Abstract:
An apparatus that transports radiopharmaceuticals and protects individuals from radioactivity that includes a first body with a first hollow core open on a first edge and a second edge. The first hollow core surrounds an insert containing a hypodermic syringe. There is a second body with a second hollow core open on a first edge and closed on a second edge. The second hollow core surrounds the insert with the hypodermic syringe. A third body with a third hollow core open on a first edge has the third hollow core fixedly communicating with a hollow stem open on a second edge. The third hollow core surrounds the insert with the hypodermic syringe. A first connection means releasably communicates the first body with the second body and a second communication means releasably communicates with the first body and third body for providing protection from the radioactive agent. A third connection means releasably communicates the third body with a dose applicator for injecting and measuring the radiopharmaceutical in the hypodermic syringe. Finally, the dose applicator is for positioning the insert and the hypodermic syringe into and out of the first and third body whereby said individuals easily measure, transport and inject the radiopharmaceutical in the hypodermic syringe.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for transporting radiopharmaceuticals, and more particularly to a radionuclide syringe shield and dose measuring applicator. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive material which are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and body disorders. Radiopharmaceuticals are typically injected into the body of a patient by means of a hypodermic syringe. The repeated exposure to radioactive materials may over time present serious health hazards to the person preparing and administering the injection. This hazard is a result of radiation emanating from radioactive material which is to be injected. 
     Nuclear medicine technologists may receive significant radiation exposure when repeatedly handling radiopharmaceuticals, particularly high-energy radionuclides such as, for example, F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose. The technologists are particularly at risk when preparing the dose prior to injection and following injection from direct exposure to the patient. However, the latter can be avoided by increasing the distance from the patient while injecting the dose and decreasing time spent near the patient after the injection. 
     The exposure during the dose measuring procedure occurs when the dose is removed from the shipping container, when the dose is placed into and removed from the well counter and when the dose is inserted into the syringe shield. For example, the technologist&#39;supper extremities receive a significant dose of radiation during the time the dose is unshielded. The prior art shields (pigs) do not allow for measurement unless the syringe is removed from them resulting in direct exposure to the technologist&#39;s upper extremities. 
     What is needed is an apparatus that will allow the measuring procedure to be carried out without the radionuclide being directly exposed to the technologist. What is further needed is the ability of the same apparatus to act as a syringe shield to be taken to the patient for injection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aspect of the present invention to shield the technologist from radionuclide exposure while inserting the hypodermic syringe into a well counter. 
     It is another aspect of the present invention to allow a measuring procedure to be carried out without the radionuclide in the hypodermic syringe being directly exposed to the technologist. 
     It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide radiation shielding when the hypodermic syringe is being used to inject the patient. 
     To accomplish these and other aspects of the present invention an apparatus that shields radiopharmaceuticals and protects individuals from radioactivity that includes a first body with a first hollow core open on a first edge and a second edge. The first hollow core surrounds an insert containing a hypodermic syringe. There is a second body with a second hollow core open on a first edge and closed on a second edge. The second hollow core surrounds the insert with the hypodermic syringe. A third body with a third hollow core open on an first edge has the third hollow core fixedly communicating with a hollow stem open on a second edge. The third hollow core surrounds the insert with the hypodermic syringe. A first connection means releasably communicates the first body with the second body and a second communication means releasably communicates with the first body and third body for providing protection from the radioactivity. A third connection means releasably communicates the third body with a dose applicator for injecting and measuring the radiopharmaceuticals in the hypodermic syringe. Finally, the dose applicator is for positioning the insert and the hypodermic syringe into and out of the first and third body whereby said individuals easily measure, transport and inject the radiopharmaceutical in the hypodermic syringe. 
