Multi-vial dispensing
AssigneeGe Healthcare Limited
InventorsNigel J Osborn, Roger Pettitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-vial dispensing cassette provides serial dispensement of radiopharmaceutical fluid into a plurality of dispense vials connected in series. Needle holders may be provided for one or more vials in the cassette and at clip may be incorporated into the needle holder. Each dispense vial has a body and a cap with a fill needle and a withdrawal needle. The withdrawal needle of one vial is connected to the fill needle of an adjacent vial.
Claims16
A multi-vial dispensing cassette, wherein each vial includes a vial body defining a vial cavity and is closed by an elastomeric septum, said cassette comprising:
- a first fluid line for extending in fluid communication between the vial cavities of a first and second vial, said first fluid line comprising an elongate hollow conduit supporting an elongate hollow needle at each end thereof;
- a second fluid line for extending in fluid communication between the vial cavities of the second vial and a third vial, said second fluid line comprising an elongate hollow conduit supporting an elongate hollow needle at each end thereof;
- and
- a vent needle insertable into the vial cavity of third vial, said vent needle being connected to a filter so as to protect the contents of the vials from contamination;
- wherein a fill needle is insertable into the vial cavity of the first vial, the fill needle being connected to a source of product fluid.
A method of dispensing into multiple vials using a number of fluid lines, each vial including a vial body defining a vial cavity and sealed by an elastomeric septum and each fluid line comprising an elongate conduit supporting an elongate needle at each end thereof, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a first fill needle into a first vial;
- inserting the free end of a first withdrawal needle of a first fluid line into said first vial, said free end of said first withdrawal needle of said first fluid line extending at least as low into said vial cavity of said first vial as said first fill needle;
- inserting a second fill needle of said first fluid line into a second vial;
- inserting a second withdrawal needle of a second fluid line into said second vial, said second withdrawal needle of said second fluid line extending at least as low into said vial cavity of said second vial as second fill needle of said first fluid line;
- inserting a third fill needle of said second fluid line into a third vial;
- inserting a vent needle into said third vial, said vent needle being in fluid communication with said fill needle inserted into said first vial;
- and
- directing a fluid from a fluid source through said fill needle into said first vial, at least some of the fluid being further directed through said first fluid line to said second vial and through said second fluid line to said third vial.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.