Radiopharmaceutical dispensing, administration, and imaging

• US 8,571,881 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics Medical Ltd
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics LLC
• Inventors: Rousso, Benny, Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Melman, Haim, Bronshtine, Zohar, Zilberstien, Yoel, Nagler, Michael, Dickman, Dalia, Omer, Einav
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HIEP VAN
• Application Number:
  US11/750,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20080131362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,357 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• 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 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for use with at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, the apparatus including a container (22) containing the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and a portable computer-communicatable data carrier (120, 24) associated with the container (22), the data carrier (120, 24) containing imaging protocol information for use with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, the apparatus comprising:

a container containing the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent for administration to a patient;

a portable computer-communicatable data carrier associated with the container, the data carrier containing;

an identifier of the patient, and

imaging protocol information indicative of steps of an imaging procedure, for use with the patient and the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent; and

an imaging system, which is configured to receive the imaging protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises;

a camera; and

an imaging control unit, which is configured to drive the camera to perform the steps of the imaging procedure responsively to the imaging protocol information received from the data carrier,

wherein the apparatus is characterized by a property selected from the group consisting of;

(a) the data carrier comprises a coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the patient, and the container is labeled with the identifier of the patient,

(b) the data carrier is physically coupled to the container, and

(c) the apparatus further comprises a portable joining element, which is configured to be coupled to the container, and the data carrier is physically coupled to the portable joining element.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data carrier additionally contains administration protocol information useful for administering the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the administration protocol information and the imaging protocol information specify a protocol using the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, which protocol has a total duration, including administration and image acquisition, of less than 30 minutes, and includes at least one rest phase and at least one stress phase, and further comprising an administration system, which is configured to receive the administration protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises an administration control unit, which is configured to generate an administration signal that triggers administration to the patient of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent in accordance with the administration protocol information received from the data carrier.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the imaging protocol information indicative of the steps of the imaging procedure comprises instructions for performing the imaging procedure using the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and

wherein the imaging control unit is configured to drive the camera to perform the steps of the imaging procedure by executing the instructions of the imaging protocol information.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the imaging protocol information indicative of the steps of the imaging procedure comprises an identifier of an imaging protocol, and

wherein the imaging control unit is configured to drive the camera to perform the steps of the imaging procedure responsively to the identifier of the imaging protocol.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the data carrier comprises a first data carrier, which contains a first identifier value,

wherein the apparatus further comprises a second computer-communicatable data carrier, which contains a second identifier value, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to operate responsively to a detection of a correspondence between the first and second identifier values.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is characterized by the property that the apparatus further comprises the portable joining element, which is configured to be coupled to the container, and the data carrier is physically coupled to the joining element.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent includes a plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, wherein the container comprises a plurality of containers containing respective ones of the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and wherein the imaging protocol information contained in the data carrier is for use with the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the joining element comprises tubing, which is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the plurality of containers.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an administration system, which is configured to receive the administration protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises an administration control unit, which is configured to generate administration signals that trigger administration to the patient of the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents stored in the plurality of containers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data carrier additionally contains administration protocol information useful for administering the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and further comprising an administration system, which is configured to receive the administration protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises an administration control unit, which is configured to generate an administration signal that triggers administration to the patient of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent in accordance with the administration protocol information received from the data carrier.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is characterized by the property that the data carrier comprises the coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the patient, and the container is labeled with the identifier of the patient.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a bracelet, a watch, and a necklace.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a wearable article.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data carrier comprises circuitry.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data carrier comprises a computer-communicable element selected from the group consisting of:

an RFID tag, a smart card, and a disk-on-key.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the data carrier comprises a first data carrier,

wherein the apparatus is characterized by a property selected from the group consisting of:

(b) the first data carrier is physically coupled to the container, and

(c) the apparatus further comprises the portable joining element, which is configured to be coupled to the container, and the first data carrier is physically coupled to the joining element, and

wherein the apparatus further comprises a second portable computer-communicatable data carrier, which comprises the coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the patient.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the imaging protocol information specifies a SPECT protocol using the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, which protocol has an image acquisition duration of less than 6 minutes,

wherein the camera comprises a SPECT camera, and

wherein the imaging control unit is configured to drive the SPECT camera to perform a SPECT imaging procedure in accordance with the protocol having the image acquisition duration of less than 6 minutes.

