METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACCURATE DISPENSING OF RADIOACTIVITY

• US 20090131862A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Zurich
• Original Assignee: Universität Zürich
• Inventors: Buck, Alfred, Weber, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 51/00 Preparations containing radioactive substances for use in therapy or testing in vivo
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/051 with radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/065 Throat; Pharynx
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1407 Infusion of two or more substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1021 Radioactive fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1001 using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1075 for testing, calibrating, or quality assurance of the radiation treatment apparatus

Abstract

A device and a method for accurate and remote dispensing of a radioactive liquid are disclosed. A source of a radioactive liquid (1) and a source of a flushing liquid (5) are selectively connected to a fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) by way of valve means (V1). An activity metering unit (9) is operable to determine a level of radioactivity in a metering section (8) of the fluid delivery path downstream from the valve means (V1). The device is operated by transporting a first amount of radioactive liquid (1) to the metering section (8), using the activity metering unit (9) to measure a reference level of radioactivity, calculating a second amount of the radioactive liquid still to be delivered such that the first and second amounts of radioactive liquid together have some predetermined level of radioactivity, and delivering the first and second amounts of radioactive liquid to the destination (11).

Claims

1. Device for dispensing a radioactive liquid (1) to a destination (11), comprising

first valve means (V1);

a fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) for fluid flow from said first valve means (V1) to said destination (11); and

an activity metering unit (9) operable to determine a level of radioactivity within a metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

wherein said first valve means (V1) are adapted for selectively connecting a source (2) of said radioactive liquid (1) and a source of a flushing liquid (5) to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) upstream of said metering section (8).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first valve means (V1) are adapted for remote operation and said device further comprises a control unit (13) receiving signals from said activity metering unit (9) and controlling operation of said first valve means (V1) between at least the following states:

a state in which said source (2) of radioactive liquid (1) is connected to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10); and

a state in which said source of flushing liquid (5) is connected to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device further comprises second valve means (V2) for selectively connecting said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) downstream from said metering section (8) to said destination (11) or to a waste reservoir (12).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device further comprises a first pump (P1) for pumping said radioactive liquid (1) from its source (2) toward said first valve means (V1) and/or a second pump (P2) for pumping said flushing liquid from its source (5) toward said first valve means (V1).

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said fluid delivery path comprises a fill-in section (7) extending from said first valve means (V1) to said metering section (8), and that said metering section (8) is capable of holding a fluid volume (D-E) which is at least three times the volume (B-D) of said fill-in section (7).

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device is adapted for delivering a radiopharmaceutical to an injection needle for injection of liquid into a human or animal body.

7. Method of operation of a device according to claim 1, comprising the steps of

transporting a first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid to said metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

with said activity metering unit (9), measuring a reference level of radioactivity (A2) present in said metering section (8);

from said reference level of radioactivity (A2), calculating a second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid still to be delivered such that first and second amounts of radioactive liquid together have a predetermined level of radioactivity (Am); and

delivering at least said first and second amounts of radioactive liquid (1) to said destination (11).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said first amount of radioactive liquid is between 20% and 80% of the sum of the first and second amounts of radioactive liquids.

9. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said step of transporting said first amount of said radioactive liquid comprises:

operating said first valve means to connect said source (2) of radioactive liquid (1) to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

allowing said first amount of radioactive liquid (1) to flow from said first valve means (1) into said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

operating said first valve means to connect said source of flushing liquid (5) to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10); and

allowing flushing liquid (5) to flow into said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10), whereby said first amount of radioactive liquid is moved into said metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10).

10. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said step of delivering said first and second amounts of said radioactive liquid (1) comprises:

operating said first valve means to connect said source (2) of radioactive liquid (1) to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

allowing said second amount of radioactive liquid (1) to flow from said first valve means (1) into said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

operating said first valve means to connect said source of flushing liquid (5) to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10); and

allowing flushing liquid (5) to flow into said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10), whereby said first and second amounts of radioactive liquid are moved to said destination (11).