    
    
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, the description being used to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the cross section view of the syringe shield without the dose measuring applicator. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the cross-section view of the dose measuring applicator. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the cross-section view of the insert device. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the end-view of the insert device. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the cross-section view of the syringe shield, transporter and dose measuring applicator with a hypodermic syringe. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the cross-section view of the syringe shield and dose measuring applicator with a hypodermic syringe being positioned into a well counter. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the cross-section of the syringe shield with hypodermic syringe ready to be injected into a patient. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is described below with reference to a syringe shield, a practitioner in the art will recognize the principles of the present invention are applicable elsewhere. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 5, apparatus  10  is illustrated in a cross-section view of the syringe shield and transporter with dose applicator  18 . The apparatus  10  transports a radiopharmaceutical  26  and protects individuals from radiation generated therefrom. A first body  11  releasably communicates with a second body  12  and a third body  13 . The second edge first body  11   e  provides a releasably first communication means  33  with the first edge second body  12   h  between the first body  11  and the second body  12 . The first edge first body  11   f  provides a releasably second communication means  34  with the first edge third body  13   j  between the first body  11  and the third body  13 . A disposable insert device  20  containing a hypodermic syringe  25  is internally positioned (housed) by the first hollow core  23   a  in the first body  11 . The first hollow core  23   a  is open on a first edge first body  11   f  and second edge first body  11   e . A disposable insert device  20  containing a hypodermic syringe  25  is internally positioned (housed) by the second hollow core  23   b  in the second body  12 . The second hollow core  23   b  is open on a first edge second body  12   h  and closed on the second edge second body  12   d . A disposable insert device  20  containing a hypodermic syringe  25  is internally positioned (housed) by the third hollow core  23   c  in the third body  13 . The third hollow core  23   c  is open on an first edge third body  13   j  and fixedly communicates with a hollow stem  23   d  that is open on a second edge third body  13   i.    
     A first connection means  33  releasably communicates the first body  11  with the second body  12  to provide protection from radiation emitted by the radiopharmaceutical  26 . A second connection means  34  releasably communicates the first body  11  with the third body  13  to provide protection from radiation emitted by the radiopharmaceutical  26 . A third connection means  35  releasably communicates the third body  13  with the locking nut  15  of the dose measuring applicator  18  or cap  14  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     An applicator rod  16  of the dose measuring applicator  18  is connected to the disposable insert  20  by a fifth female thread  16   b  at the first end  16   d  of the applicator rod  16 . The applicator rod  16  slideably communicates with the third body  13  within the hollow stem  23   d  which is located between the fourth edge third body  13   f  and the third hollow core  23   c  of the third body  13 . This allows the hypodermic syringe  25  with the radiopharmaceutical  26  to be positioned into and out of the first body  11  and third body  13  when the second body  12  is removed from the apparatus  10 . A third connection means  35  includes a locking nut  15  that releasably secures the rod  16  of the dose applicator  18  to the third body  13 . The third connection means  35  releasably communicates the locking nut inner recessed edge  15   d  and the locking nut inner edge  15   e  to the second edge third body  13   i  and the fourth edge third body  13   f  of the third body  13 . The locking nut  15  releasably secures the dose applicator  18  to the third body  13  and provides an additional radiation shield  29  stopping radiation leakage from the hollow stem  23   d . The radiation shield  29  is provided by various radiation shielding material used in the construction of the first body  11 , the second body  12 , the third body  13  and the locking nut  15 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention the radiation shielding material is typically lead. However, in many applications although lead is an excellent radiation shielding material it is unsuitable because it is too heavy and insufficiently flexible. Consequently, as is known by the practitioner in the art, the radiation shielding material is any material that will attenuate the photons released from the radioactive agent. For example, a radiation shielding material is obtainable from lead acrylate or lead methacrylate combined by polymerizing it at a temperature above the melting point in admixture with a copolymerizable monomer such as methyl methacrylate. Furthermore, another radiation shielding material comprises an elastomeric or rubbery plastics material filled with lead particles. These materials combine the excellent radiation shielding properties of lead with other materials that weigh less than lead to provide a good radiation shield that is flexible and not too heavy. 
     Another commonly utilized radiation shielding material is tungsten. When tungsten, a tungsten compound or a tungsten based alloy is used as the material with high radiation absorptivity, where the γ-ray absorption coefficient of tungsten is not less than about 1 when the energy of the γ-ray is 511 KeV or greater, there is provided a safe radiation shielding material. For example, one such tungsten compound with high radiation absorptivity is a tungsten powder that is not less than 80% by weight or greater than 95% by weight combined with vulcanized rubber. The tungsten powder in combination with the vulcanized rubber has particle sizes in the range of about 4 μg to 100 μm. When a tungsten alloy is used for the radiation shielding material a typical combination includes but is not limited to a hard-fine grained internally stressed material of tungsten and carbon or tungsten, carbon and oxygen. 
