US 7,703,486 B2 · Method and apparatus for the handling of a radiopharmaceutical fluid

Abstract

An apparatus for the handling of hazardous fluids includes a collection vessel, a collection vessel connector, a dose control connector, a unit dose container, a delivery control connector, and a delivery site access device. The collection vessel contains the fluid prior to dispensing, the unit dose container contains a predetermined amount of the fluid for dispensing, the delivery site access device provides access to an intended delivery site, and the connector attaches pieces of the apparatus to one another. The method of the invention allows needle-free connections to be made for the apparatus, using a predetermined arrangement of the pieces of the apparatus, and in one embodiment, employs deformable elastomeric valves capable of creating a decreased pressure at a valve surface, so that upon closure of said valves, a fluid on the surface on the valves is withdrawn within the connector.

A method for the handling of a radiopharmaceutical fluid comprising the steps of:

a) enclosing a collection vessel volume (160) to be handled in a collection vessel (100) further comprising:
(i) a collection vessel fluid port interlock (180), releasably interlockable to a collection vessel connector male end fluid port interlock (224);
(ii) a collection vessel internal channel (110) in fluid communication with the collection vessel volume (160) and in fluid communication with a collection vessel fluid port (170) being reversibly sealed from the environment by a collection vessel fluid port elastomeric closure (172) being biased in favor of being sealed;
b) releasably interlocking the collection vessel connector male end fluid port interlock (224) to the collection vessel fluid port interlock (180), thereby interlocking to the collection vessel (100) a collection vessel connector (200) having a connector vessel connector male end (220) and a collection vessel connector female end (230) further comprising;
i) the collection vessel connector male end fluid port interlock (224);
ii) a collection vessel connector male end fluid port (222) in fluid communication with a collection vessel connector internal channel (210);
iii) a connection vessel connector female end fluid port (232) in fluid communication with the collection vessel connector internal channel (210);
iv) the collection vessel connector internal channel (210) containing collection vessel connector internal channel deformable elastomeric valve (212) having a collection vessel connector internal channel deformable elastomeric valve male end (214) and a collection vessel connector internal channel deformable elastomeric valve female end (216);
v) wherein the collection vessel connector internal channel deformable elastomeric valve female end (216) reversibly seals the collection vessel connector female end fluid port (232) from the collection vessel internal channel (210), and the collection vessel connector internal channel deformable elastomeric valve female end (216) is biased in favor of being sealed;
vi) a collection vessel connector female end fluid port interlock (234);
and said interlocking of the collection vessel connector male end fluid port interlock (224) to the collection vessel fluid port interlock (180) causing the collection vessel fluid port elastomeric closure (172) to reverse bias and become opened, thereby placing the collection vessel volume (160) in fluid communication with the collection vessel connector male end fluid port (222) and thereby in fluid communication with the collection vessel connector internal channel (210);
c) releasably interlocking a unit dose container male end fluid port interlock (480) to a dose control connector female end fluid port interlock (334), thereby interlocking to a dose control connector (300) a unit dose container (400) further comprising;
i) the unit dose container fluid port interlock (480);
ii) a unit dose container internal channel (410) in fluid communication with a unit dose container volume (460) and in fluid communication with a unit dose container fluid port (470);
and
iii) a unit dose container fluid manipulation regulator (490) regulating the unit dose container volume (460);
said interlocking of unit dose container fluid port interlock (480) and the dose control connector female end fluid port interlock (334) placing the unit dose connector internal channel (410), in fluid communication with the collection vessel connector internal channel (210);
d) releasably interlocking a dose control connector male end fluid port interlock (324) to the collection vessel connector female end fluid port interlock (234), thereby interlocking to the collection vessel connector (200) a dose control connector (300) having a dose control connector male end (320) and a dose control connector female end (330) further comprising;
i) the dose control connector male end fluid port interlock (324);
ii) a dose control connector male end fluid port (322) in fluid communication with a dose control connector internal channel (310);
iii) the dose control connector internal channel (310) containing a dose control connector deformable elastomeric valve (312) having a dose control connector deformable elastomeric valve male end (314) and a dose control connector deformable elastomeric valve female end (316);
iv) wherein the dose control connector deformable elastomeric valve male end (312) reversibly seals the dose control connector male end fluid port (322) from the environment, the dose control connector elastomeric valve male end (312) being biased in favor of being sealed;
v) a dose control female end fluid port (332) in fluid communication with the dose control connector internal channel (310);
vi) a dose control connector female end fluid port interlock (334);
and said interlocking of the dose control connector male end fluid port interlock (324) to the collection vessel connector female end fluid port interlock (234), causing the collection vessel connector deformable elastomeric valve female end (216) and the dose control connector deformable elastomeric valve male end (314) to reverse bias and become opened, thereby placing the collection vessel volume (160) in fluid communication with the dose control connector male end fluid port (322) and thereby in fluid communication with the dose control connector internal channel (310);
e) withdrawing the radiopharmaceutical fluid from the collection vessel (100) through the collection vessel connector (200) thence through the dose control connector 300) and thence into the unit dose container (400) by manipulation of the unit dose container fluid manipulation regulator (490);
f) releasably disengaging the dose control connector (300) from the collection vessel connector (200), the act of disengaging including the disengaging of the collection vessel connector female end fluid port interlock (234) and the dose control connector male end fluid port interlock (324), said disengaging causing the dose control connector internal channel deformable elastomeric valve male end (314) and the collection vessel connector internal channel deformable elastomeric valve female end (216) to reverse bias and become sealed, thereby interrupting the fluid communication between the dose control connector internal channel (310) and the collection vessel connector internal channel (210);
g) suitably transporting the connected dose control connector (300) and unit dose container (400) to a point of use.

25 more elements

Method and apparatus for the handling of a radiopharmaceutical fluid

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for the handling of a radiopharmaceutical fluid

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35