Apparatus and method for producing radiopharmaceuticals

A disposable kit for producing radiopharmaceuticals in conjunction with a stationary processor comprising:

• a) a plurality of rotary slide valves having rotors with engagement features adapted to interface with rotary actuators and apertures for making fluidic connections to flexible tubing;
• b) a plurality of push-on fluidic connectors with openings adapted to interface with mating push-on fluidic connectors and having fittings for making fluidic connections to flexible tubing, wherein said plurality of rotary slide valves and said plurality of push-on fluidic connectors are arrayed on a processor interface planar structure and oriented to interface in a single processor direction;
• and
• c) a reagent and reactor vessel mounting structure affixed to said processor interface planar structure and disposed generally horizontally opposite said processor direction and containing at least:
• 1) a plurality of vessel mounting structures, said mounting structures having fittings for making fluidic connections to flexible tubing, and
• 2) a plurality of flexible tubes for connecting said fittings of one vessel mounting structure to another and to said rotary slide valve apertures and push-on connectors.

A method of producing radiopharmaceuticals comprising the steps of:

• 1) providing a stationary processor having a disposable kit interface planar structure disposed substantially vertically and at least a plurality of rotary actuators protruding horizontally from said interface structure, a plurality of push-on fluidic connectors protruding horizontally from said interface structure, and structure for releasably interfacing a disposable kit to said rotary actuators and push-on connectors by means of linear actuators that provide translation in a horizontal direction;
• and
• 2) providing at least one disposable kit having:
• a) a processor interface planar structure containing at least a plurality of rotary slide valves, having rotors adapted to interface with said rotary actuators and apertures for making fluidic connections to flexible tubing, and a plurality of push-on fluidic connectors adapted to interface with said processor push-on fluidic connectors and having fittings for making fluidic connections to flexible tubing, and
• b) a reagent and reactor vessel mounting structure affixed to said processor interface planar structure and disposed generally perpendicularly and containing at least a plurality of vessel mounting structures, said vessel mounting structures having fittings for making fluidic connections to flexible tubing, and a plurality of flexible tubes for connecting said fittings of one vessel to another and to said rotary slide valve apertures and push-on connectors;
• 3) mounting at least one reactor vessel to said kit vessel mounting structure;
• 4) filling reagent vessels with predetermined reagents, adding fluidic seals, and mounting said vessels to said kit vessel mounting structure;
• 5) fluidically interconnecting said disposable kit rotary valves, push-on connectors, and vessel mounting structure fittings in a predetermined fluidic configuration;
• 6) making fluidic connections to said reagent vessels through said seals;
• 7) interfacing said disposable kit to said stationary processor;
• and
• 8) operating said processor to produce radiopharmaceuticals.