System for generating and containerizing radioisotopes

A system for eluting a daughter radioisotope from a parent radioisotope and for containerizing the resultant eluate in an evacuated container having a closure adapted to be pierced by a needle, said apparatus comprising:

• a generator containing a supply of the parent radioisotope, said generator having an inlet for an eluant for eluting the daughter radioisotope from the parent radioisotope and an outlet for the resultant eluate;
• a reservoir for holding a supply of the eluant, said reservoir having an outlet for delivery of eluant to the inlet of the generator and an air inlet for admission to the reservoir of air from the atmosphere to apply atmospheric air pressure to eluant in the reservoir;
• a tubular needle for piercing the closure of an evacuated container;
• and valve means comprising a first port constituting an air inlet in communication with the atmosphere, a second port in communication with said reservoir air inlet, a third port interconnected with said reservoir outlet, a fourth port interconnected with said generator inlet, a fifth port interconnected with said generator outlet for delivery of eluate to the needle, and means for blocking communication between said first and second ports, between said third and fourth ports, and between said fifth port and the needle, and operable to place the first port in communication with the second, the third in communication with the fourth and the fifth in communication with the needle.