaging protocol with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent.

113. The system according to claim 111, wherein the control unit is configured to authenticate the authenticatable license information, and to drive the robot to automatically dispense the dose only upon authentication.

114. Apparatus for use with a container, the apparatus comprising:

a mother vial having a volume of at least 10 ml, which contains at least 5 ml of a non-diluted labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and at least 5 ml of saline solution; and

an automated radiopharmaceutical dispensing system, configured to contain the mother vial, and to dispense at least one dose from the mother vial to the container.

115-206. -206. (canceled)

207. A method for use with a container and a computer-communicatable container data carrier associated with the container, the method comprising:

receiving, by an automated radiopharmaceutical dispensing system, radiopharmaceutical information regarding at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, the radiopharmaceutical information selected from the group consisting of;

imaging protocol information for use with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and authenticatable information regarding a commercial license for use of an imaging protocol with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent;

receiving, by the dispensing system, patient information regarding a patient;

automatically robotically dispensing, by the dispensing system, a dose of the labeled radiopharmaceutical agent to the container; and

transmitting to the container data carrier, by the dispensing system, at least a portion of the radiopharmaceutical information and at least a portion of the patient information.

208. The method according to claim 207, wherein receiving the radiopharmaceutical information comprises receiving the radiopharmaceutical information regarding a plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and wherein dispensing comprises dispensing respective doses of the labeled radiopharmaceutical agents to the container.

209. The method according to claim 207, wherein the patient information includes an identifier of an imaging protocol assigned to the patient for performance using the dose, and wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the imaging protocol identifier to the container data carrier.

210. The method according to claim 207, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting to the container data carrier at least one of:

a time of dispensing of the labeled radiopharmaceutical agent to the container, and information regarding a radioactivity of the dose at the time of dispensing.

211. The method according to claim 207, wherein receiving the radiopharmaceutical information comprises:

providing, to the dispensing system, a mother vial that contains the labeled radiopharmaceutical agent prior to dispensing thereof, and a computer-communicatable mother vial data carrier associated with the mother vial, which mother vial data carrier contains the radiopharmaceutical information; and

receiving the radiopharmaceutical information from the mother vial data carrier.

212. The method according to claim 207, wherein receiving the radiopharmaceutical information comprises receiving the imaging protocol information.

213. The method according to claim 212, wherein receiving the imaging protocol information comprises receiving SPECT imaging protocol information.

214. The method according to claim 213, wherein receiving the imaging protocol information comprises receiving at least one kinetic parameter of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent.

215. The method according to claim 207, wherein receiving the radiopharmaceutical information comprises receiving the authenticatable information regarding the commercial license.

216. The method according to claim 215, wherein receiving the information regarding the commercial license comprises receiving information regarding the commercial license for use of a SPECT imaging protocol with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent.

217. The method according to claim 215, wherein dispensing comprises authenticating the authenticatable license information, and dispensing the dose only upon authentication.

218. A method for automatically dispensing a labeled radiopharmaceutical agent to a container, comprising:

providing a mother vial having a volume of at least 10 ml;

filling the mother vial with at least 5 ml of a non-diluted labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and with at least 5 ml of saline solution;

placing the mother vial in an automated radiopharmaceutical dispensing system; and

dispensing at least one dose from the mother vial to the container.