Radiation shield for a syringe

• US 6,589,158 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Proxima Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Winkler, Rance A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US09/761,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 604/192, 604/110, 604/263, 604/198, 604/187, 604/158, 604/160-163, 604/164.08, 604/171, 604/181, 604/191, 604/197, 604/97.02, 604/97-1-, 604/272, 604/199, 604/218, 128/919, 128/912, 128/DIG.26, 600/1-6, 600/436, 600/432, 250/515.1, 250/506.1, 588/1, 588/16, 588/20
• US Class Current: 600/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/919 Syringe, means to protect user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

An infuser for transferring hazardous treatment fluids to and from a medical application includes a spill containing housing having a medical application connecting element and a syringe seat. The syringe seat of the infuser leads to a syringe connecting element that provides a fluid coupling between the syringe and a fluid passage leading to the medical application connecting element. The interior of the housing can be sealed against leaks, for example, by providing the housing in two portions with a gasket provided between the portions. A fluid tight coupling between the syringe and the interior of the housing may be created by integrally forming a septum with the gasket and coupling the syringe with the syringe connecting element through the septum. The infuser can also be provided with two syringe seats so that two different fluids can be transferred. In one embodiment, a second syringe connecting element is provided in fluid-tight communication with a second fluid passage. A method for transferring fluids to and from a medical application is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A reusable radiation shield for receiving and shielding a syringe having a generally cylindrical body having a needle and a plunger extending from opposed ends of the body, the plunger having a shaft, the radiation shield comprising:

a generally cylindrical radiopaque shell having a needle-receiving end and an opposed open end; and

first and second radiopaque members rotatingly affixed to the shell and movable between an open position for allowing a syringe to be inserted into the open end of the shell, and a closed position for sealing the open end of the shell, the first and second rotating members defining an opening in the closed position having a shape conforming to a shape of a plunger shaft.

2. The radiation shield of claim 1, further comprising at least one catch member mated to at least one of the first and second rotating members for holding a plunger in a depressed position.

3. The radiation shield of claim 2, wherein the at least one catch member is a biased latch closable on the plunger in the depressed position.

4. The radiation shield of claim 1, further comprising a third member rotatingly affixed to the shell and spaced apart from the first and second members, the third member having a first position allowing free movement of the plunger and a second position effective to hold the plunger in a depressed position.

5. The radiation shield of claim 1, further comprising first and second catch members for holding a plunger in a depressed position, the first catch member mated to the first rotating member and the second catch member mated to the second rotating member.

6. The radiation shield of claim 1, wherein the opening defined by the first and second rotating members in the closed position is cruciform in shape.

7. The radiation shield of claim 1, wherein the shell is made from a moldable thermoplastic material having a density equal to lead.

8. The radiation shield of claim 1, further comprising a radiopaque window disposed on the shell to allow viewing of a syringe being shielded.

9. The radiation shield of claim 1, further comprising a locking means disposed on the shell for locking the shield into a spill proof housing.

10. The radiation shield of claim 9, wherein the locking means comprises a locking depression for mating with an engagement element disposed on a spill proof housing.

11. A radiation shield system for shielding a syringe, the system comprising:

a syringe having

a generally cylindrical elongate body having a first end and a second open end;

a fluid coupling extending from the first end and in fluid communication with the body; and

a plunger disposed within the body and extending from the second open end, the plunger movable between an extended position and a depressed position so as to expel a fluid in the syringe body through the fluid coupling;

a radiopaque shell having an open end for receiving the syringe and a coupling-receiving end for receiving the fluid coupling of the syringe; and

first and second radiopaque members rotatingly affixed to the shell and movable between an open position for allowing the syringe to be inserted into the open end of the shell, and a closed position for sealing the open end of the shell, the first and second rotating members defining an opening in the closed position having a shape conforming to a shape of the plunger.

12. The radiation shield of claim 11, further comprising at least one catch member mated to at least one of the first and second rotating members for holding the plunger in the depressed position.

13. The radiation shield of claim 11, further comprising a third member rotatingly affixed to the shell and spaced apart from the first and second members, the third member having a first position allowing free movement of the plunger and a second position effective to hold the plunger in the depressed position.

14. The radiation shield of claim 11, further comprising first and second catch members for holding the plunger in the depressed position, the first catch member mated to the first rotating member and the second catch member mated to the second rotating member.

15. The radiation shield of claim 11, wherein the opening defined by the first and second rotating members in the closed position is cruciform in shape.

16. The radiation shield of claim 11, wherein the shell is made from a moldable thermoplastic material having a density equal to lead.

17. The radiation shield of claim 11, further comprising a radiopaque window disposed on the shell to allow viewing of the syringe being shielded.

18. The radiation shield of claim 11, further comprising a locking means disposed on the shell for locking the shield into a spill proof housing.

19. The radiation shield of claim 18, wherein the locking means comprises a locking depression for mating with an engagement element disposed on a spill proof housing.

20. A radiation shield for shielding a syringe containing radioactive material, the syringe having a generally cylindrical body with a needle and an opposing plunger extending therefrom, the radiation shield comprising:

a generally cylindrical radiopaque shell having a needle-receiving end and an open end;

a window disposed on the shell, the window being translucent to visible light and opaque to radiation;

first and second radiopaque members rotatingly affixed to the shell and movable between an open position for allowing a syringe to be inserted into the open end of the shell, and a closed position for sealing the open end of the shell, the first and second rotating members defining an opening in the closed position having a shape conforming to a shape of a plunger,

at least one catch member mated to at least one of the first and second rotating members for holding a plunger in a depressed position.

21. A radiation shield for shielding a syringe containing radioactive material, the syringe having a generally cylindrical body with a needle and an opposing plunger extending therefrom, the radiation shield comprising:

a generally cylindrical radiopaque shell having a needle-receiving end and an opposed open end;

at least one catch means mated to the open end of the shell for holding a plunger in a depressed position.

22. The radiation shield of claim 21, wherein the catch means comprises a rotating member disposed on the open end of the shell.