Shielding device useful for manipulating a radioactive solution

Abstract

A protection device for a syringe having a syringe body extending along a longitudinal axis comprising, at a first end an end tip including an orifice for the passage of liquid and, at a second end, an opening for the passage of a piston provided with a maneuver head; wherein the device is adapted to at least partially cover said syringe body and is made at least in part of a radioprotective material providing protection against ionizing radiation, and wherein the device is in the form of a clamp comprising two half-jaws joined together by a hinge, which clamp includes operating means configured so that said half-jaws are moveable between: a closed operative position, in which said half-jaws are assembled to form a cylinder to at least partially cover said syringe body, and an open inactive position, adapted for the introduction and extraction of said syringe body into said half-jaws.

1 . A protection device for a syringe having a syringe body extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising, at a first end an end tip including an orifice for the passage of liquid and, at a second end, an opening for the passage of a piston provided with a maneuver head, wherein the protection device is adapted to at least partially cover said syringe body and is made at least in part of a radioprotective material providing protection against ionizing radiation, and wherein the protection device is in the form of a clamp comprising two half-jaws joined together by a hinge, which clamp includes operating means configured so that said half-jaws are moveable between: a closed operative position, in which said half-jaws are assembled to form a cylinder to at least partially cover said syringe body, and an open inactive position, adapted for the introduction and extraction of said syringe body into said half-jaws. 
     
     
         2 . The protective device for a syringe according to  claim 11 , wherein said hinge is provided with biasing means tending to maintain said closed operative position. 
     
     
         3 . The protection device for a syringe according to  claim 11 , characterized in that each half-jaw comprises a half-shell made of a radioprotective material providing protection against ionizing radiation, wherein said half-shell have a semi-cylindrical cross section, which is assembled with a base of plastics material, wherein a longitudinal edge of each of said bases forms part of said hinge in association with said biasing means, said bases of the two half-jaws (being configured such that projections project on the other side of said hinge, said projections forming actuating arms for the operations of opening and closing of the clamp. 
     
     
         4 . The protection device for a syringe according to claim  13 , wherein each half-shell, made of a radioprotective material providing protection against ionizing radiation, is assembled with its base by means of screws assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The protection device for a syringe according to  claim 12 , wherein said end tip of said syringe comprises a syringe adaptor and in that said half-shells each comprises a protrusion adapted to cover at least in part said syringe adaptor. 
     
     
         6 . The protection device for a syringe according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the two half-jaws include a transparent window to allow visual access to the contents of the syringe body. 
     
     
         7 . The protection device for a syringe according to claim  16 , wherein the two half-jaws each include a transparent window, said transparent windows facing each other when the half-jaws are in the closed operative position. 
     
     
         8 . The protection device for a syringe according to claim  16 , wherein the transparent window is made of a material providing protection against ionizing radiation. 
     
     
         9 . A method for preparing a syringe containing a radioactive solution using a device wherein
 a vial is provided containing said radioactive solution in a container body having an opening, the vial being closed by a puncturable closure member and the container body being made at least partially of a radioprotective material, a vial adaptor is inserted at a first end with a hollow spike adapted to pierce said puncturable closure member when the vial adaptor is mounted on the vial,   
       at a second end with connection means adapted for its removable connection to a syringe adaptor in a vial adaptor support structure by using releasable retention means of said vial adaptor support structure, the vial adaptor support structure being made at least partially of a radioprotective material,
 and mounting the vial adaptor support structure onto the opening of the container body. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method according to claim  19  wherein the mounting of the vial adaptor support structure onto the opening of the container body positions the vial adaptor just above the vial, coaxially thereto, and in particular to its opening, and with the hollow spike positioned facing the puncturable closure member, at a slight distance from this puncturable closure member. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to claim  20  wherein sampling said radioactive solution is obtained by positioning the vial on the upper portion of the vial, by translating the vial adaptor, with respect to a tubular sleeve of the vial adaptor support structure, and connecting the syringe to a syringe adaptor. 
     
     
         12 . A method for preparing a syringe containing a radioactive solution by introducing a vial containing radioactive solution and whose opening is closed by a puncturable closure member;
 connecting the vial adaptor with a support ring of the vial adaptor support structure by using a retention means;
 mounting the vial adaptor support structure onto the opening of the container body, the vial adaptor being positioned just above the vial, coaxially thereto, and in particular to its opening, and with the hollow spike positioned facing the puncturable closure member at a slight distance from this puncturable closure member; 
 positioning the vial adaptor on the upper portion of the vial, by lowering the assembly comprising the support ring, the jacket and the vial adaptor, with respect to the tubular sleeve; 
 and connecting the syringe to the vial adaptor for sampling said radioactive solution.