Apparatus and method for reconstituting a solution

• US 6,572,823 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. (Lantheus Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Inventors: Donahue, John J., Haepers, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, PATRICIA KATHRYN
• Application Number:
  US09/458,110
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 422/62-64,68.1,71,81,100,103,104 424/485 600/1-3,7-8 436/180
• US Class Current: 422/63
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 29/322 of two or more containers supported for simultaneous mixing, e.g. for bottles in crates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for handling a solution. The apparatus comprises a housing and a vial assembly positioned within an enclosure of the housing. The vial assembly maintains at least one vial within the enclosure of the housing. A valve manifold extends within the enclosure of the housing for connection to the vial. A rotation mechanism, also extending within the enclosure of the housing, is operatively connected to the vial assembly for rotating the vial assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus for handling a solution comprising:

(a) a housing defining an enclosure;

(b) a vial assembly positioned within the enclosure of the housing and comprising;

(i) a combination vial containment portion for containing a combination vial;

(ii) a ligand vial containment portion or containing a ligand vial; and

(iii) a final vial containment portion for containing a final vial;

(c) a valve manifold extending within the enclosure of the housing and comprising;

(i) a sample valve for connection to a sample vial;

(ii) a combination valve for connection to said combination vial when said combination vial is positioned within the combination vial containment portion;

(iii) a ligand valve for connection to said ligand vial when said ligand vial is positioned within the ligand vial containment portion;

(iv) a final valve for connection to said final vial when said final vial is positioned within the final vial containment portion; and

(v) a syringe valve for connection to a syringe; and

(d) rotation means extending within the enclosure of the housing and operatively connected to the vial assembly for rotating the vial assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a syringe connected to the syringe valve of the valve manifold.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising a syringe pump connected to the syringe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vial assembly comprises a plurality of ligand vial containment portions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the valve assembly comprises a ligand valve for each ligand vial containment portion.

6. An apparatus for handling a solution comprising:

(a) a housing defining an enclosure;

(b) a vial assembly positioned within the enclosure of the housing and comprising;

(i) a combination vial containment portion for containing a combination vial;

(ii) a ligand vial containment portion or containing a ligand vial; and

(iii) a final vial containment portion for containing a final vial;

(c) a valve manifold extending within the enclosure of the housing and comprising;

(i) a sample valve for connection to a sample vial;

(ii) a combination valve for connection to said combination vial when said combination vial is positioned within the combination vial containment portion;

(iii) a ligand valve for connection to said ligand vial when said ligand vial is positioned within the ligand vial containment portion; and

(iv) a final valve for connection to said final vial when said final vial is positioned within the final vial containment portion;

(d) rotation means extending within the enclosure of the housing and operatively connected to the vial assembly for rotating the vial assembly; and

(e) a pH adjustment syringe connected between said combination vial and the combination valve of the valve manifold.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the vial assembly comprises a plurality of ligand vial containment portions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the valve assembly comprises a ligand valve for each ligand vial containment portion.

9. An apparatus for handling a solution comprising:

(a) a housing defining an enclosure;

(b) a vial assembly positioned within the enclosure of the housing and comprising;

(i) a combination vial containment portion for containing a combination vial;

(ii) a ligand vial containment portion or containing a ligand vial; and

(iii) a final vial containment portion for containing a final vial;

(c) a valve manifold extending within the enclosure of the housing and comprising;

(i) a sample valve for connection to a sample vial;

(ii) a combination valve for connection to said combination vial when said combination vial is positioned within the combination vial containment portion;

(iii) a ligand valve for connection to said ligand vial when said ligand vial is positioned within the ligand vial containment portion;

(iv) a final valve for connection to said final vial when said final vial is positioned within the final vial containment portion; and

(d) rotation means extending within the enclosure of the housing and operatively connected to the vial assembly for rotating the vial assembly; and

(e) a quality control syringe connected between said final vial and the final valve of the valve manifold.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the vial assembly comprises a plurality of ligand vial containment portions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the valve assembly comprises a ligand valve for each ligand vial containment portion.

12. An apparatus for handling a solution comprising:

(a) a housing defining an enclosure;

(b) a vial assembly positioned within the enclosure of the housing and comprising;

(i) a combination vial containment portion for containing a combination vial;

(ii) a ligand vial containment portion or containing a ligand vial; and

(iii) a final vial containment portion for containing a final vial;

(c) a valve manifold extending within the enclosure of the housing and comprising;

(i) a sample valve for connection to a sample vial;

(ii) a combination valve for connection to said combination vial when said combination vial is positioned within the combination vial containment portion;

(iii) a ligand valve for connection to said ligand vial when said ligand vial is positioned within the ligand vial containment portion;

(iv) a final valve for connection to said final vial when said final vial is positioned within the final vial containment portion; and

(d) rotation means extending within the enclosure of the housing and operatively connected to the vial assembly for rotating the vial assembly; and

(e) a sterilizing filter connected between said final vial and the final valve of the valve manifold.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the vial assembly comprises a plurality of ligand vial containment portions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the valve assembly comprises a ligand valve for each ligand vial containment portion.