Automated dispensing system and associated method of use

• US 7,163,031 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Williams, Andrew, Wong, David M., Graves, Kevin, Schadt, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/867,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/18, 141/9, 141/100, 141/104, 141 21- 27, 141/301, 141/302, 604/407, 604/416, 250/428, 250/430, 250/522.1, 250/506.1, 250/507.1
• US Class Current: 141/9
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/015 for storing radioactive sources, e.g. source carriers for irradiation units; Radioisotope containers

Abstract

An automated bulk dispensing system and a method of use including selectively receiving a predetermined amount of radioactive liquid from a second container into a third container, selectively receiving a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from a first container into a fourth container or directly into the third container depending on whether kits or multi-dose containers of medicine are desired. Preferably, this is for nuclear pharmaceuticals. Displacement mechanisms that are connected to the third container and fourth container are for mixing and dispensing liquid. There is at least one control valve, preferably three control valves, which are each controlled by drive mechanisms. The mixed liquid from the third container can be transferred to a recipient container. There is also a gas vent and bubble detector to eliminate bubbles with a processor that is also utilized to control the displacement mechanisms and the drive mechanisms.

Claims

1. An automated bulk dispensing system for dispensing a radioactive material, comprising:

a first container;

a second container;

a third container;

a first displacement mechanism that is operatively connected to the third container;

a recipient container;

at least one control valve connected to the first, second, and third containers;

at least one drive mechanism operatively connected to the at least one control valve to selectively control liquid flow from the first container into the third container, from the second container into the third container, and from the third container into the recipient container;

a radiation shield disposed at least about the third container, wherein the second container, or the recipient container, or both the second container and the recipient container comprises independent radiation shielding at least partially outside of the radiation shield; and

a processor operatively connected to the at least one drive mechanism and the first displacement mechanism.

2. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control valve includes at least one four-way stopcock.

3. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one drive mechanism includes at least one first motor that can rotate in controlled increments.

4. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first displacement mechanism includes a second motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to an actuator.

5. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the third container includes a syringe, having a longitudinal axis, and the actuator of the first displacement mechanism includes a member that is operatively connected to a plunger, wherein the plunger is located within the syringe, wherein rotation of the second motor provides movement of the member to displace the plunger along the longitudinal axis of the syringe.

6. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the member includes a lead screw and the second motor includes a stepper motor.

7. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a gas vent that is connected between the at least one control valve and the second container.

8. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a bubble detector that is connected between the at least one first control valve and the second container, wherein the bubble detector is electrically connected to the processor.

9. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a gas vent and a bubble detector that are both connected between the at least one control valve and the second container, wherein the bubble detector is electrically connected to the processor.

10. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the second container includes a vial that is at least partially surrounded by the independent radiation shielding.

11. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid delivery and gas-venting mechanism operatively connected to the recipient container.

12. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid delivery and gas-venting mechanism that can be operatively connected to the recipient container and removed from the recipient container by activation of a first actuating mechanism.

13. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the fluid delivery and gas venting mechanism includes a micro-mini spike and the recipient container includes a vial.

14. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first container includes a nonradioactive liquid, the second container includes a radioactive liquid, and the recipient container includes a reagent.

15. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

the at least one control valve including a first control valve connected to the first container and a fourth container, a second control valve connected to the second container and the third container, and a third control valve connected to the first control valve, the second control valve, the third container, and the recipient container;

a second displacement mechanism that is operatively connected to the fourth container;

the at least one drive mechanism including a first drive mechanism operatively connected to the first control valve, a second drive mechanism operatively connected to the second control valve, and a third drive mechanism operatively connected to the third control valve; and

the processor operatively connected to the second displacement mechanism, the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the third drive mechanism.

16. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the first control valve includes a first stopcock, the second control valve includes a second stopcock, the third control valve includes a third stopcock.

17. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the first drive mechanism includes a first motor, the second drive mechanism includes a second motor, and the third drive mechanism includes a third motor.

18. The automated bulk dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the first displacement mechanism includes a first motor operatively connected to a first plunger in the third container, and the second displacement mechanism includes a second motor operatively connected to a second plunger in the fourth container.

19. A method for filling containers utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system, comprising:

selectively receiving a first amount of radioactive liquid from a second container into a third container through at least one first control valve;

selectively receiving a second amount of nonradioactive liquid from a first container into the third container through the at least one control valve;

mixing the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid in the third container with a first displacement mechanism operatively connected to the third container for displacing liquid within the third container, wherein the first displacement mechanism is selectively controlled by a processor;

dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container with the first displacement mechanism through the at least one first control valve and into a recipient container, wherein the at least one first control valve is connected to first, second, and third containers, and wherein the at least one first control valve is connected to at least one first drive mechanism to selectively control the flow of liquid into and out of the third container, wherein the first drive mechanism is controlled by the processor;

shielding radiation from the radioactive liquid disposed in the third container, the at least one first control valve, and at least one fluid conduit coupled to the third container; and

independently shielding radiation from the mixture dispensed into the recipient container or radiation from the radioactive liquid disposed in the second container.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising releasing gas through a vent and determining if any bubbles are present in the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid with a bubble detector prior to dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container through the at least one first control valve into the recipient container.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the radioactive liquid includes technetium and the nonradioactive liquid includes a saline solution.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein dispensing comprises outputting the mixture into the recipient container to mix with a reagent disposed in the recipient container.

23. A method for filling containers utilizing an automated bulk dispensing system comprising:

selectively receiving a predetermined amount of radioactive liquid from a second container into a third container through a second control valve;

selectively receiving a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from a first container into a fourth container through a first control valve;

selectively transferring a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from the fourth container into the third container through a third control valve and the second control valve with a first displacement mechanism, which is operatively connected to the fourth container for displacing liquid from the fourth container and the first displacement mechanism is selectively controlled by a processor and is operatively connected thereto;

mixing the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid in the third container with a second displacement mechanism, which is operatively connected to the third container for displacing liquid from the third container, wherein the second displacement mechanism is selectively controlled by a processor and is operatively connected thereto;

dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container with the second displacement mechanism through the second control valve and the third control valve into a recipient container, wherein the first container and the fourth container are connected in fluid relationship to the first control valve, the second container and the third container are connected in fluid relationship to the second control valve, the first control valve and the second control valve are connected in fluid relationship to the third control valve and the recipient container is connected in fluid relationship to the third control valve, wherein there is a first drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the first control valve, a second drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the second control valve and a third second drive mechanism that is operatively attached to the third control valve, wherein the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and the third drive mechanism are all selectively controlled by the processor and are operatively connected thereto; and

a reagent located in the recipient container that can react with the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the reagent includes a lyophilized reagent.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising releasing gas through a vent and determining if any bubbles are present in the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid with a bubble detector prior to dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container through the second control valve and the third control valve into the recipient container.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the mixing the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid in the third container and dispensing the mixture of the radioactive liquid and the nonradioactive liquid from the third container to the recipient container with the first displacement mechanism that includes a first motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to a first actuator and wherein the selectively transferring a predetermined amount of nonradioactive liquid from the fourth container into the third container with the second displacement mechanism that includes a second motor that can rotate in controlled increments and is operatively connected to a second actuator.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first actuator includes a first lead screw and a first plunger and the first motor includes a first stepper motor and the third container includes a first syringe, wherein the first plunger is located within the first syringe and wherein the second actuator includes a second lead screw and a second plunger and the second motor includes a second stepper motor and the fourth container includes a second syringe, wherein the second plunger is located within the second syringe.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the radioactive liquid includes technetium and the nonradioactive liquid includes a saline solution.