Systems and methods for producing a radioactive drug product using a dispensing unit
AssigneeCurium US LLC
InventorBryan Scott Petrofsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Production systems for producing a radioactive drug product include a hot cell having a radiation isolating shielding and a dispensing unit positioned within the hot cell. The dispensing unit includes a manipulator arm for manipulating a closure component of a vial. The system further includes a pneumatic line extending from the manipulator arm and through the radiation isolating shielding to a location outside of the hot cell and a pressure sensor connected to the pneumatic line and positioned outside of the radiation isolating shielding. The pressure sensor is operable to detect air pressure within the pneumatic line.
Claims20
A method for producing a radioactive drug product, the method comprising:
- positioning a vial on a dispensing unit located within a hot cell having a radiation shielding, the dispensing unit including a manipulator arm for manipulating a closure component of the vial;
- controlling, by a controller, the manipulator arm to engage the closure component of the vial;
- receiving a detected air pressure signal at the controller from a pressure sensor connected to a pneumatic line at a location outside of the hot cell, the pneumatic line extending from the manipulator arm and through the radiation shielding;
- and
- determining, by the controller, whether the manipulator arm is engaged with the closure component based on the detected air pressure signal.
A control system for controlling a dispensing unit positioned within a hot cell having a radiation isolating shielding, the dispensing unit operable to dispense a radioactive drug into a vial and including a manipulator arm for manipulating a closure component of the vial, the control system being positioned outside of the radiation isolating shielding, the control system comprising:
- a pressure sensor connected to a pneumatic line extending to the arm of the dispensing unit, the pressure sensor being operable to detect air pressure within the pneumatic line;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor, the controller being electrically connected to the dispensing unit and configured to:
- control the manipulator arm to engage the closure component of the vial;
- receive a detected air pressure signal from the pressure sensor;
- and
- determine whether the manipulator arm is engaged with the closure component based on the detected air pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.