     Now referring to FIG. 1 the apparatus  10  is illustrated with the first body  11  communicating with the second body  12  and the first body  11  communicating with the third body  13  and a cap  14 . The cap  14  communicates with the third body  13 . The hypodermic syringe and disposable insert (FIG. 5) are not shown. The first body  11  has a first hollow core  23   a  that is machined all the way through body  11  from the first edge first body  11   f  to the second edge first body  11   e . The diameter of the first hollow core  23   a  that forms the first inner surface  11   b  is a variety of sizes depending on the hypodermic syringe to be used. The first body  11  shape is defined by the first outer surface  11   a  and is typically machined. 
     However, as is know by the practitioner of the art that machining the first body  11  first inner surface  11   b  and first outer surface  11   a  is substitutable by casting the first body  11 . 
     Furthermore, the first edge first body  11   f  and second edge first body  11   e  are typically formed in parallel planes. The connection means at the first edge first body  11   f  is typically a first male thread  11   d  that is formed starting at the first edge first body  11   f  at a diameter that is smaller than the first outer surface  11   a  and larger than the diameter of the first inner surface  11   b . Typically, the first male thread  11   d  diameter is formed in the range of about 70% of the diameter of the first outer surface  11   a  and machined back from the first edge first body  11   f  about 15% the overall length of the first body  11 . 
     The connection means at the second edge first body  11   e  is typically a second male thread  11   c  that is formed starting at the second edge first body  11   e  at a diameter that is smaller than the first outer surface  11   a  and larger than the diameter of the first inner surface  11   b . Typically, the second male thread  11   c  diameter is formed in the range of about 70% of the diameter of the first outer surface  11   a  and machined back from the second edge first body  11   e  about 15% the overall length of the first body  11 . The first male thread  11   d  and the second male thread  11   c  are typically and unified fine thread or a unified coarse thread. 
     Depending on the application the male thread connection means are substitutable for female threads, a locking nut arrangement or a compression flange arrangement. Finally, the first outer surface  11   a  is cylindrical in shape with a diameter that provides enough radiation shielding material between itself and the first inner surface  11   b  to protect against radiation exposure. The cylindrical shape is substitutable for any circular or polyhedron shape. 
     The second body  12  has a second hollow core  23   b  that is machined from the third edge second body  12   e  to a point that is about 25% of the length of the second body  12  from the second edge second body  12   d . The diameter of the second hollow core  23   b  that forms the second inner surface  12   b  is a variety of sizes depending on the hypodermic syringe to be used. The second body  12  shape is defined by the first tapered outer surface  12   a  and second outer surface  12   g  and is typically machined. However, as is know by the practitioner of the art that machining the second body  12  second inner surface  12   b , first tapered outer surface  12   a  and second outer surface  12   g  is substitutable by casting the second body  12 . Furthermore, the third edge second body  12   e  and the second edge  12   d  second body are typically formed in parallel planes. The second connection means  34  at the third edge second body  12   e  is typically a first female thread  12   f  that is formed starting at the third edge second body  12   e  at a diameter that is smaller than the first tapered outer surface  12   a  and larger than the diameter of the second inner surface  12   b . Typically, the first female thread  12   f  diameter is formed in the range of about 70% of the diameter of the first tapered outer surface  12   a  and machined back from the third edge second body  12   e  about 15% the overall length of the second body  12 . The first female thread  12   f  is typically and unified fine thread or a unified coarse thread. However, depending on the application the female thread connection means are substitutable for a male thread, a locking nut arrangement or a compression flange arrangement. 
     There is an annular ridge  23   e  that is formed to provide a means for the disposable insert (shown in FIG. 5) to be coaxially secured to the third inner surface  12   c . The diameter of the third inner surface  12   c  depends on the size of the hypodermic syringe (shown in FIG. 5) to be used. The diameter is typically the size to fit a disposable insert that accepts 3 cc and 5 cc syringes. Finally, the first tapered outer surface  12   a  and second outer surface  12   g  are cylindrical in shape with a diameter that provides enough radiation shielding material between itself and the second inner surface  12   b  to protect against radiation exposure. The cylindrical shape is substitutable for any circular or polyhedron shape. 
