Method and device for accurate dispensing of radioactivity

• US 8,852,071 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universität Zürich
• Original Assignee: Bayer Medical Care Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Buck, Alfred, Weber, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US13/965,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20130336881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 600 1- 8
• US Class Current: 600/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 51/00 Preparations containing radioactive substances for use in therapy or testing in vivo
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/051 with radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/065 Throat; Pharynx
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1407 Infusion of two or more substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• 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: A61N 2005/1021 Radioactive fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1001 using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1075 for testing, calibrating, or quality assurance of the radiation treatment apparatus

Abstract

A method of delivering a radioactive liquid, includes, performing an initialization, including; extracting at least a first amount of a radioactive liquid from a source of radioactive liquid, measuring a radioactivity level for the first amount of radioactive liquid, and performing a calibration phase. The calibration phase includes, extracting a second amount of radioactive liquid from the source of radioactive liquid wherein the second amount is calculated based on the radioactivity level of the first amount to provide a total dose of radioactive liquid having a predetermined radioactivity level, and delivering the total dose and performing at least one more calibration and delivery phases.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a radioactive liquid to a destination, the device comprising:

a first valve means;

a fluid delivery path for fluid flow from the first valve means to the destination;

a metering section connected to the fluid delivery path; and

an activity metering unit operable to determine an activity concentration in a radioactive liquid source in system internal units,

wherein the activity metering unit determines a level of radioactivity within the metering section of the fluid delivery path as a radioactive liquid is moved into the metering section,

wherein a volume for a total activity amount is determined based on the activity concentration in the radioactive liquid source in system internal units,

wherein the first valve means is adapted for selectively connecting the radioactive liquid source and a flushing liquid source to the fluid delivery path upstream of the metering section and is adjusted to deliver the total activity amount,

wherein the metering section is capable of holding at least two separate amounts of the radioactive liquid having a total volume containing at least one total activity amount of the radioactive liquid from the radioactive liquid source.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first valve means is adapted for remote operation and the device further comprises a control unit which receives signals from the activity metering unit and controls operation of the first valve means between at least the following states:

a state in which the-radioactive liquid source is connected to the fluid delivery path; and

a state in which the flushing liquid source is connected to the fluid delivery path.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second valve means for selectively connecting the fluid delivery path downstream from the metering section to the destination or to a waste reservoir.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a first pump for pumping the radioactive liquid from the radioactive liquid source toward the first valve means and a second pump for pumping the flushing liquid from the flushing liquid source toward the first valve means.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery path comprises a fill-in section extending from the first valve means to the metering section, and the metering section is capable of holding a fluid volume which is at least three times the volume of the fill-in section.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an injection needle connected to the fluid delivery path and adapted to inject liquid into a human or animal body.

7. A method of delivering a radioactive liquid to a destination, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a desired level of radioactivity to be delivered to the destination;

determining an activity concentration of a radioactive liquid in a radioactive liquid source in system internal units;

determining a volume for a total activity amount of the radioactive liquid based on the activity concentration of the radioactive liquid in the radioactive liquid source in system internal units;

determining a level of radioactivity within a metering section of a fluid delivery path using an activity metering unit as the radioactive liquid is moved into the metering section, and

adjusting a first valve means connected between at least the radioactive liquid source and a flushing liquid source and a fluid delivery path upstream of the metering section whereby delivery of the total activity amount is made into the metering section,

wherein the metering section is capable of holding at least two separate amounts of the radioactive liquid having a total volume containing at least one total activity amount of radioactive liquid from the radioactive liquid source.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the activity concentration of the radioactive liquid in the radioactive liquid source in system internal units comprises:

transporting a first amount of the radioactive liquid to the metering section of the fluid delivery path;

measuring a reference level of radioactivity of the first amount of the radioactive liquid present in the metering section with the activity metering unit;

from the reference level of radioactivity, calculating a second amount of the radioactive liquid such that the first and second amounts of the radioactive liquid together have a predetermined level of radioactivity;

transporting the second amount of the radioactive liquid to the metering section of the fluid delivery path;

measuring a second level of radioactivity; and

calculating the activity concentration of the radioactive liquid in the radioactive liquid source in system internal units.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first amount of the radioactive liquid is at least 20% of the sum of the first and second amounts of the radioactive liquid.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of transporting the first amount of the radioactive liquid comprises:

operating the first valve means to connect the radioactive liquid source to the fluid delivery path;

allowing the first amount of the radioactive liquid to flow into the fluid delivery path;

operating the first valve means to connect the flushing liquid source to the fluid delivery path; and

allowing a flushing liquid to flow into the fluid delivery path, whereby the first amount of the radioactive liquid is moved into the metering section of the fluid delivery path.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of delivering the first and second amounts of the radioactive liquid to the destination, the step comprising:

operating the first valve means to connect the radioactive liquid source to the fluid delivery path;

allowing the second amount of the radioactive liquid to flow into the fluid delivery path;

operating the first valve means to connect the flushing liquid source to the fluid delivery path; and

allowing a flushing liquid to flow into the fluid delivery path, whereby the first and second amounts of radioactive liquid are moved to the destination.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps:

before transporting the first amount of the radioactive liquid to the metering section, transporting an offset amount of the radioactive liquid to the metering section;

measuring an offset level of radioactivity of the offset amount of radioactive liquid present in the metering section with the activity metering unit;

from the offset level of radioactivity and the desired level of radioactivity to be delivered to the destination, calculating the predetermined level of radioactivity; and

delivering the offset amount of radioactive liquid to the destination.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the radioactive liquid is a liquid comprising a radiopharmaceutical and wherein the destination is an injection needle for injection of liquid into a human or animal body.

14. A method of delivering a radioactive liquid comprising:

extracting a first amount of a radioactive liquid from a source of radioactive liquid;

measuring a radioactivity level for the first amount of the radioactive liquid;

extracting a second amount of the radioactive liquid from the source of radioactive liquid wherein the second amount is calculated based on the radioactivity level of the first amount to provide a total dose of the radioactive liquid having a predetermined radioactivity level; and

extracting an additional amount of the radioactive liquid from the source of radioactive liquid, wherein the additional amount has a radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first amount of the radioactive liquid is between 20% and 80% of the sum of the first and second amounts of the radioactive liquid.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising delivering the first and second amounts of the radioactive liquid after extracting the second amount.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

delivering the additional amount of radioactive liquid having a radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising flushing with a flushing liquid after delivering the radioactive liquid.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein delivering comprises injecting the radioactive liquid into a human or animal.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transporting the first amount of the radioactive liquid to a metering section where measuring the radioactive level is carried out;

transporting the second amount of the radioactive liquid to the metering section; and

measuring a radioactivity level of the first and second amounts of the radioactive liquid in the metering section.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

measuring a radioactivity level of the additional amount of the radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transporting the additional amount of the radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level to a metering section wherein measuring of a radioactivity level of the additional amount of radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level is carried out.

23. A method of operation of a device for delivering a radioactive liquid, the method comprising:

extracting a first amount of a radioactive liquid from a source of radioactive liquid;

transporting the first amount of the radioactive liquid to a metering section of a fluid path;

measuring a radioactivity level for the first amount of the radioactive liquid;

extracting a second amount of the radioactive liquid from the source of radioactive liquid wherein the second amount is calculated based on the radioactivity level of the first amount of the radioactive liquid to provide a total dose of radioactive liquid having a predetermined radioactivity level;

transporting the second amount of the radioactive liquid to the metering section;

measuring a radioactivity level for the first amount of the radioactive liquid and second amount of the radioactive liquid;

delivering the first and second amount of the radioactive liquid;

extracting an additional amount of the radioactive liquid from the source of radioactive liquid, wherein the additional amount has a radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level;

transporting the additional amount of the radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level to the metering section; and

delivering the additional amount of the radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

flushing the metering section of the fluid path with a flushing liquid after each of the delivering steps.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein each of the delivering steps comprises injecting the radioactive liquid into a human or animal.

26. A method of operation of a device for delivering a radioactive liquid, the method comprising:

extracting a first amount of a radioactive liquid from a source of radioactive liquid;

transporting the first amount of the radioactive liquid to a metering section of a fluid path;

measuring a radioactivity level for the first amount of the radioactive liquid;

extracting a second amount of the radioactive liquid from the source of radioactive liquid wherein the second amount is calculated based on the radioactivity level of the first amount of the radioactive liquid to provide a total dose of radioactive liquid having a predetermined radioactivity level;

transporting the second amount of the radioactive liquid to the metering section;

measuring a radioactivity level for the first amount of the radioactive liquid and second amount of the radioactive liquid;

repeating the steps of extracting a second amount of the radioactive liquid, transporting the second amount of the radioactive liquid, and measuring a radioactivity level until a dose of radioactivity having the predetermined radioactivity level is reached; and

delivering the dose.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein delivering the dose comprises injecting the radioactive liquid into a human or animal.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising flushing the metering section of the fluid path with a flushing liquid after delivering the dose.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising extracting an additional amount of the radioactive liquid having a radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level and delivering the additional amount of radioactive liquid equal to the predetermined radioactivity level.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

measuring the amount of the dose of the radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level before delivering the dose.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

flushing the metering section of the fluid path with a flushing liquid after delivering the additional amount of the radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

repeating the steps of extracting an additional amount of the radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level and delivering the additional amount of the radioactive liquid having the radioactivity level equal to the predetermined radioactivity level.