Container and method for transporting a syringe containing radioactive material

A method of transporting a syringe containing a radioactive material to a location for use and, thereafter, to a disposal area, the method comprising:

• inserting a housing into a lower portion of a radiopharmaceutical pig;
• inserting the syringe into the housing;
• assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig by securing an upper portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig to the lower portion, thereby containing the syringe and the housing in a chamber within the radiopharmaceutical pig;
• transporting the radiopharmaceutical pig to the location for use for disassembly of the radiopharmaceutical pig, removal and use of the syringe, replacement of the syringe into the housing, and reassembly of the radiopharmaceutical pig so that it contains a cap attached to the housing containing the syringe inside;
• transporting the radiopharmaceutical pig from the location of use to the disposal area;
• disassembling the radiopharmaceutical pig by removing the upper portion from the lower portion, thereby exposing the cap and the housing;
• removing the cap and the housing containing the syringe from the radiopharmaceutical pig;
• and
• disposing of the cap and the housing containing the syringe.

A method of delivering a syringe containing radioactive material to a location of use and, subsequently, to a disposal area, the method comprising:

• placing a housing for a sharps container in a cavity in a lower portion of a radiopharmaceutical pig;
• placing the syringe containing the radioactive material in a cavity in the housing;
• securing a mating end of an upper portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig to a mating end of the lower portion, thereby enclosing the syringe and the housing is within a chamber in the radiopharmaceutical pig;
• transporting the radiopharmaceutical pig to the location where the syringe is removed for use after which a cap for a sharps container is attached to the housing to contain the syringe therein, the cap and the housing being placed within the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig;
• transporting the radiopharmaceutical pig from the location to a disposal area;
• removing the upper portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig from the lower portion the radiopharmaceutical pig;
• removing the cap and the housing containing the syringe from the radiopharmaceutical pig;
• disposing of the cap and the housing containing the syringe.

A method of using syringes containing radioactive material, the method utilizing a radiopharmaceutical pig and a container having a housing and a cap, the container being configured to contain the syringe and fit within a chamber in the radiopharmaceutical pig, the method comprising:

• disassembling the radiopharmaceutical pig by removing an upper portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig from a lower portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig, thereby exposing the syringe;
• removing the syringe from the housing;
• discharging at least some of the radioactive material from the syringe;
• replacing the syringe in the housing;
• attaching a cap to the housing to contain the syringe inside the container;
• and
• assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig by securing the upper portion to the lower portion to contain the syringe contained within the container.

A transportation container for a syringe containing radioactive material comprising,

• a radiopharmaceutical pig having an upper portion removably securable to a lower portion, each portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig having an inner surface defining an internal cavity oriented to define a chamber when the upper and lower portions of the radiopharmaceutical pig are secured together, the radiopharmaceutical pig including radiation-resistant material surrounding the chamber such that radioactive material may be safely stored within the chamber;
• and
• a tubular sharps container having a cap and a housing configured to fit the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig, the
• the cap having a closed end and an open mating end with at least one resilient snap;
• the housing having a closed end and an open mating end with at least one ledge for the engagement of the resilient snap when the mating end cap contacts the mating end of the housing, the engagement of the resilient snap with the ledge fastening the cap to the housing, the fastened cap and housing configured to hold the syringe therein and to fit within the chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig.

A sharps container for a syringe containing radioactive material, the container comprising:

• a tubular cap having an open mating end, a closed end, and a wall having an inner surface defining an internal cavity between the open mating end and the closed end, the mating end of the cap having at least one resilient snap;
• a tubular housing having an open mating end, a closed end, and a wall having an inner surface defining an internal cavity between the open mating end and the closed end;
• the mating end of the housing including at least one ledge, each ledge sized and positioned to engage an associated snap on the cap, thereby fastening the cap to the housing;
• the housing further includes an internal sealing wall extending from the inner surface of the housing toward the mating end of the housing, the sealing wall abutting the inner surface of the wall of the cap when the cap is fastened to the housing;
• the cavity of the cap and the cavity of the housing cooperatively defining an inner chamber for holding the syringe when the snap of the cap engages the ledge of the housing and the mating end of the cap abuts the mating end of the housing inside the sharps container;
• and
• the housing further includes a window through which the syringe is visible when it is in the inner chamber formed when the cap and the housing is fastened together.

A transportation container for a syringe containing radioactive material, the container comprising:

• a radiopharmaceutical pig having an upper portion removably securable to a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion configured to cooperatively define an internal chamber when the upper portion is secured to the lower portion, the chamber being surrounded by a radiation-resistant material;
• a sharps container having a cap and a housing,
• the cap having an open mating end, a closed end, and a tapered cylindrical wall extending from the open matting end to the close end, the tapered cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity between the mating end of the cap and the closed end of the cap,
• the mating end of the cap having a generally horizontal shoulder and two resilient snaps, the shoulder extending radially outward from the tapered cylindrical wall of the cap, each resilient snap extending longitudinally away from the closed end of the cap,
• the housing having an open mating end, a closed end, and a tapered cylindrical wall extending from the open mating end to the closed end, the tapered cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity between the mating end of the housing and the closed end of the housing, and
• the mating end of the housing having a generally cylindrical mating wall extending longitudinally to a shoulder, the shoulder extending radially inward to the tapered cylindrical wall of the housing, the mating wall including two ledges and two opposed notches, each ledge aligned with and configured to engage with an associated snap on the mating end of the cap, the notches each configured to accept associated snaps on the mating end of the housing, the opposing notches each having an inner surface separated by a diametrical distance less than a diametrical distance between the resilient snaps, thereby forcing each resilient snap to deform radially inward until it engages with its associated ledge.

A sharps container for a syringe, the sharps container comprising:

• a radiopharmaceutical pig having an upper portion removably securable to a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion configured to cooperatively define an internal chamber when the upper portion is secured to the lower portion, the chamber surrounded by a radiation-resistant material;
• a sharps container having a cap and a housing,
• the cap having an open mating end, a closed end, and a tapered cylindrical wall extending from the open matting end to the close end, the tapered cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity between the mating end of the cap and the closed end of the cap,
• the mating end of the cap having a generally horizontal shoulder and two resilient snaps, the shoulder extending radially outward from the tapered cylindrical wall of the cap, each resilient snap extending longitudinally away from the closed end of the cap,
• the housing having an open mating end, a closed end, and a tapered cylindrical wall extending from the open mating end to the closed end, the tapered cylindrical wall defining an internal cavity between the mating end of the housing and the closed end of the housing, and
• the mating end of the housing having a generally cylindrical mating wall extending longitudinally to a shoulder, the shoulder extending radially inward to the tapering cylindrical wall of the housing, the mating wall including two ledges and two opposed notches, each ledge aligned with and configured to engage with an associated snap on the mating end of the cap, the notches each configured to accept associated snaps on the mating end of the housing, the opposing notches each having an inner surface separated by a distance less than a distance between the resilient snaps, thereby forcing each resilient snap to bend radially inward until it engages with its associated ledge.
• a hollow shield of radiation resistant material having an upper portion with an inner cavity and a lower portion with an inner cavity, the upper and lower portions positionable such that their cavities cooperatively define a space to enclose the housing and the cap;
• and
• a hollow outer container having an upper shell with an inner cavity and a lower shell with an inner cavity, the upper shell and the lower shell removably secured together such that the cavities of both shells cooperatively define a space for the housing, the closure, and the radiation shield to nest therein.