Radiopaque Shielded Perfusion Bottle for Safe Radiopharmaceutical Handling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The administration of radiopharmaceutical medicaments for metabolic radiotherapy poses a risk of irradiation exposure to personnel due to conventional delivery methods that involve transferring these substances into syringes and using syringe drivers.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a hermetic container with a radiopaque protective shield and a support system that allows for easy handling and attachment to a perfusion stand, minimizing exposure to radioactive emissions by using a radiopaque material like lead or tungsten to filter radiation, and facilitating safe intravenous injection through a perfusion stand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If radiopharmaceutical medicaments are transferred into syringes and administered with a syringe driver, then the medicament can be delivered, but personnel are exposed to risks of irradiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of administrationVSAvoidirradiation exposure to personnel

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A perfusion bottle with radiopaque shield serves as an intermediary device between the radiopharmaceutical source and the patient. The bottle contains the medicament and allows controlled perfusion through a needle inserted into the bottle's stopper, eliminating the need for direct syringe handling while maintaining safe administration. The radiopaque shield further mediates radiation protection for personnel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The radiopaque shield, which blocks harmful radiation, is positioned to allow beneficial radiation to pass through to the patient while blocking harmful scattered radiation from reaching personnel. The shield converts the harmful radiation into a protected pathway, allowing treatment to proceed safely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a radiopaque shield is used to protect personnel from radiation, then irradiation risk is reduced, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation protectionVSAvoidstructure of administration device

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radiopaque shield is merged with the perfusion bottle structure, forming an integrated protective container. The shield becomes an inherent part of the administration system rather than a separate component, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining radiation protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the container is securely attached to the support, then handling safety is improved, but access to the cap for perfusion setup becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling safetyVSAvoidaccess to cap for perfusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: an upper opening for cap access, a middle section for secure container attachment, and a lower base for stability. This segmentation allows the container to be firmly held while maintaining easy access to the cap through the upper opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Access to the cap is provided through a vertical opening in the support structure, utilizing the vertical dimension to allow needle insertion from above. This dimensional approach allows secure attachment at one level while maintaining access at another level, resolving the contradiction between stability and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively limits personnel exposure to radioactive emissions by using a radiopaque shield to filter radiation, ensuring safe handling and administration of radiopharmaceuticals while maintaining the convenience of intravenous perfusion.

Implementation Method 1

provided with a protective shield made of a radiopaque material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiation filtering: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS10814141B2Device for administering a radiopharmaceutical drug

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE HOPITAUX DE PARIS (APHP)

AI summary

An administration device that includes a hermetic container closed by a cap, containing a radiopharmaceutical medicament, and provided with a protective shield made of a radiopaque material. The device includes a support provided with attachment structure. The container is removably attached to the support in a position allowing access to the cap. The support includes a baseplate provided with an opening allowing access to the cap. A cover and rods connect the baseplate and the cover.