System and method for automatically eluting and concentrating a radioisotope

A system for producing a radioisotope solution, comprising:

• at least one processing element each having an inlet and outlet;
• a reservoir having an output feed at the bottom thereof for connecting to the inlet of one of the at least one processing element;
• a predetermined volume of eluent contained in the reservoir;
• a predetermined volume of gas contained in the reservoir, separated from and positioned over the predetermined volume of eluent;
• and
• a force-limited, pressure-supplying mechanism that forces the volume of eluent and then the volume of gas through the reservoir output feed and into and through the at least one processing element, thereby eluting the at least one processing element with the predetermined volume of eluent and purging the one or more processing elements with the predetermined volume of gas.

A system for producing a concentrated radioisotope through a series of elution steps, comprising:

• (a) at least one generator for producing an eluate containing a desired radioisotope to be concentrated;
• (b) a radioisotope concentration subsystem having at least one processing element in fluid communication with the generator that processes the radioisotope therein;
• (c) a radioisotope collection vessel in fluid communication with the concentration subsystem for collecting therein a desired volume of prepared radioisotope solution;
• (d) a first gas-over-eluent delivery mechanism in fluid communication with the generator, that stores a first measured volume of fluid which includes a first measured volume of eluent solution and a first measured volume of a gas positioned over the first volume of solution, the mechanism including a first pressure-supplying source that applies a first pressure upon the first volume of gas to force the first volume of eluent and then gas through the generator and the radioisotope concentration subsystem;
• and
• (e) a second gas-over-eluent delivery mechanism in fluid communication with the concentration subsystem, that stores a second measured volume of fluid which includes a second measured volume of eluent solution and a second measured volume of a gas positioned over the second volume of solution, the second mechanism including a second pressure-supplying source that applies a second pressure upon the second volume of gas to force the second volume of eluent and then gas through the concentration subsystem and into the radioisotope collection vessel, thereby re-eluting the radioisotope at a desired concentration.

A method for automatically eluting a desired volume of a daughter radioisotope from a parent radioisotope contained in at least one generator using a first, gas-over-eluent delivery mechanism containing a first measured volume of gas positioned over a first measured volume of eluent, the mechanism in fluid communication with the at least one generator, for automatically concentrating the resultant eluate in a concentration subsystem having at least one impurity trap in series with a radioisotope trap having an inlet and outlet, and for re-eluting a daughter radioisotope solution into a sterile, vented, collection vessel with a second, gas-over-eluent, storage and delivery mechanism containing a second, measured volume of gas positioned over a second, measured volume of eluent, the method comprising:

• applying a first pressure on the first volume of gas to force the first volume of eluent and then the first volume of gas through the generator and concentration subsystem and into a fluid waste receptacle, thereby eluting the daughter radioisotope from the generator, concentrating the resultant eluate, and purging the generator, the at least one impurity trap and the radioisotope of eluate;
• and
• applying a second pressure on the second volume of gas to force the second volume of eluent, and then the second volume of gas through the concentration subsystem and into the sterile, vented collection vessel, thereby re-eluting the concentrated daughter radioisotope into the collection vessel and purging the concentration subsystem of fluid.

A single-use, self-sealed, radioisotope concentration cartridge for processing therein a radioisotope contained in an eluate solution generated by a radioisotope generator and carried by a fluid delivery system, thereby preparing the radioisotope to be delivered into a sterile, collection vial, the cartridge comprising:

• at least one eluate processing element;
• and
• a sealed, radioactively-shielded, container that houses the at least one eluate processing element, the container having at least one opening and further including,
• at least one septum that seals the at least one opening and that permits the flow of eluate from the generator into and through the at least one eluate processing element, and to the collection vial when penetrated by the fluid delivery system.

A single-use, self-sealed, radioisotope concentration cartridge for concentrating therein a radioisotope contained in an eluate solution generated by a radioisotope generator and carried by a first fluid delivery system, thereby preparing the radioisotope to be re-eluted by a second fluid delivery system and to be carried into a sterile, collection vial via a third fluid delivery system, the cartridge comprising:

• at least one impurity trap;
• a radioisotope trap serially connected to the at least one impurity trap;
• and
• a sealed, radioactively shielded, container that houses the at least one impurity trap and radioisotope trap, the container having at least one opening and further including,
• at least one septum that seals the at least one opening and that permits the flow of eluate from the generator into the at least one impurity trap when penetrated by the first fluid delivery system, permits the flow of fresh eluent through the radioisotope trap when penetrated by the second fluid delivery system, and permits the flow of the prepared radioisotope solution from the radioisotope trap to the sterile, collection vial when penetrated by the third fluid delivery system.