     The third body  13  has a third hollow core  23   c  that is machined from the third edge third body  13   e  to a point that is about 25% of the length of the third body  13  from the second edge third body  13   i . The diameter of the third hollow core  23   c  that forms the fourth inner surface  13   b  is a variety of sizes depending on the hypodermic syringe to be used. The third body  13  shape is defined by the second tapered outer surface  13   a  and the third outer surface  13 g and is typically machined. However, as is know by the practitioner of the art that machining the third body  13  fourth inner surface  13   b , second tapered outer surface  13   a  and the third outer surface  13   g  is substitutable by casting the third body  13 . Furthermore, the third edge third body  13   e , the fourth edge third body  13   f , the second edge third body  13   i  and the first edge third body  13   j  are typically formed in parallel planes. The third connection  35  means at the third edge third body  13   e  is typically a second female thread  13   h  that is formed starting at the third edge third body  13   e  at a diameter that is smaller than the third outer surface  13   g  and larger than the diameter of the fourth inner surface  13   b . Typically, the second female thread  13   h  diameter is formed in the range of about 70% of the diameter of the third outer surface  13   g  and machined back from the third edge third body  13   e  about 15% the overall length of the third body  13 . 
     The third connection means  35  at the second edge third body  13   i  is typically a third male thread  13 d that is formed starting at the second edge third body  13   i  at a diameter that is smaller than the second tapered outer surface  13   a  and larger than the diameter of the fourth inner surface  13   b . Typically, the third male thread  13 d diameter is formed in the range of about 35% of the diameter of the third outer surface  13   g  and machined back from the second edge third body  13   i  about 15% the overall length of the third body  13 . The second female thread  13   h  and the third male thread  13   d  are typically and unified fine thread or a unified coarse thread. However, depending on the application the male thread connection means is substitutable for female threads, a locking nut arrangement or a compression flange arrangement. Also, the female thread connection means is substitutable for male threads, a locking nut arrangement or a compression flange arrangement. 
     The hollow stem  23   d  that is formed by the fifth inner surface  13   c  is machined slightly larger than the application rod  16  that is shown in FIG.  2 . The hollow stem  23   d  extends from the seventh edge  13   i  back into the third hollow core  23   c . Furthermore, the second tapered outer surface  13   a  and the third outer surface  13   g  are cylindrical in shape with a diameter that provides enough radiation shielding material between itself and the fourth inner surface  13   b  to protect against radiation exposure. Finally, the cylindrical shape is substitutable for any circular or polyhedron shape. 
     The cap  14  has a cap outer surface  14   a  that is less in diameter than the narrowest diameter of the second tapered outer surface  13   a . The cap  14  has an overall length extending from the cap inner edge  14   d  to the cap outer edge  14   b . This length is typically about 30% of the length of the first body  11 . A third connection means  35  extends from the cap inner edge  14   d  to the cap recessed edge  14   e . The third connection means  35  is typically a third female thread  14   c  and is recessed into the cap  14  about 30% of the overall length of cap  14 . However, as is known by the practitioner in the art the female thread is substitutable for a male thread, lock nut arrangement or a compression flange arrangement depending on the application. The material of cap  14  is various radiation shielding material including but not limited to, for example, tungsten or lead. The amount of material required is that which provides little or no leaking of radiation from the second edge third body  13   i.    
     The syringe shield (pig), apparatus  10 , as illustrated in FIG. 1 shows the cap  14  communicating with the third body  13 , the third body  13  communicating with the first body  11  and the first body  11  communicating with the second body  12 . The first edge first body  11   f , the second edge first body  11   e , the second edge second body  12   d , the third edge second body  12   e , the third edge third body  13   e , the fourth edge third body  13   f , the second edge third body  13   i , the first edge third body  13   j  and the first edge second body  12   h  are all formed in a parallel plane to one another. The cap  14  is securely fastened to the third body  13  by axially threading the third male thread  13   d  into the third female thread  14   c  until the fourth edge third body  13   f  and the cap inner edge  14   d  are in snug-fitting contact. The third body  13  is securely fastened to the first body  11  by axially threading the first male thread  11   d  into the second female thread  13   h  until the first edge first body  11   f  and the first edge third body  13   j  are in snug-fitting contact. The first body  11  is securely fastened to the second body  12  by axially threading the second male thread  11   c  into the first female thread  12   f  until the first edge second body  12   h  and the second edge first body  11   e  are in snug-fitting contact. FIG. 1 does not show the hypodermic syringe  25  and the disposable insert  20  that is shown in FIG.  5 . The cap  14  is used when only transporting the hypodermic syringe  25 . Finally, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the first outer surface  11   a , the second outer surface  12   g  and the third outer surface  13   g  are in alignment with their surface peripheries radially flush. 