19. Apparatus for use with at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, the apparatus comprising:

a container containing the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent for administration to a patient;

a portable computer-communicatable data carrier associated with the container, the data carrier containing;

an identifier of the patient,

imaging protocol information, for use with the patient and the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and

administration protocol information useful fox administering the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent,

wherein the administration protocol information and the imaging protocol information specify a protocol using the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, which protocol has a total duration, including administration and image acquisition, of less than 30 minutes, and includes at least one rest phase and at least one stress phase;

an imaging system, which is configured to receive the imaging protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises;

a camera; and

an imaging control unit, which is configured to drive the camera to perform an imaging procedure, and to configure the procedure at least in part responsively to the imaging protocol information received from the data carrier;

an

an administration system, which is configured to receive the administration protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises an administration control unit, which is configured to generate an administration signal that triggers administration to the patient of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent accordance with the administration protocol information received from the data carrier,

wherein the apparatus characterize by a property selected from the group consisting of;

(a) the data carrier comprises a coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the patient, and the contained is labeled with the identifier of the patient,

(b) the data carrier is physically coupled to the container, and

(c) the apparatus further comprises a portable joining element, which is configured to be coupled to the container, and the data carrier is physically coupled to the portable joining element.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the administration system further comprises an automated administration device, to which the container is operatively coupled, and which is configured to administer the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent in response to the administration signal.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the total duration, including administration and image acquisition, is less than 20 minutes.

22. Apparatus for use with a plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, the apparatus comprising:

a container shaped so as to define a plurality of chambers, each of which contains a respective one of the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents for administration to a patient;

a portable computer-communicatable data carrier physically coupled to the container, the data carrier containing;

an identifier of the patient,

imaging protocol information for use with the patient and the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents,

administration protocol information useful for administering the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents; and

an administration system, which is configured to receive the administration protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises an administration control unit, which is configured to generate an administration signal that triggers administration to the patient of plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents from the plurality of chambers, in accordance with the administration protocol information received from the data carrier.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising an imaging system, which is configured to receive the imaging protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises:

a camera; and

an imaging control unit, which is configured to drive the camera to perform an imaging procedure using the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and to configure the procedure at least in part responsively to the imaging protocol information read from the data carrier.

24. Apparatus for use with a plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of containers respectively containing the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents;

a portable joining element, which is configured to be coupled to the containers;

a portable computer-communicatable data carrier physically coupled to the portable joining element, the data carrier containing imaging protocol information for use with the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and administration protocol information for use with the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents; and

an administration system, which is configured to receive the administration protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises an administration control unit, which is configured to generate an administration signal that triggers administration to the patient of the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents stored in the plurality of containers, in accordance with the administration protocol information received from the data carrier.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the portable joining element comprises tubing, which is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the plurality of containers.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the tubing of joining element is shaped so as to define a manifold.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the administration protocol information comprises instructions for performing an administration procedure using the one or more labeled radiopharmaceutical agents.

28. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the administration protocol information comprises an identifier of an administration protocol.

29. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the data carrier comprises a computer-communicable element selected from the group consisting of:

an RFID tag, a smart card, and a disk-on-key.

30. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the administration system further comprises an automated administration device, to which the containers are operatively coupled, and which is configured to administer the labeled radiopharmaceutical agents to the patient in response to the administration signal.

31. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising an imaging system, which is configured to receive the imaging protocol information from the data carrier, and which comprises an imaging control unit, which is configured to drive the camera to perform an imaging procedure, and to configure the procedure at least in part responsively to the imaging protocol information read from the data carrier.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein the imaging protocol information comprises instructions for performing an imaging procedure using the one or more labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and

wherein the imaging control unit is configured to perform the imaging procedure by executing the instructions of the imaging protocol information.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein the imaging protocol information comprises an identifier of an imaging protocol, and

wherein the imaging control unit is configured to perform the imaging procedure responsively to the identifier of the imaging protocol.