11. Method according to claim 7, additionally comprising the following steps:

before transporting said first amount (22) of radioactive liquid (1) to said metering section (8), transporting an offset amount (21) of said radioactive liquid (1) to said metering section (8);

with said activity metering unit (9), measuring an offset level of radioactivity (A1) of said offset amount (21) of radioactive liquid;

from said offset level of radioactivity (A1) and a desired level of radioactivity to be dispensed (Ar), calculating said predetermined level of radioactivity (Am); and

delivering said offset amount (21) of radioactive liquid to said destination.

12. Method according to claim 7, wherein said radioactive liquid is a liquid comprising a radiopharmaceutical and wherein said destination is an injection needle for injection of liquid into a human or animal body.

13. Method of operation of a device to deliver a radioactive liquid to a destination (11), comprising:

determining a predetermined level of radioactivity (Am) to be delivered to said destination (11);

transporting a first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid to a metering section (8) of a fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) for fluid flow to said destination (11), said metering section (8) having a metering unit (9) in operative connection therewith and being operable to determine a level of radioactivity within the metering section (8), the first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid having a reference level of radioactivity (A2) less than the predetermined level of radioactivity (Am);

with said activity metering unit (9), measuring the reference level of radioactivity (A2) present in said metering section (8);

from said reference level of radioactivity (A2), calculating a second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid still to be delivered such that first and second amounts of radioactive liquid together have the predetermined level of radioactivity (Am); and

delivering at least said first and second amounts of radioactive liquid (1) collectively from said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) to said destination (11).

14. System for dispensing a radioactive liquid (1) to a destination (11), comprising:

a first valve (V1) adapted for remote operation;

a fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) for fluid flow from said first valve (V1) to said destination (11);

an activity metering unit (9) operable to determine a level of radioactivity within a metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

wherein said first valve (V1) is adapted for selectively being placed in one of at least two states;

a first state in which a source (2) of said radioactive liquid (1) is connected to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) upstream of said metering section (8) and a second sates in which a source of a flushing liquid (5) is connected to said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) upstream of said metering section (8); and

a control unit (13) adapted to receive signals from said activity metering unit (9) and control operation of said first valve (V1) between the first state and the second state;

said control unit being adapted to;

i. place valve (V1) in the first state to transport a first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid through valve (V1), the first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid having a level of radioactivity less than a predetermined level of radioactivity (Am) input into said control unit (13);

ii. place said first valve (V1) in the second state to transport an amount of flushing liquid (5) through valve (V1) to transport said first amount of said radioactive liquid to said metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

iii. receive a signal from said activity metering unit (9) of a measured reference level of radioactivity (A2) present in said metering secretion;

iv. calculate from said reference level of radioactivity (A2) a second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid still to be delivered such that first and second amounts of radioactive liquid together have a predetermined level of radioactivity (Am) input into said control unit (13);

v. place said first valve (V1) in said first state and transport through said first valve (V1) said second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid;

vi. place said first valve (V1) in said second state to transport an amount of flushing liquid (5) through valve (V1) to transport said second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid to said metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) while maintaining said first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid in said metering section (8); and

f. place said first valve (V1) in said second state and transport through said first valve (V1) sufficient flushing fluid to deliver at least said first and second amounts of radioactive liquid (1) through said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) to said destination (11).

15. System for dispensing a radioactive liquid (1) to a destination (11), comprising:

a source of a radioactive liquid (1);

a source of a flushing liquid (5);

a fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) for fluid flow of said radioactive liquid and said flushing fluid to said destination (11), the fluid delivery path including a metering section (8);

an activity metering unit (9) operable to determine a level of radioactivity within said metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10); and

a control unit (13) adapted to receive signals from said activity metering unit (9) and control flow of said radioactive liquid and said flushing fluid through said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

said control unit being further adapted to;

i. transport a first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid having a level of radioactivity less than a predetermined level of radioactivity (Am) to said metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10);

ii. receive a signal from said activity metering unit (9) of a measured reference level of radioactivity (A2) present in said metering secretion;

iii. calculate from said reference level of radioactivity (A2) a second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid still to be delivered such that first and second amounts of radioactive liquid together have a predetermined level of radioactivity (Am) input into said control unit (13);

iv. transport said second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid to said metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) while maintaining said first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid in said metering section (8); and

v. transport sufficient flushing fluid through said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) to deliver at least said first and second amounts of radioactive liquid (1) through said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) to said destination (11).