     FIG. 2 shows the dose measuring applicator  18  communicating with and securely fastened to the third body  13 . The dose applicator  18  is used when it is desired to load the hypodermic syringe  25  (shown in FIG. 5) into a well counter allowing continued radiation shielding. The dose applicator  18  consists of an applicator rod  16 , a connector  16   a  and a locking nut  15 . The connector  16   a  is typically an eye bolt or some other suitable connection structure such as a clip, flange, threaded pipe or the like. The connector  16   a  is attached to the rod  16  at the second end  16   e . The outer rod surface  16   c  defines the periphery and the size of rod  16 . The diameter of the outer rod surface  16   c  and the length of rod  16  varies depending on the application. At the first end  16   d  of the rod  16  is a fourth connection means  36  that is a fifth female thread  16   b  and a second section male thread  21   c  located on the disposable insert  20 . Alternately, the female thread  16   b  is substitutable for a male thread in a different application. Likewise, the second section male thread  21   c  is substitutable for a female thread in a different application. The 5th inner surface  13   c  diameter is always greater in diameter than the fifth female thread connector outside surface  16   f  diameter. This allows the rod  16  to be slideably removed or inserted into the third hollow core  23   c  of the third body  13 . 
     At the third connection means  35 , a locking nut  15  connects the applicator rod  16  of the dose applicator  18  to the third body  13  allowing the rod  16  to slide but not allow the rod  16  to be completely removed from the third body  13 . The locking nut  15  varies in size depending on the application with the locking nut outer surface  15   a  having a diameter that is about 60% greater than the diameter of the third make thread  13   d . The locking nut outer edge  15   f  and the locking nut inner edge  15   e  are formed in the same parallel plane and match the parallel plane of the fourth edge third body  13   f . A fourth female thread  15   c  is formed with a diameter that is about twice as large as the diameter of the fifth inner surface  13   c . The depth of the fourth female thread  15   c  matches the length of the third male thread  13   d  and is formed to the locking nut inner recessed edge  15   d . A locking nut inner surface  15   b  diameter is formed with a diameter that is slightly larger than the applicator rod outer surface  16   c  diameter. This produces a small gap  19  and because the gap is small the locking nut  15  provides additional shielding of the radiation from the radionuclide contained in the third hollow core  23   c  of the third body  13 . It also allows the dose measuring applicator  18  to slideably extend into or retract from the third hollow core  23   c  of the third body  13 . An o-ring  37  fits snuggly into an annular recess  38  that is formed in the locking nut inner surface  15   b  at the locking nut inner recessed edge  15   d . The annular recess  38  is formed by machining it into the locking nut  15 . However, the machining of the annular recess  38  is substitutable for casting the annular recess  38  into the locking nut  15 . The o-ring  37  prevents slippage of the applicator rod  16  because the o-ring internal surface  37   a  is positioned providing a snug-fit against the applicator rod outer surface  16   c.    
     After the dose measuring applicator  18  (rod  16 ) is inserted into the third hollow core  23   c  of the third body  13 , the locking nut  15  is rotated on the third male thread  13   d . This occurs until the fourth edge third body  13   f  tightly contacts the locking nut inner edge  15   e  and the fourth edge third body  13   f  tightly contacts the locking nut inner recessed edge  15   d.    