34. A method comprising:

placing in a container at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent for administration to a patient;

associating a portable computer-communicatable data carrier with the container;

writing by a device, to the data carrier, an identifier of the patient, and imaging protocol information indicative of steps of an imaging procedure, for use with the patient and the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent;

reading the imaging protocol information from the data carrier; and

performing the steps to the imaging procedure responsibility to the imaging protocol information read from the data carrier,

wherein the method is characterized by a property selected from the group consisting of;

(a) the data carrier comprises a coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the patient, and associating comprises labeling the container with the identifier of the patient,

(b) associating the data carrier with the container comprises physically coupling the data carrier to the container, and

(c) associating the data carrier with the container comprises coupling the container to a portable joining element, and physically coupling the data carrier to the joining element.

35. The method according to claim 34, comprising writing, to the data carrier, administration protocol information useful for administering the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the administration protocol information and the imaging protocol information specify a protocol using the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, which protocol has a total duration, including administration and image acquisition, of less than 30 minutes, and includes at least one rest phase and at least one stress phase, and further comprising:

reading the administration protocol information from the data carrier; and

generating an administration signal that triggers administration to the patient of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent in accordance with the administration protocol information read from the data carrier.

37. The method according to claim 34,

wherein writing the imaging protocol information indicative of the steps of the imaging procedure comprises writing instructions for performing an imaging procedure using the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and

wherein performing the steps of the imaging procedure comprises executing the instructions of the imaging protocol information.

38. The method according to claim 34,

wherein writing the imaging protocol information indicative of the steps of the imaging procedure comprises writing an identifier of an imaging protocol, and

wherein performing the steps of the imaging procedure comprises performing the steps of the imaging procedure responsively to the identifier of the imaging protocol.

39. The method according to claim 34, wherein associating the data carrier comprises associating a first data carrier with the container, and wherein the method comprises:

writing a first identifier value to the first data carrier;

writing a second identifier to a second computer-communicatable data carrier;

detecting a correspondence between the first and second identifier values; and

performing an operation responsively to the detecting.

40. The method according to claim 34, wherein the method is characterized by the property that associating the data carrier with the container comprises:

coupling the container to a portable joining element; and

physically coupling the data carrier to the joining element.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein placing the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent in a container comprises placing a plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents in a respective plurality of containers, wherein coupling the container comprises coupling the plurality of containers to the joining element, and wherein the imaging protocol information contained in the data carrier is for use with the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the joining element includes tubing, and wherein coupling the plurality of containers to the joining element comprises coupling the tubing in fluid communication with the plurality of containers.

43. The method according to claim 41, further comprising:

reading the administration protocol information from the data carrier; and

generating administration signals that trigger administration to the patient of the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents stored in the plurality of containers.

44. The method according to claim 40, further comprising:

writing, to the data carrier, administration protocol information useful for administering the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent;

reading the administration protocol information from the data carrier; and

generating an administration signal that triggers administration to the patient of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent in accordance with the administration protocol information read from the data carrier.

45. The method according to claim 34, wherein the method is characterized by the property that associating the data carrier with the container comprises physically coupling the data carrier to the container.

46. The method according to claim 34, wherein the method is characterized by the property that the data carrier comprises the coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the patient, and associating comprises labeling the container with the identifier of the patient.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the coupling mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a bracelet, a watch, and a necklace.

48. The method according to claim 46, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a wearable article.

49. The method according to claim 34, wherein the data carrier comprises circuitry.

50. The method according to claim 34, wherein the data carrier comprises a computer-communicable element selected from the group consisting of:

an RFID tag, a smart card, and a disk-on-key.

51. The method according to claim 34,

wherein the data carrier comprises a first data carrier,

wherein the method is characterized by a property selected from the group consisting of:

(b) associating the data carrier with the container comprises physically coupling the data carrier to the container, and

(c) associating the data carrier with the container comprises coupling the container to a portable joining, and physically coupling the data carrier to the joining element, and

wherein the method further comprises providing a second portable computer-communicatable data carrier, which comprises the coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the patient.

52. The method according to claim 34,

wherein the imaging protocol information specifies a SPECT protocol using the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, which protocol has an image acquisition duration of less than 6 minutes,

wherein the imaging procedure is a SPECT imaging procedure, and

wherein performing the steps of the imaging procedure comprises perform the steps of the SPECT imaging procedure in accordance with the protocol having the image acquisition duration of less than 6 minutes.

