Self-aligning radioisotope elution system and method

A radioisotope elution system, comprising:

• an auxiliary shield having a top plane, wherein the auxiliary shield comprises at least one radiation shielding material selected from depleted uranium, tungsten, tungsten impregnated plastic, or lead;
• a shield lid that includes a handle extending from at least two separate locations on a top surface of the shield lid, the shield lid comprising at least one radiation shielding material selected from depleted uranium, tungsten, tungsten impregnated plastic, or lead, wherein the shield lid is disposed in the auxiliary shield, wherein the handle crosses the top plane, and wherein at least one aperture is defined in the top surface and extends through the shield lid;
• and
• a radioisotope generator disposed in the auxiliary shield and biased by the weight of the shield lid, wherein the auxiliary shield includes a first complementary alignment structure that is keyed to an alignment structure disposed on the shield lid and a second complementary alignment structure that is keyed to another alignment structure on the radioisotope generator.