     FIG. 3 is a cross-section illustration of the disposable insert  20 . The disposable insert  20  consists of a first section  21  and a second section  22 . The first section  21  is separable from the second section  22  at the insert perforation  21 b. The first section inner surface  21   d  has a diameter large enough to allow a 3 cc or 5 cc hypodermic syringe to be inserted. The second section inner surface  22   b  has a diameter large enough to allow a 3 cc or 5 cc hypodermic syringe to be inserted. The first section inner surface  21   d  and the second section inner surface  22   b  typically have the same diameter that allows the first section inner surface to be radially flush with the second section inner surface. As is know in the art the first section inner surface  21   d  diameter and the second section inner surface  22   b  diameter are substitutable for various sizes depending on the size of the hypodermic syringe to be inserted into the first section  21  and the second section  22 . The first section outer surface  21   a  diameter is radially flush with the second section outer surface  22   a . The first section second outer surface  21   f  diameter is greater than the first section first outer surface  21   a . The transition from the first section first outer surface  21   a  to the first section second outer surface  21   f  is in the shape of a tapered cylinder or a cone. The length of the cone is equivalent to the distance between the disposable insert annular ridge  23   e  and the ninth edge  12   h  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The first section second outer surface  21 f is about the same diameter as the diameter of the third inner surface  12   c . The first section first outer surface  21   a  and the second section outer surface  22   a  is about the same diameter as the first inner surface  11   b  and the fourth inner surface  13   b . The fit between the first section first outer surface  21   a  and the second section outer surface  22   a  is a snug-fit with the first inner surface  11   b  and the fourth inner surface  13   b . A cover  30  is positioned on the second end  22   d  with a cover outer surface  30   a  and cover inner surface  30   b  defining the thickness of the cover  30 . The cover inner surface  30   b  diameter is slightly larger than the first section second outer surface  21   f  diameter providing a snug-fit when the cover  30  is positioned on the second end  22   d.    
     A first section annular lip  21   e  is located on the first section inner surface  21   d  where the first section first outer surface  21   a  begins transitioning to the first section second outer surface  21   f . The first section annular lip  21   e  allows the hypodermic syringe  25 , as shown in FIG. 5, to snugly-fit into the disposable insert  20 . Finally, on the first end  22   c  there is a connection means that in the preferred embodiment of the invention is a second section male thread  21   c . This second section male thread  21   c  is rotatably positioned into the fifth female thread  16   b  of the dose measuring applicator  18  as shown in FIG.  2 . The second section male thread  21   c  is rotatably positioned until there is a snug-fit between it and the fifth female thread  16   b . Alternately, the second section male thread  21   c  is substitutable for a female thread in another application. FIG. 4 shows the end view of the disposable insert with the second end  22   d  and the first section annular lip  21   e . A hypodermic syringe (not shown) is inserted into the disposable insert  20  until it snugly-fits against the first section annular lip  21   e.    
     FIG. 6 shows apparatus  10  being loaded into a well counter  28 . The well counter  28  typically has an insert  27  that the apparatus  10  is set into to allow the hypodermic syringe  25  to be loaded and measured at the well counter  28 . The dose measuring applicator  18  is attached to the disposable insert  20  that has a hypodermic syringe  25  loaded into it. The apparatus  10  has the second body (not shown) removed from the first body  11  and the third body  13  before being loaded into the well counter  28 . The radiation emitted from the radiopharniaceutical  26  in the hypodermic syringe is still shielded by apparatus  10  as the hypodermic syringe  25  is being loaded into the well counter  28 . The dose measuring applicator  18  is pushed in the direction of the arrow  31  to load the syringe  25  into the well counter  28 . The well counter typically contains shielding of radiation from the radiopharmaceutical. When the radiation from the radiopharnaceutical  26  has been measured in the well counter  28  the dose measuring applicator  18  is pulled in the opposite direction of arrow  31  inserting the disposable insert  20  that contains the hypodermic syringe back into the protective shielding of apparatus  10 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates apparatus  10  with the hypodermic syringe  25  in another embodiment of the invention where the radiopharmaceutical  26  in hypodermic syringe  25  can be injected into a patient. The first body  11  is the radionuclei shield surrounding the disposable insert  20  with the hypodermic syringe  25  filled with a radiopharmaceutical  26 . The radiation shield is constructed of various radiation shielding materials including, but not limited to, lead and tungsten. When the radiopharmaceutical  26  is going to be injected into a patient the second section  22  of the disposable insert  20  is removed from the first section  21  at insert perforation  21   b . This is accomplished without exposing anyone to the radiation emanating from the radiopharmaceutical  26 . The hypodermic syringe is ready to be injected into a patient once the needle cover  32  is removed. 
     While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications are likely to occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.