53. A method comprising;

pacing in a container at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent for administration to a patient;

associating a portable computer-communicatable data carrier with the container;

writing by a device, to the data carrier, (a) an identifier of the patient, (b) imaging protocol information for use with the patient and the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and (c) administration protocol information useful for administering the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, wherein the administration protocol information and the imaging protocol information specify a protocol using the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent which protocol has a total duration, including administration and image acquisition, of less than 30 minutes, and includes at least one rest phase and at least one stress phase;

reading the imaging protocol information from the data carrier;

performing the imaging procedure responsively to the imaging protocol information read from the data carrier;

reading the administration protocol information from the data carrier; and

generating an administration signal that triggers administration to the patient of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent in accordance with the administration protocol information read from the data carrier,

wherein the method is characterized by a property selected from the group consisting of;

(a) the data carrier comprises a coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the pain, and associating comprises labeling the container with the identifier of the patient,

(b) associating the data carrier with the container comprise physically coupling the data carrier to the container, and

(c) associating the data carrier with the container comprises coupling the container to a portable joining element, and physically coupling the data carrier to the portable joining element.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein generating the administration signal comprises driving an automated administration device, to which the container is operatively coupled, to administer the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent in response to the administration signal.

55. The method according to claim 53, wherein the total duration, including administration and image acquisition, is less than 20 minutes.

56. A method comprising:

placing, in a container shaped so as to define a plurality of chambers, a plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents in respective ones of the chambers;

physically coupling a portable computer-communicatable data carrier to the container;

writing by a device, to the data carrier, (a) an identifier of a patient, (b) imaging protocol information for use with the patient and the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and (c) administration protocol information useful for administering the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents;

rendering the administration protocol information from the data carrier; and

generating administration signals that trigger administration to the patient of the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agent from the plurality of chambers, in accordance with the administration protocol information read form the data carrier.

57. The method according to claim 56, further comprising:

reading the imaging protocol information from the data carrier; and

performing the imaging procedure responsively to the imaging protocol information read from the data carrier.

58. A method comprising:

physically coupling a computer-communicatable data carrier to a portable joining element;

placing a plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents in a respective plurality of containers;

coupling the containers to the joining element;

writing by a device, to the data carrier, imaging protocol information for use with the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and administration protocol information for use with the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agents;

reading the administration protocol information from the data carrier; and

generating administration signals that trigger administration to the patient of the plurality of labeled radiopharmaceutical agent from the plurality of containers, in accordance with the administration protocol information read from the data carrier.

59. The method according to claim 58, wherein the joining element includes tubing, and wherein coupling the plurality of containers to the joining element comprises coupling the tubing in fluid communication with the plurality of containers.

60. The method according to claim 58, wherein writing the administration protocol information comprises writing instructions for performing an administration procedure using the one or more labeled radiopharmaceutical agents.

61. The method according to claim 58, wherein writing the administration protocol information comprises writing an identifier of an imaging protocol.

62. The method according to claim 58, wherein the data carrier comprises a computer-communicable element selected from the group consisting of:

an RFID tag, a smart card, and a disk-on-key.

63. The method according to claim 58, wherein generating the administration signals comprises driving an automated administration device, to which the containers are operatively coupled, to administer the labeled radiopharmaceutical agents to the patient in response to the administration signals.

64. The method according to claim 58, further comprising:

reading the imaging protocol information from the data carrier; and

performing an imaging procedure, and configuring the procedure at least in part responsively to the imaging protocol information read from the data carrier.

65. The method according to claim 64,

wherein the imaging protocol information comprises instructions for performing an imaging procedure using the one or more labeled radiopharmaceutical agents, and

wherein performing the imaging procedure comprises executing the instructions of the imaging protocol information.

66. The method according to claim 64,

wherein the imaging protocol information comprises an identifier of an imaging protocol, and

wherein performing the imaging procedure comprises performing the imaging procedure responsively to the identifier of the imaging protocol.

67. The method according to claim 58, wherein at least a portion of the tubing of joining element is shaped so as to define a manifold.