Container and method for transporting a syringe containing radioactive material
AssigneeSyncor International Corporation
InventorsMonty Mong Chen Fu, Bing Bing Zhu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for transporting a syringe containing radioactive material that provides many advantages, including the safe enclosure of the syringe both before and after use, which reduces the possibility of contamination of the radiopharmaceutical pig. The present invention also provides a radiopharmaceutical pig that eliminates the need for a protective plastic outer shell and has a convenient grip. Finally, the present invention allows the user to readily determine if a syringe within a closed sharps container is full or spent without handling the container.
Claims19
A transportation container for a syringe containing a radioactive material, the container to be handled by a worker, the transportation container comprising:
- a body having an upper end, a lower end, and an interior surface defining an internal chamber sized to enclose the syringe, wherein the internal chamber is surrounded by radiation resistant material;
- and,
- a grip on the upper end of the body spaced apart from a connection point of the upper and lower ends, the grip having an exterior surface defining an enlarged area to be grasped by the worker, wherein the grip is a separate piece formed of an impact resistant material.
A transportation container for a syringe containing it radioactive material, the container to be manually handled by a worker, the transportation container comprising:
- a tubular body formed of tungsten having an upper end, a lower end, and an interior surface defining an internal chamber sized to enclose the syringe, the upper and lower ends each having a threaded opening configured to releasably secure the ends to one another, wherein the internal chamber is surrounded by radiation resistant material;
- and
- a grip on the upper end of the body, the grip having an exterior surface defining an enlarged area to be grasped by the worker, the grip being a separate piece mounted on the upper end of the body spaced apart from a connection region of the upper and lower ends.
A method of transporting a syringe containing a radioactive material to a location for use and confining the syringe within a protective container having a housing that can mate with one of two different-sized caps, the protective container itself enclosed in a radiopharmaceutical pig, the method comprising:
- inserting the syringe into the housing of the protective container;
- attaching one cap to the housing of the protective container to enclose the syringe therein;
- assembling the radiopharmaceutical pig to enclose the protective container enclosing the syringe;
- transporting the radiopharmaceutical pig to the location for use;
- disassembling the radiopharmaceutical pig;
- removing the first cap from the protective container;
- discharging at least some of the radioactive material from the syringe, resulting in a spent syringe;
- placing the spent syringe in the housing of the disposal container;
- and
- attaching the other cap to the housing to enclose the spent syringe therein.
A transportation container for a syringe containing a radioactive material, the transportation container comprising:
- a body having an upper end, a lower end, and an interior surface defining an internal chamber sized to enclose the syringe, wherein the internal chamber is surrounded by radiation resistant material;
- and
- a sharps container assembly having
- a housing sized to conformably receive a body portion of the syringe, the housing having a mating end configured to mate with a cap,
- a first cap configured to mate with the housing to cooperatively enclose the syringe, the first cap sized to accommodate a plunger of the syringe in an extended position, and
- a second cap configured to mate with the housing to cooperatively enclose the syringe, the second cap sized to accommodate the plunger of the syringe in a spent position;
- wherein the first cap is mated with the housing when the plunger is in the extended position and the second cap is mated with the plunger in the spent position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.