Container and method for transporting a syringe containing radioactive material

• US 5,536,945 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health 414 LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Syncor International Corp. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reich, Don E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman, Jack I.
• Application Number:
  US08/474,995
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 250/507.1, 250/506.1, 206/365, 600/5
• US Class Current: 250/507.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• 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 29/49815 Disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49819 with conveying of work or disassembled work part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49822 by applying force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4987 Elastic joining of parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49879 Spaced wall tube or receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transporting syringes containing radioactive material. The apparatus includes a radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner chamber in which a sharps container can be secured. The sharps container has a housing and an attachable cap. The method includes assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig so that the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig contains the syringe in the sharps container housing. The radiopharmaceutical pig is disassembled, where upon the syringe is removed, discharged, and then replaced in the sharps container housing. The cap of the sharps container is affixed to the housing of the sharps container, thus enclosing the contaminated syringe therein. The radiopharmaceutical pig is assembled so that its chamber contains the sharps container and the syringe. The radiopharmaceutical pig is transported to a disposal area, where it is disassembled and the sharps container containing the syringe is placed in a particular disposal container.

Claims

1. A transportation container for a syringe containing radioactive material comprising,

a radiopharmaceutical pig having an upper portion removably securable to a lower portion, each portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner surface defining an internal cavity oriented to define a chamber when the upper and lower portions of the radiopharmaceutical pig are secured together, the radiopharmaceutical pig including radiation-resistant material surrounding the chamber such that radioactive material may be safely stored within the chamber;

and

a tubular sharps container having a cap and a housing configured to fit the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig, the

the cap having a closed end and an open mating end with at least one resilient snap;

the housing having a closed end and an open mating end with at least one ledge for the engagement of the resilient snap when the mating end cap contacts the mating end of the housing, the engagement of the resilient snap with the ledge fastening the cap to the housing, the fastened cap and housing configured to hold the syringe therein and to fit within the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig.

2. The transport container as defined in claim 1, wherein

the housing has a window through which at least part of the syringe is visible when it is inside the fastened container.

3. The transport container as defined in claim 1, wherein

the housing is constructed from a transparent material.

4. The transport container as defined in claim 1, wherein

the cap has at least two resilient snaps;

and

the housing has at least two ledges, each of which is aligned with an associated resilient snap.

5. The transportation container as described in claim 1, wherein

the mating end of the cap includes at least two radially spaced, cylindrical ridges extending longitudinally toward the mating end of the closure;

the mating end of the housing further including a cylindrical sealing wall extending longitudinally to fit between the ridges on the cap when the housing is attached to the cap, thereby creating a leak resistant seal.

6. A sharps container for a syringe containing radioactive material, the container comprising:

a tubular cap having an open mating end, a closed end, and a wall having an inner surface defining an internal cavity between the open mating end and the closed end, the mating end of the cap having at least one resilient snap;

a tubular housing having an open mating end, a closed end, and a wall having an inner surface defining an internal cavity between the open mating end and the closed end;

the mating end of the housing including at least one ledge, each ledge sized and positioned to engage an associated snap on the cap, thereby fastening the cap to the housing;

the housing further includes an internal sealing wall extending from the inner surface of the housing toward the mating end of the housing, the sealing wall abutting the inner surface of the wall of the cap when the cap is fastened to the housing;

the cavity of the cap and the cavity of the housing cooperatively defining an inner chamber for holding the syringe when the snap of the cap engages the ledge of the housing and the mating end of the cap abuts the mating end of the housing inside the sharps container; and

the housing further includes a window through which the syringe is visible when it is in the inner chamber formed when the cap and the housing is fastened together.

7. The sharps container as defined in claim 6, wherein the housing is constructed from a transparent material.

8. The sharps container as defined in claim 7, wherein

the cap has at least two opposed snaps and the housing has at least two opposed notches for guiding the snaps until they engage the ledges in the housing.

9. A transportation container for a syringe containing radioactive material, the container comprising:

a radiopharmaceutical pig having an upper portion removably securable to a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion configured to cooperatively define an internal chamber when the upper portion is secured to the lower portion, the chamber being surrounded by a radiation-resistant material;

a sharps container having a cap and a housing,

the cap having an open mating end, a closed end, and a tapered cylindrical wall extending from the open matting end to the close end, the tapered cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity between the mating end of the cap and the closed end of the cap,

the mating end of the cap having a generally horizontal shoulder and two resilient snaps, the shoulder extending radially outward from the tapered cylindrical wall of the cap, each resilient snap extending longitudinally away from the closed end of the cap,

the housing having an open mating end, a closed end, and a tapered cylindrical wall extending from the open mating end to the closed end, the tapered cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity between the mating end of the housing and the closed end of the housing, and

the mating end of the housing having a generally cylindrical mating wall extending longitudinally to a shoulder, the shoulder extending radially inward to the tapered cylindrical wall of the housing, the mating wall including two ledges and two opposed notches, each ledge aligned with and configured to engage with an associated snap on the mating end of the cap, the notches each configured to accept associated snaps on the mating end of the housing, the opposing notches each having an inner surface separated by a diametrical distance less than a diametrical distance between the resilient snaps, thereby forcing each resilient snap to deform radially inward until it engages with its associated ledge.

10. The transportation container as defined in claim 9, wherein

the housing is made of transparent material.

11. The transportation container as defined in claim 10, wherein the housing has an inner cylindrical sealing wall extending longitudinally from its shoulder, the sealing wall abutting the shoulder of the cap when the snaps on the mating end of the cap are engaged with the ledges on the mating end of the housing.

12. A sharps container for a syringe, the sharps container comprising:

a radiopharmaceutical pig having an upper portion removably securable to a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion configured to cooperatively define an internal chamber when the upper portion is secured to the lower portion, the chamber surrounded by a radiation-resistant material;

a sharps container having a cap and a housing,

the cap having an open mating end, a closed end, and a tapered cylindrical wall extending from the open matting end to the close end, the tapered cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity between the mating end of the cap and the closed end of the cap,

the mating end of the cap having a generally horizontal shoulder and two resilient snaps, the shoulder extending radially outward from the tapered cylindrical wall of the cap, each resilient snap extending longitudinally away from the closed end of the cap,

the housing having an open mating end, a closed end, and a tapered cylindrical wall extending from the open mating end to the closed end, the tapered cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity between the mating end of the housing and the closed end of the housing, and

the mating end of the housing having a generally cylindrical mating wall extending longitudinally to a shoulder, the shoulder extending radially inward to the tapering cylindrical wall of the housing, the mating wall including two ledges and two opposed notches, each ledge aligned with and configured to engage with an associated snap on the mating end of the cap, the notches each configured to accept associated snaps on the mating end of the housing, the opposing notches each having an inner surface separated by a distance less than a distance between the resilient snaps, thereby forcing each resilient snap to bend radially inward until it engages with its associated ledge;

a hollow shield of radiation resistant material having an upper portion with an inner cavity and a lower portion with an inner cavity, the upper and lower portions positionable such that their cavities cooperatively define a space to enclose the housing and the cap; and

a hollow outer container having an upper shell with an inner cavity and a lower shell with an inner cavity, the upper shell and the lower shell removably secured together such that the cavities of both shells cooperatively define a space for the housing, the closure, and the radiation shield to nest therein.

13. The sharps container as defined in claim 12, further having a sealing wall extending longitudinally from the internal shoulder of the housing toward the mating end thereof,

the cap further having two internal sealing ridges extending from the shoulder of the cap toward the mating end of the cap and radially spaced apart to accept the sealing wall of the housing between them to form a seal.