16. Method of delivering a radioactive liquid to a destination (11), comprising:

determining a level of radioactivity (Am) to be delivered to said destination (11);

transporting a first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid having a level of radioactivity less than the determined level of radioactivity (Am) to a metering section (8) of a fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10), said metering section (8) having an activity metering unit (9) in operative connection therewith to measure radioactivity in said metering section (8);

measuring a reference level of radioactivity (A2) present in said metering secretion (8);

calculating from said reference level of radioactivity (A2) a second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid still to be delivered such that first and second amounts of radioactive liquid together have the predetermined level of radioactivity (Am);

transporting said second amount (23) of said radioactive liquid to said metering section (8) of said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) while maintaining said first amount (22) of said radioactive liquid in said metering section (8); and

delivering said first amount and said second amount of radioactive liquid (1) through said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) to said destination (11).

17. Method of delivering a radioactive liquid to a destination (11), comprising:

determining a level of radioactivity (Am) to be delivered to said destination (11);

estimating a concentration of activity (Cv) in a source of radioactive liquid (1);

transporting from said source of radioactive liquid (1) a first amount (21) of said radioactive liquid having a level of radioactivity, based upon the estimated concentration of activity (Cv), less than the determined level of radioactivity (Am) to a metering section (8) of a fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10), said metering section (8) having an activity metering unit (9) in operative connection therewith to measure radioactivity in said metering section (8);

measuring a level of radioactivity (A1) present in said metering secretion (8);

based upon the estimated concentration of activity (Cv), transporting a second amount (22) of said radioactive liquid having a reference level of activity (Ac′

) such that the total activity (A2) of said first amount (21) and said second amount (22) is less than the determined level of radioactivity (Am) to said metering section (8);

measuring a level of radioactivity (A2) present in said metering secretion (8);

based upon the measured level of radioactivity (A2), calculating the concentration of radioactivity (Cs) in said source of radioactive liquid (5);

based upon the calculated concentration of activity (Cs), transporting a third amount (23) of said radioactive liquid having a level of activity (Ac″

) such that the total activity of said first amount (21), said second amount (22) and said third amount (23) is the determined level of radioactivity (Am) to said metering section (8); and

delivering said first amount, said second amount and said third amount of said radioactive liquid (1) through said fluid delivery path (7, 8, 10) to said destination (11).

18. A fluid delivery path for use in a fluid delivery system, the fluid delivery path comprising:

a first tubing section for connection to a source of flushing liquid;

a second tubing section for connection to a source of a radioactive liquid;

a metering section having a volume capacity adapted to contain at lest two volumes of a radioactive liquid to be administered to a patient; and

a connector comprising a first port for connecting the first tubing section, a second port for connecting the second tubing section and a third port for connecting the metering section.

19. The fluid delivery path of claim 18 wherein the metering section has a diameter of approximately 3.5 cm.

20. The fluid delivery path of claim 19 wherein the metering section comprises a tubing section having an inner diameter of approximately 1.52 mm.

21. The fluid delivery path of claim 20 wherein the metering section is formed in a helical coil of at least 9 windings of the tubing section.

22. The fluid delivery path of claim 18 wherein the metering coil comprises a third tubing section connected to the third port of the connector and a first end of the tubing section and a fourth tubing section connected to a second end of the tubing section.

23. The fluid delivery path set of claim 22 further comprising:

a fifth tubing section in connection with a waste receptacle;

a sixth tubing section adapted to be connected to an injection needle; and

a second connector comprising a first port for connecting the fourth tubing section, a second port for connecting the fifth tubing section and a third port for connecting the sixth tubing section.

24. The fluid delivery path of claim 18 wherein the metering section of tubing connects to the third tubing section, and wherein the metering section provides a total volume of at least 3 times the volume of the third section.

25. The fluid delivery path of claim 24 wherein the metering section is configured to minimize pressure losses.

26. The fluid delivery path of claim 24 wherein the metering section has a volume capacity adapted to contain at least two volumes of a radioactive liquid to be administered to a patient.