Systems and methods for managing information relating to medical fluids and containers therefor

• US 7,413,123 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Nuclear Medicine LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Ortenzi, Vernon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US11/618,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/454, 235/441, 235/492, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• 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 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• 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: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefor, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention.

Claims

1. A radiopharmaceutical apparatus comprising:

a radiopharmaceutical container;

a radiopharmaceutical pig being closable to fully surround and support the radiopharmaceutical container;

a data tag attachable to the radiopharmaceutical container, the data tag comprising a data store; and

an antenna system electrically connectable to the data tag upon the radiopharmaceutical container with the data tag being placed in the radiopharmaceutical pig, the antenna system permitting data to be read from, and/or written to, the data store of the data tag while the radiopharmaceutical pig is closed around the radiopharmaceutical container and the data tag.

2. The radiopharmaceutical container of claim 1 further comprising a radiopharmaceutical in the radiopharmaceutical container.

3. A radiopharmaceutical pig for supporting a radiopharmaceutical container having a data tag with a data store attachable to the radiopharmaceutical container, the radiopharmaceutical pig comprising:

a first pig component adapted to support the radiopharmaceutical container with the data tag;

a second pig component being attachable to the first pig component and adapted to fully enclose the radiopharmaceutical container with the data tag within the radiopharmaceutical pig; and

an antenna system adapted to be electrically connectable to the data tag upon the radiopharmaceutical container being placed in the radiopharmaceutical pig, the antenna system permitting data to be read from, and/or written to, the data store of the data tag while the first pig component is attached to the second pig component to fully enclose the radiopharmaceutical container and the data tag inside the radiopharmaceutical pig.

4. The radiopharmaceutical pig of claim 3 further comprising a radiopharmaceutical in the radiopharmaceutical container.

5. The radiopharmaceutical pig of claim 3 wherein the first pig component is a base and the second pig component is a cap attachable to the base.

6. The radiopharmaceutical pig of claim 3 wherein the antenna system further comprises:

an antenna electrically connected to the data tag,

an inner antenna adjacent an inner surface of one of the first pig component and the second pig component,

an outer antenna adjacent an outer surface of one of the first pig component and the second pig component, and

a conductive lead electrically connecting the inner antenna with the outer antenna.

7. The radiopharmaceutical pig of claim 6 wherein the antenna is attached to the radiopharmaceutical container.

8. The radiopharmaceutical pig of claim 3 wherein the antenna system further comprises:

an antenna locatable outside the radiopharmaceutical pig, and

a conductive lead having one end connected to the data tag within the radiopharmaceutical pig and an opposite end connected to the antenna located outside the radiopharmaceutical pig.

9. A radiopharmaceutical apparatus for use with a container containing a radiopharmaceutical and being enclosable in a pig, the radiopharmaceutical apparatus comprising:

data tag adapted to be physically associated with the container containing the radiopharmaceutical, and the data tag containing data relating to the radiopharmaceutical in the container;

an antenna electrically connected to the data tag and adapted to be located outside of the pig; and

an electrical conductor extending between the antenna and the data tag and electrically connecting the antenna with the data tag upon the container filled with the radiopharmaceutical and the data tag are enclosed in the pig, the antenna and electrical conductor permitting data to be read from, and/or written to, the data tag while the data tag is enclosed within the pig with the container.

10. A method for using a radiopharmaceutical apparatus comprising:

enclosing a container containing a radiopharmaceutical in a pig, the container having a data tag;

electrically connecting a first antenna adjacent an outer surface of the pig with the data tag on the container; and

transferring data between an electromagnetic device and the data tag on the container through the first antenna adjacent.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein electrically connecting the first antenna with the data tag further comprises:

connecting the first antenna adjacent the outer surface of the pig to a conductive lead; and

connecting the data tag to the conductive lead.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein electrically connecting the first antenna with the data tag further comprises:

connecting the first antenna adjacent the outer surface of the pig to a conductive lead;

connecting a second antenna adjacent an inner surface of the pig to the conductive lead; and

connecting a third antenna to the data tag.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein transferring data between an electromagnetic device and the data tag further comprises:

receiving in the first antenna adjacent the outer surface of the pig an electromagnetic signal from the electromagnetic device;

transferring the electromagnetic signal from the first antenna to the second antenna adjacent the inner surface of the pig;

transmitting the electromagnetic signal from the second antenna toward the third antenna connected to the data tag;

receiving in the third antenna the electromagnetic signal;

transferring the electromagnetic signal from the third antenna to the data tag; and

storing information in the electromagnetic signal on the data tag.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein transferring data between an electromagnetic device and the data tag further comprises:

retrieving information from the data tag in the form of an electromagnetic signal;

transferring the electromagnetic signal from the data tag to the third antenna connected to the data tag;

transmitting the electromagnetic signal from the third antenna toward the second antenna adjacent the inner surface of the pig;

transferring the electromagnetic signal from the second antenna to the first antenna adjacent the outer surface of the pig; and

transmitting the electromagnetic signal from the first antenna toward the electromagnetic device.