Containment, shielding, information display, distribution and administration of radioactive pharmaceuticals

Abstract

A shielded radioactive medical apparatus has a tubular housing with a quick release cap configured for closing an open end of the tubular housing. A quick release mechanism holds the quick release cap on an open end of the tubular housing. A data display module on the housing communicates with an outside computer for receiving and transmitting information. The data display model also calculates and displays the radioactivity of a dose within the housing.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . A shielded radioactive medical apparatus for carrying syringes containing radioactive material, the apparatus comprising: 
     a housing including a closed end and an open end, the housing configured to contain and carry the syringes, 
     a release cap configured for substantially covering the open end of the housing; 
     a lower radioactive shield located within the housing; 
     an upper radioactive shield located within the release cap; 
     a programmable data display module associated with the housing and located external to the upper radioactive shield and the lower radioactive shield, the data display module for indicating the radioactivity of a radiopharmaceutical at a specific point in time without detecting radiation and configured for communicating with an outside computer system, the data display module comprising
 a power supply, 
 a central processing unit, 
 a memory, 
 a user input, 
 a display, and 
 a communication component. 
 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: 
     the release cap having a distal end and a proximate end, the proximate end configured for closing the open end of the housing wherein the proximate end includes a receiver, and 
     a quick release mechanism configured for engaging and holding the release cap on the open end of the housing and quickly releasing the release cap when actuated by a user, the quick release mechanism including
 a collar movably engaged alone the open end of the housing, the collar including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes an inclined engagement surface; and 
 a biasing member engaged with the collar to bias the collar in a direction substantially away from the closed end of the housing; 
 
     wherein the housing includes a plurality of bores located on the housing proximate the open end of the housing, a plurality of pins located within the plurality of bores, and a plurality of springs engaged with the plurality of pins for outwardly biasing the plurality of pins; 
     wherein the release cap may be rapidly engaged with the housing by inserting the proximate end of the release cap within the collar so that the plurality of pins are urged inward in the plurality of bores as the pins slide along the inclined engagement surface of the first end of the collar and the plurality of pins engage with the receiver, thereby substantially locking the release cap onto the housing; and 
     wherein the release cap may be rapidly removed from the housing by moving the collar toward the closed end of the housing so that the plurality of pins are no longer urged into the plurality of bores and engaged with the receiver, thereby substantially freeing the release cap from the housing. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the release cap is a quick release cap, the apparatus further comprising: 
     a quick release mechanism configured for engaging and holding the release cap on the open end of the housing and quickly releasing the release cap when actuated by a user, 
     a lower radioactively shielded sleeve located within the housing, the lower sleeve configured to hold the body of a syringe and 
     an upper radioactively shielded sleeve located within the release cap, the upper radioactively shielded sleeve configured to hold the top of a syringe. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the data display module is configured for receiving from the outside computer system a data information bundle having information relating to the syringe containing radioactive material, calculating a radioactivity of a dose, and displaying the radioactivity of the dose. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein: 
     the communication component is connected to the outside computer system by wireless means, 
     the memory comprises a programmable read only memory that stores an operating system and a read-write memory that stores transient data, 
     the central processing unit is configured for calculating the radioactivity of a radiopharmaceutical continuously, 
     the display is configured for displaying the real-time radioactivity of a radiopharmaceutical, and 
     the user input is configured so that a user may input a sequence of buttons representing dose data wherein the dose data comprises a time of dose, an amount administered, and an identity of the user. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: 
     the release cap having a distal end and a proximate end, the proximate end configured for closing the open end of the housing wherein the proximate end includes a receiver, and 
     a quick release mechanism configured for engaging and holding the release cap on the open end of the housing and quickly releasing the release cap when actuated by a user, the quick release mechanism including
 a collar movably engaged along the open end of the housing, the collar including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes an inclined engagement surface; and 
 a biasing member engaged with the collar to bias the collar in a direction substantially away from the closed end of the housing; 
 
     wherein the housing includes a plurality of bores located on the housing proximate the open end of the housing, a plurality of balls located within the plurality of bores, and a plurality of springs engaged with the plurality of balls for outwardly biasing the plurality of balls; 
     wherein the release cap may be rapidly engaged with the housing by inserting the proximate end of the cap within the collar so that the plurality of balls are urged inward in the plurality of bores as the balls advance along the inclined engagement surface of the first end of the collar and the plurality of balls engage with the receiver, thereby substantially locking the release cap onto the housing; and 
     wherein the release cap may be rapidly removed from the housing by moving the collar toward the closed end of the housing so that the plurality of balls are no longer urged into the plurality of bores and engaged with the receiver, thereby substantially freeing the release cap from the housing. 
   
   
       11 - 13 . (not entered) 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a keyed rail including a key, the keyed rail extending from and attached to the proximate end of the release cap; 
     wherein the release cap further comprises a rail cavity, and 
     wherein the housing further comprises
 a slotted cavity including
 a slot along the length of the slotted cavity, and 
 a cutout proximate the open end of the housing, and 
 
 an opening located along the open end of the housing including
 a guide bearing located in the opening, 
 
 
     wherein the keyed rail is slidably located on the guide bearing along the slotted cavity of the housing, and 
     wherein the key may be mated with the slot in the cavity, thereby allowing the release cap to be moved away from the housing while not allowing the release cap to rotate about the rail. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the release cap further comprises a plurality of substantially planar surfaces, wherein the housing includes a plurality of extensions, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a flip top arm attached to at least two of the level surfaces, the flip top arm including a pair of slots, each slot including an angled portion along an end of the slot closest to the release cap, wherein at least two of the plurality of extensions are located within the slots, whereby the release cap may be rapidly removed along a path defined by the movement of the flip top arm along the extensions. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the housing further comprises an interior groove located proximate the open end of the housing, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a disc spring located in the groove to provide a biasing force against the release cap when the release cap is secured in the housing.