Radiation-shielding assembly having container location feature

• US 7,772,565 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Nuclear Medicine LLC (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Wilson, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Souw; Bernard E
• Application Number:
  US12/063,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 250/428, 250/432.R, 250/433, 250/436, 250/496.1, 250/497.1, 250/506.1, 250/515.1, 250/507.1, 376/260, 376/261, 376/263, 376/264, 376/272, 376/328, 588/1, 588/20, 206/446
• US Class Current: 250/428
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/015 for storing radioactive sources, e.g. source carriers for irradiation units; Radioisotope containers
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/06 Details of, or accessories to, the containers

Abstract

A radiation-shielding assembly can contain any of multiple containers of different sizes in a predetermined, fixed location within the assembly. A clamping system in of the assembly is able to clamp any of the containers so that they are held in the same fixed location within the assembly. The containers, regardless of size, are always located in the desired position within the shield. The positive location is achieved with out the use of separate components not attached to the assembly.

Claims

1. A radiation-shielding assembly for holding an eluate container, the assembly comprising:

a body having a cavity for receiving the container at least partially defined therein, the body defining an opening into the cavity, and the body including a radiation-shielding material; and

a clamping system at least partially disposed in the cavity, the clamping system comprising a first detent projecting generally transversely within the cavity, the detent being operable to engage a neck of the container to releasably hold the container at a predetermined position relative to the opening.

2. A radiation-shielding assembly as in claim 1, wherein the clamping system is selectively adjustable from a first state in which the clamping system has no more than a relatively weaker grip on the container and a second state in which the clamping system has a relatively stronger grip on the container.

3. A radiation-shielding assembly as in claim 2, further comprising an actuator rotatable relative to the body about an axis extending generally lengthwise of the cavity, wherein adjustment of the clamping system between the first and second states is controlled by movement of the actuator relative to the body.

4. A radiation-shielding assembly as in claim 2, wherein the clamping system further comprises a second detent, the first and second detents at least partially defining a passage, at least one of the detents being moveable relative to the other of the detents, the detents being positioned relative to one another in the first state to define a relatively larger passage and being positioned relative to one another in the second state to define a relatively smaller passage.

5. A radiation-shielding assembly as in claim 1, wherein the opening is a first opening and the body also defines a second opening sized larger than the first opening, the assembly further comprising a base releasably attached to the body, the base being operable to limit escape of radiation emitted in the cavity from the assembly through the second opening when the base is attached to the body.

6. A radiation-shielding assembly as in claim 1, wherein the clamping system is located adjacent the opening.

7. A radiation-shielding assembly as in claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is at a center of the cavity aligned with the opening.

8. A method of handling an eluate container, the method comprising:

placing the container in a cavity defined in a radiation-shielding body having an opening to the cavity; and

releasably holding the container at a predetermined location relative to the opening and at a predetermined position on the container by clamping the container at the predetermined position using a compressive force transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity after placing the container in the cavity.

9. A method as in claim 8 further comprising receiving the radioactive material in the container through the opening while the container is in the cavity.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein receiving the radioactive material comprises receiving an eluate comprising a radioisotope from a radioisotope generator.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein placing the container comprises placing the container in the cavity while the clamping system is in a first state in which the clamping system is operable to receive the container, and releasably holding the container comprises adjusting the clamping system to a second state in which the clamping system is operable to hold the container in a substantially fixed position in the cavity.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein adjusting the clamping system comprises rotating an actuator mounted on the body relative to the body about an axis extending generally lengthwise of the cavity.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein the clamping system comprises first and second detents, the detents being moveable relative to one another from a first state in which the detents define a first passage area and a second state in which the detents define a second passage area sized smaller than the first passage area, wherein adjusting the clamping system comprises moving the detents from their first state to their second state.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein adjusting the clamping system comprises moving an actuator of the assembly relative to the body to move the detents from their first state to their second state.

15. A method as in claim 8, wherein the opening is a first opening and placing the container comprises transferring the container into the cavity through a second opening sized larger than the first opening, the method further comprising attaching a base to the body while the container is in the cavity, the base being operable to limit escape of radiation emitted in the cavity from the assembly through the second opening.

16. A method as in claim 8, wherein the container is a first container, the method further comprising:

removing the first container from the assembly;

placing a second container in the cavity, the second container having a different size than the first container;

using the clamping system hold the second container at a predetermined location relative to the opening; and

receiving the radioactive material in the second container through the opening while the second container is in the cavity.

17. A radiation-shielding assembly for housing a container of radioactive material, the assembly comprising:

a body having an internal cavity for housing the container, the cavity having a longitudinal axis; and

a clamping system carried by the body and projecting into the cavity to releasably hold the container in the cavity by exerting a resilient compressive force on the container transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

18. A radiation-shielding assembly as in claim 17, wherein the clamping system comprises a resilient detent operable to engage a neck of the container.

19. A method of housing a container of radioactive material in a radiation-shielding assembly, the method comprising:

placing the container in an internal cavity of a body, the cavity having a longitudinal axis; and

moving an actuator associated with the body to cause an elongate detent projecting transversely within the cavity to exert a resilient force on the container transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity to hold the container in the cavity.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein holding the container comprises exerting said force at a neck of the container.

21. A method as in claim 19, wherein holding the container comprises selectively adjusting a clamping system from a first state in which the clamping system has no more than a relatively weaker grip on the container and a second state in which the clamping system has a relatively stronger grip on the container, wherein adjusting the clamping system comprises moving the actuator mounted on the body to adjust the clamping system between the first and second states.

22. A method as in claim 19, wherein placing the container comprises inserting the container into the cavity through an opening in the body, the method further comprising releasably attaching a base to the body generally at the opening to at least partially enclose the container in the cavity.

23. A method as in claim 19, wherein holding the container comprises holding the container adjacent an opening into the cavity through the body.

24. A method for holding a container of radioactive material in a radiation-shielding assembly, the method comprising:

placing the container in a cavity in a radiation-shielding body so the container is adjacent an opening in the body to the cavity, the cavity having a longitudinal axis; and

holding the container adjacent the opening by moving a detent from a release position in which the detent permits movement of the container away from the opening to a hold position in which the detent inhibits movement of the container away from the opening, wherein moving of the detent includes pivoting movement of the detent generally in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity.