Robotic Radiopharmaceutical Delivery System with Shielded Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The administration of radioactive pharmaceuticals in medical settings poses a significant risk to medical personnel due to radiation exposure, as current methods lack effective solutions for minimizing exposure during handling, transport, and administration, particularly due to the short half-lives of these substances.
Innovation Solution
A hazardous fluid transport container and delivery system with radiation shielding and a method for priming and delivering fluids, including the use of concentric fluid paths and gas or solid separators to maintain a 'tight' or 'compact' bolus, reducing radiation exposure and ensuring accurate dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiopharmaceuticals are administered to patients, then diagnostic or therapeutic benefits are achieved, but radiation exposure risk to medical personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
A robotic arm serves as an intermediary device between the radiopharmaceutical storage container and the patient injection site. The robotic system includes a manipulator with end effectors that can automatically draw radiopharmaceutical from a shielded container and inject it into the patient, minimizing direct human contact with radioactive materials while maintaining precise delivery control
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical operations of drawing and injecting radiopharmaceuticals are replaced with an automated robotic system. The robotic manipulator uses programmed mechanical movements to perform fluid transfer and injection tasks, eliminating the need for medical personnel to manually handle radioactive substances
2Ease of operation
If manual handling methods are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but radiation exposure to personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is designed to autonomously perform radiopharmaceutical handling tasks without requiring continuous human intervention. The system includes automated container identification, fluid drawing, and injection execution capabilities, allowing the robotic manipulator to service itself through programmed sequences while medical personnel only need to initiate and monitor the process
3Object-affected harmful factors
If automated robotic systems are implemented, then radiation exposure is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic manipulator is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform multiple operations including container handling, fluid drawing, syringe loading, and patient injection. The system integrates various functions into a single robotic platform, reducing the need for multiple separate devices while maintaining comprehensive radiopharmaceutical administration capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system employs a nested structure where the manipulator arm contains end effectors that can be exchanged or adjusted. The end effectors are nested within the manipulator structure, allowing for compact integration of multiple functional components while maintaining accessibility and ease of maintenance
4Measurement precision
If close-proximity interfacing is performed, then administration accuracy is improved, but radiation exposure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm acts as a precise intermediary that can position injection needles with high accuracy while maintaining physical distance between medical personnel and radioactive materials. The system includes sensors and control mechanisms that ensure precise dosing delivery through the robotic manipulator without requiring human hands to be in close proximity to the radiation source
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 system effectively reduces radiation exposure to medical personnel and ensures precise delivery of pharmaceuticals by maintaining a compact bolus and minimizing exposure during handling and administration, enhancing safety and accuracy in medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation shielded enclosure (1120)
Implementation Method 2
the use of concentric fluid paths and gas or solid separators to maintain a 'tight' or 'compact' bolus
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for delivering a medical fluid are disclosed. The system includes a fluid flow path, a fluid administration device adapted to deliver the medical fluid through the fluid flow path, and a controller in communication with the fluid administration device. The method includes using the system to determine a desired flow rate of the medical fluid at a distal end of the fluid flow path based upon at least a desired flow profile of the medical fluid at the distal end. The method further includes initiating a fluid delivery operation by delivering the medical fluid through the fluid flow path according to fluid delivery parameters provided to the fluid administration device by the controller. Information about the fluid delivery operation may be received at the controller which executes a control function to adjust the fluid delivery parameters based on the received information.