Infusion systems including computer-facilitated maintenance and/or operation and methods of use

Abstract

Methods for setting up, maintaining and operating a radiopharmaceutical infusion system, that includes a radioisotope generator, are facilitated by a computer of the system. The computer includes pre-programmed instructions and a computer interface, for interaction with a user of the system, for example, in order to track contained volumes of eluant and/or eluate, and/or to track time from completion of an elution performed by the system, and/or to calculate one or more system and/or injection parameters for quality control, and/or to perform purges of the system, and/or to facilitate diagnostic imaging.

1 . A method for purging a tubing circuit of an infusion system with air comprising:
 receiving by a computer, via a computer interface, a command to perform an air purge of an infusion tubing circuit, wherein the infusion tubing circuit includes an eluant line configured to connect a pump to an inlet of a radioisotope generator, an eluate line configured to connect an outlet of the radioisotope generator to a divergence valve, a waste line configured to connect to the divergence valve, and a patient line configured to connect to the divergence valve,   in response to receiving the command to perform the air purge, controlling, by the computer, the pump and the divergence valve to pump air through the eluant line and a selected one of the waste line and the patient line via the eluate line, and   subsequently controlling, by the computer, the divergence valve and the pump to pump air through a selected other of the waste line and the patient line via the eluate line.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the pump and the divergence valve comprises controlling the pump and the divergence valve to first pump air through the eluant line, the eluate line, and the waste line to a waste bottle followed by controlling the pump and the divergence valve to second pump air through the eluant line, the eluate line, and the patient line to a vial attached to an outlet of the patient line. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the pump and the divergence valve to pump air through the eluant line comprises pumping air through the eluant line, through the generator, and then into the eluate line. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to controlling the pump and the divergence valve to pump air through the eluant line,
 providing, via the computer interface, instructions to disconnect the eluant line and the eluate line from the generator and connect the eluant line directly to the eluate line, and   receiving, via the computer interface, an indication that the eluant line has been connected directly to the eluate line.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein controlling the pump and the divergence valve to pump air through the eluant line comprises pumping air through the eluant line and into the eluate line without passing air through the generator. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the divergence valve comprises a first divergence valve, and further comprising a second divergence valve connected to an upstream portion of eluant line in fluid communication with the pump, a first downstream portion of the eluate line extending between the second divergence valve and the radioisotope generator, and a second downstream portion of the eluate line which bypasses the radioisotope generator and extends between the second divergence valve and the first divergence valve. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising controlling, by the computer, the second divergence valve and the pump to pump air through the second divergence valve, through the second downstream portion of the eluate line, through the first divergence valve, and out through the patient line. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radioisotope generator is a strontium-rubidium radioisotope generator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coupling an outlet of the patient line to a vial, and   connecting the eluant line to the eluate line, thereby bypassing the radioisotope generator.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disconnecting the pump from an eluant reservoir and placing the pump in fluid communication with an air supply.