Armored container for transporting a container holding a radioactive product
The container design optimizes weight and sealing by using flexible inner half-shells and strategic radioprotective materials, addressing the issues of weight, cost, and complexity in existing containers, ensuring effective radiation protection and ease of use.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LEMER PAX
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing armored containers for transporting radioactive products are heavy due to the use of radioprotective materials like lead or tungsten, are complex and expensive, and often difficult to seal, complicating decontamination operations.
A container design featuring a base and lid elements with inner and outer half-shells, where inner half-shells are made of flexible materials like silicone or elastomer, and radioprotective materials like lead are strategically positioned to optimize weight and protection, with a sealing mechanism using elastic tabs and magnetic structures for easy closure.
The design results in a lightweight, cost-effective, and easily sealable container that provides effective radiation protection and minimizes the risk of leakage or damage during transport.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Armored container for transporting a container containing a radioactive product. Technical field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of equipment ensuring the protection of individuals against ionizing radiation.
[0002] It relates more particularly to containers made of radio-protective material suitable for the transport of a container containing a radioactive product, for example a syringe or a vial containing a radioactive product. State of the art
[0003] Many armored containers specifically structured to protect individuals during the transport of syringes or vials containing a radiopharmaceutical product, for example intended to be injected into a patient, are known.
[0004] These containers can be in the form of a small suitcase (commonly called a "suitcase"), the body of which is formed of two half-shells, one lower and the other upper (forming a kind of base associated with a lid), joined by a hinge, equipped with a removable closing means and a gripping handle.
[0005] The two half-shells are partially made of radio-protective material such as lead or tungsten, for example, to ensure the desired radioprotection.
[0006] However, current containers have a relatively significant weight (up to 15 kg) due to the radioprotective materials used. Their complex structure can make them expensive, and they are often difficult to seal, which can complicate their decontamination operations. Presentation of the invention
[0007] In order to remedy at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes an armored container for the transport of a container holding a radioactive product,
[0008] which armored container comprises a base element and a lid element connected by a hinge on one of their sides, which container further comprises a U-shaped gripping handle, the ends of whose lateral arms are articulated on said base element,
[0009] this container being characterized by the fact that:
[0010] said substantive element comprises:
[0011] - a lower outer half-shell, comprising an outer face and a face internal,
[0012] - a lower inner half-shell, comprising an outer face and a face internal, and,
[0013] - a lower half-shell made of radioprotective material, disposed between said lower inner half-shell and said lower outer half-shell,
[0014] said lower inner half-shell being assembled with said lower outer half-shell,
[0015] and said cover element comprises:
[0016] - an upper outer half-shell, comprising an outer face and a face internal,
[0017] - an upper inner half-shell, comprising an outer face and a face internal, and,
[0018] - an upper half-shell made of radioprotective material, disposed between said upper inner half-shell and said upper outer half-shell,
[0019] said upper inner half-shell being assembled with said upper outer half-shell,
[0020] the internal faces of said internal half-shells, intended to be positioned opposite each other, in the position of a closed armored container, comprising an internal recess of a shape adapted for receiving and securing said container containing the radioactive product.
[0021] Other non-limiting and advantageous features of the container according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows:
[0022] - the lower and upper inner half-shells can be made of flexible material such as silicone or elastomer (e.g. EPDM or rubber);
[0023] - the lower and upper inner half-shells can be made together of a single piece;
[0024] - the lower and upper inner half-shells may each comprise a peripheral extension, which peripheral extensions are adapted to support each other in the closed armored container position,
[0025] and which peripheral extensions are provided with a peripheral groove adapted to fit into a lip formed on a peripheral edge of the associated lower or upper outer half-shell;
[0026] - To optimize sealing, the lower and upper inner half-shells include a peripheral skirt designed to fit and be fixed by gluing into a peripheral recess provided in the associated upper or lower outer half-shell;
[0027] - the external faces of the internal half-shells may include an impression external protrusion, identical or substantially identical in shape to the internal recessed impression of the same inner half-shell,
[0028] and the radio-protective material half-shells each have a shape that at least approximately matches the external impression of the associated inner half-shell;
[0029] - the external impression of the internal half-shells can be bordered by a reservation peripheral, and the half-shells made of radio-protective material include a peripheral rim which fits into said peripheral recess of the associated inner half-shell;
[0030] - the half-shells made of radio-protective material may include a border peripheral, the peripheral edge of one of said half-shells in radio-protective material being oversized in relation to the peripheral edge of the other half-shells in radio-protective material, so as to obtain a partial embedding of said half-shells in radio-protective material, in closed position of the shielded container, with their peripheral edges partially overlapping around their perimeter;
[0031] - the container may include a removable closing means arranged on the side opposite the hinge, which removable closing means consists of a closing tab made of elastic material, provided with a hooking hole, which closing tab is fixed to one of the elements between the base element and the lid element, and is adapted so that its hole can hook onto a fixing pin integral with the other element between the base element and the lid element; and which closing tab includes a magnetic structure capable of cooperating by magnetization with a part of the gripping handle to ensure that said lid element is held in the open position;
[0032] - the lower and upper outer half-shells can be made of material plastic, and the half-shells made of radio-protective material can be made of lead.
[0033] Of course, the various features, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention
[0034] In addition, various other features of the invention become apparent from the attached description made with reference to the drawings which illustrate one, non-limiting, embodiment of the invention and where:
[0035] [Fig-1] is a front view of a possible embodiment of an armored container according to the present invention, illustrated in the closed lid position;
[0036] [Fig.2] is a side view of the armored container of [Fig.1];
[0037] [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of the armored container of Figures 1 and 2, in position with the lid open;
[0038] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the armored container of figures 1 to 3, in exploded position of the elements constituting it;
[0039] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view of the container, according to the section plane 5-5 of [Fig.2];
[0040] [Fig.6] is an enlarged view of detail A of [Fig.5].
[0041] The armored container 1 shown in the attached figures is here adapted for the transport of a syringe-shaped container S (visible in figures 5 and 6), possibly equipped with a syringe protector made of radio-protective material, and containing a radiopharmaceutical product.
[0042] The armored container 1 comprises a base element 2 and a lid element 3, connected on one side by a hinge 4.
[0043] The horizontal section of the bottom element 2 and the lid element 3 is here generally oval or ovoid, but any other section can be considered, for example square or rectangular.
[0044] The armored container 1 further includes a U-shaped gripping handle 5, for example made of aluminium, the ends 6 of whose lateral arms 7 are articulated on the bottom element 2 (more precisely at the two distant ends of the bottom element 2).
[0045] The background element 2 consists of:
[0046] - of a lower outer half-shell 21, for example made of plastic of the ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) type, delimited by an external face 211 and an internal face 212,
[0047] - of a lower inner half-shell 22, preferably made of a material flexible, of the silicone or elastomer type (for example EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) or rubber), delimited by an outer face 221 and an inner face 222, and,
[0048] - of a lower half-shell made of radio-protective material 23, for example made of lead, positioned between the lower inner half-shell 22 and the lower outer half-shell 21.
[0049] The lower outer half-shell 21 comprises a base 213 bordered by a peripheral skirt 214 which terminates in a free border 215. It is concave when viewed from the side of its inner face 212.
[0050] The lower inner half-shell 22 includes a peripheral extension 223 adapted to cover the free edge 215 of the lower outer half-shell 21.
[0051] This peripheral extension 223 includes a peripheral groove 224 adapted to fit into a peripheral lip 215a formed on the free edge 215 of the associated lower outer half-shell 21.
[0052] The lower half-shell made of radio-protective material 23 is delimited by an external face 231 and an internal face 232; it includes a base 233 bordered by a peripheral skirt 234 which terminates in a free edge 235. It is concave when viewed from the side of its internal face 232.
[0053] The peripheral edge of the lower inner half-shell 22 extends into a peripheral skirt 225 arranged to fit and be fixed by gluing into a peripheral recess 216 provided in the associated lower outer half-shell 21.
[0054] This results in a watertight assembly between the lower outer half-shell 21 and the lower inner half-shell 22.
[0055] The cover element 3 consists of:
[0056] - of an upper outer half-shell 31, for example made of material ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) type plastic delimited by an outer face 311 and an inner face 312,
[0057] - of an upper inner half-shell 32, preferably made of a material flexible, of the silicone or elastomer type (for example EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) or rubber), delimited by an outer face 321 and an inner face 322, and,
[0058] - of an upper half-shell made of radio-protective material 33, for example made of lead, positioned between the upper inner half-shell 32 and the upper outer half-shell 31.
[0059] The upper outer half-shell 31 comprises a base 313 bordered by a peripheral skirt 314 which terminates in a free border 315. It is concave when viewed from the side of its inner face 312.
[0060] The upper inner half-shell 32 includes a peripheral extension 323 adapted to cover the free edge 315 of the upper outer half-shell 31.
[0061] This peripheral extension 323 includes a peripheral groove 324 adapted to fit into a peripheral lip 315a formed on the free edge 315 of the associated upper outer half-shell 31.
[0062] The upper half-shell made of radio-protective material 33 is delimited by an external face 331 and an internal face 332; it includes a base 333 bordered by a peripheral skirt 334 which terminates in a free edge 335. It is concave when viewed from the side of its internal face 332.
[0063] The peripheral edge of the upper inner half-shell 32 extends into a peripheral skirt 325 arranged to fit and be fixed by gluing into a peripheral recess 316 provided in the associated upper outer half-shell 31.
[0064] On obtient ainsi un assemblage étanche entre la demi-coquille externe supérieure 21 et la demi-coquille interne inférieure 22.
[0065] The inner faces 222, 322 of the inner half-shells 22, 32 are intended to be positioned opposite each other, in the closed container 1 position; and these two inner faces 222, 322 include an internal recess, respectively 227 and 327, of a shape adapted for receiving and securing the syringe-shaped container S containing the radioactive product.
[0066] The two outer half-shells 21 and 31 are made by molding independently of each other, as are the two upper and lower half-shells made of radio-protective material 23, 33.
[0067] For their part, the lower and upper internal half-shells 22, 32 are made together by molding from a single piece of material.
[0068] These two lower and upper inner half-shells 22, 32 are then connected by a monobloc link which constitutes a hinge, and in particular which constitutes the hinge 4 of the armored container 1 once all the components are assembled.
[0069] The lower and upper inner half-shells 22, 32 have a constant or approximately constant thickness.
[0070] The external faces 221, 321 of these two inner half-shells 22, 32 comprise an external protruding impression 228, 328, which is identical or substantially identical in shape to that of the internal recessed impression 227, 327 of the same inner half-shell 22, 32; and the half-shells made of radio-protective material 23, 33 each have an internal shape which at least approximately matches the external impression of the associated inner half-shell 22, 32.
[0071] On the other hand, the external impression 228, 328 of the inner half-shells 22, 32 is bordered by a peripheral reservation 229, 329, and the peripheral border 235, 335 of the half-shells in radio-protective material 23, 33 is arranged to fit into this peripheral reservation 229, 329 of the associated inner half-shell 22, 32 (see [Fig.6] in particular).
[0072] It is understood that these features make it possible to optimize the dimensioning of the half-shells made of radio-protective material 23, 33 in order to reduce their weight and thus the weight of the entire armored container 1.
[0073] It should be noted that the thickness of the half-shells made of radio-protective material 23, 33 may not be constant over their entire surface. This thickness may be greater in areas where enhanced radio-protection is required, or Conversely, this thickness may be less significant in areas where radiation protection is less necessary.
[0074] On the other hand, still on [Fig.6], it is noted that the peripheral edge 335 of the upper half-shell in radio-protective material 33 is under-dimensioned in relation to the peripheral edge 235 of the lower half-shell in radio-protective material 23, so as to obtain a partial embedding of the two half-shells in radio-protective material 23, 33, in closed position of the shielded container 1, with their peripheral edges 235, 335 which partially overlap on their periphery.
[0075] It is understood that this feature makes it possible to optimize the desired radiation protection.
[0076] During the assembly of the inner half-shells 22, 32 with the outer half-shells 21, 31, the peripheral extensions 223 and 323 of the lower inner half-shell 22 and the upper inner half-shell 32 come to be positioned on the edge of the free border 215 of the lower outer half-shell 21 and of the free border 315 of the upper outer half-shell 31.
[0077] In the closed armored container 1 position, these peripheral extensions 223 and 323 come together to support each other to optimize closure and in particular ensure liquid tightness.
[0078] As can be seen in [Fig.6], this sealing is reinforced by the baffled section obtained during the partial embedding of the portions of material of the internal half-shells 22, 32 which cover the peripheral edges 235, 335 of the two half-shells in radio-protective material 23, 33.
[0079] On the side opposite the hinge 4, the armored container 1 includes a removable closure means 8 for securing the closure of the lid element 3 on the base element 2.
[0080] This removable closure means 8 consists here of a closure tab 81 made of elastic material (silicone or elastomer), provided with a hooking hole 82. This closure tab 81 is fixed on one of the elements between the base element 2 and the lid element 3, and it is adapted so that its hooking hole 82 can hook onto a fixing pin 83 integral with the other element between the base element 2 and the lid element 3.
[0081] In this case, the closing tab 81 made of elastic material is fixed here to the lid element 3, and the fixing pin 83 is integral with the base element 2.
[0082] The closing tab 81 includes a fixing hole 84 which allows it to be fixed onto a pin 85 integral with the cover element 3.
[0083] A free end of the closing tab 81 can be equipped with a magnet structure 86 integrated in a suitable housing, and designed to cooperate with the part central part of the gripping handle 5 (including an additional part made of ferromagnetic metal), this to allow it to be hooked and to keep the lid element 3 in the open position.
[0084] The fixing and articulation of the ends 6 of the lateral branches 7 of the gripping handle 5 on the base element 2 is achieved by means of fixing screws 9 implanted in suitable housings, these housings being preferably non-through in order to optimize sealing.
[0085] The assembly of the armored container 1 is carried out by joining the half-shells made of radio-protective material 23, 33 with the inner half-shells 22, 32.
[0086] For this purpose, the peripheral border 235, 335 of the radio-protective material half-shells 23, 33 is embedded in the corresponding peripheral reservation 229, 329 of the associated inner half-shell 22, 32.
[0087] This bonding by embedding can be completed by gluing the inner face 232, 332 of the half-shells in radio-protective material 23, 33 against the outer face 221, 321 of the associated inner half-shells 22, 32.
[0088] Next, the external faces 221, 321 of the internal half-shells 22, 32, and possibly the external faces 231, 331 of the half-shells made of radioprotective material 23, 33, are joined by gluing with the internal faces 212, 312 of the external half-shells 21, 31.
[0089] This assembly can be achieved by gluing the peripheral skirts 225, 325 of the lower inner half-shells 22 and upper inner half-shells 32 within the peripheral recesses 229, 329 provided in the upper outer half-shells 31 and lower outer half-shells 21.
[0090] And finally the gripping handle 5 is mounted by means of the fixing screws 9.
[0091] The impressions of the internal half-shells 22, 32 and the shape of the half-shells Radio-protective devices 23, 33 are adapted according to the dimensions and shape of the received container.
[0092] Extensions 10a, 10b can be provided on the outer half-shells 21, 31, each equipped with an opening lia, 11b, adapted for the passage of a padlock allowing the closure of the armored container 1 to be locked.
[0093] A very light armored container 1 is obtained, using in part low mass materials such as plastics or aluminium, and whose armor is placed as close as possible to the radioactive source, thus limiting the mass required for radiation protection.
[0094] The lower inner half-shells 22 and upper inner half-shells 32, made of flexible material, provide effective protection for the conditioned container, forming a kind of shock-absorbing cushion that limits the risk of damage or leakage in the event of the container falling.
Claims
Demands
1. Shielded container (1) made of radiation-shielding material, adapted for the transport of a container (S) containing a radioactive product, said shielded container (1) comprising a base element (2) and a lid element (3) connected by a hinge (4) on one of their sides, said shielded container (1) further comprising a U-shaped gripping handle (5), the ends (6) of whose lateral arms (7) are hinged to said base element (2), characterized in that said base element (2) comprises: - a lower outer half-shell (21), comprising an outer face (211) and an inner face (212), - a lower inner half-shell (22), comprising an outer face (221) and an inner face (222), and, - a lower half-shell made of radiation-shielding material (23), disposed between said lower inner half-shell (22) and said lower outer half-shell (21),said lower inner half-shell (22) being assembled with said lower outer half-shell (21), and in that said lid element (3) comprises: - an upper outer half-shell (31), comprising an outer face (311) and an inner face (312), - an upper inner half-shell (32), comprising an outer face (321) and an inner face (322), and, - an upper half-shell made of radio-protective material (33), disposed between said upper inner half-shells (32) and said upper outer half-shell (31), said upper inner half-shell (32) being assembled with said upper outer half-shell (31), the inner faces (222, 322) of said inner half-shells (22, 32) being designed to be positioned opposite each other in the closed shielded container (1) position, comprising an internal recess (227, 327) of suitable shape for receiving and securing said container (S) containing the radioactive product.
2. Armored container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower (22) and upper (32) inner half-shells are made of silicone or flexible elastomer.
3. Armored container (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said lower (22) and upper (32) inner half-shells are made together as a single piece.
4. Armored container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said lower (22) and upper (32) inner half-shells each comprise a peripheral extension (223, 323), which peripheral extensions (223, 323) are adapted to come against each other in the closed armored container (1) position, and which peripheral extensions (223, 323) are provided with a peripheral groove (224, 324) adapted to fit into a lip (215a, 315a) formed on a peripheral edge (215, 315) of the associated lower (21) or upper (31) outer half-shell.
5. Armored container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower (22) and upper (32) inner half-shells comprise a peripheral skirt (225, 325) arranged to fit and be fixed by bonding in a peripheral recess (229, 329) provided in the associated upper (31) or lower (21) outer half-shell.
6. Armored container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the external faces (222, 322) of said inner half-shells (22, 32) comprise an external protruding impression (228, 328), of identical or substantially identical shape to that of the internal recessed impression (227, 327) of the same inner half-shell (22, 32), and in that said half-shells of radio-protective material (23, 33) each have a shape which at least approximately matches the external impression (228, 328) of the associated inner half-shell (22, 32).
7. Shielded container (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the external impression (228, 328) of the inner half-shells (22, 32) is bordered by a peripheral reservation (229, 329), and in that said half-shells made of radio-protective material (23, 33) include a peripheral border (235, 335) which fits into said peripheral reservation (229, 329) of the associated inner half-shell (22, 32).
8. Shielded container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said half-shells of radio-protective material (23, 33) comprise a peripheral rim (235, 335), the peripheral rim of one of said half-shells of radio-protective material (23, 33) being oversized in relation to the peripheral rim of the other half-shells of radio-protective material (23, 33), so as to obtain a partial embedding of said half-shells of radio-protective material (23, 33), in closed position of the shielded container (1), with their peripheral rims (235, 335) partially overlapping around their periphery.
9. Armored container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a removable closure means (8) arranged on the side opposite said hinge (4), said removable closure means (8) consists of a closure tab (81) made of elastic material, provided with a hooking hole (82), said closure tab (81) is fixed on one of the elements among the base element (2) and the lid element (3), and is adapted so that its hole (82) can hook onto a fixing pin (83) integral with the other element among the base element (2) and the lid element (3), and said closure tab (81) comprises a magnet structure (86) capable of cooperating by magnetization with a part of the gripping handle (5) to ensure that said lid element (3) is held in the open position.
10. Armored container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lower (21) and upper (31) outer shells are made of plastic material, and in that the radio-protective material shells (23, 33) are made of lead.