Adjustable volume syringe

Adjustable volume syringes and systems are disclosed. An adjustable volume syringe includes a delivery syringe barrel, a reservoir syringe barrel positioned at least partially within the delivery syringe barrel, and a reservoir plunger positioned at least partially within the reservoir syringe barrel. The delivery syringe barrel is configured to contain a first amount of a fluid. The reservoir syringe barrel is configured to contain a second amount of the fluid. A system includes the adjustable volume syringe, a dispensing module in communication with the syringe, and a processor in communication with the dispensing module. The processor may be configured to determine an administration amount of the fluid in the adjustable volume syringe, and transmit signals causing the dispensing module to adjust the volume of fluid in the syringe to the administration amount and deliver the administration amount by moving the reservoir syringe barrel with respect to the delivery syringe barrel.

BACKGROUND

Positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) procedures typically rely on positron or gamma ray emitting radionuclides with short half-lives. For example, PET procedures frequently rely on18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) while many SPECT procedures rely on conjugated99mTc compounds.

18F has a half-life of less than 2 hours, while99mTc has a half-life of about 6 hours. The volume of a solution carrying a tracer must be carefully calculated for administration of a specific radiation dose to a patient. Because of the (relatively) short half-lives of these types of radionuclides, a delay in patient administration may require a dynamic adjustment of the volume of the radionuclide solution. Even a delay of 15 minutes (for example, because of traffic delaying a patient's arrival at the test site) for the injection may significantly change the amount of solution volume necessary to supply a correct radionuclide dose. As such, the amount of radionuclide that is distributed to a treatment location typically exceeds the required dose. As a result, a technician is required to measure the activity level of the radionuclide and discard the excess radionuclide. This process is subject to errors in measurement by the technician and exposure of the technician to radiation from the disposal of the excess radionuclide. It is therefore useful to develop an injection syringe capable of on-the-fly adjustment of dose volume of a solution of a radionuclide material that reduces the risk of exposure to harmful radiation.

SUMMARY

The invention described in this document is not limited to the particular systems, methodologies or protocols described, as these may vary. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. As used herein, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.”

In an embodiment, an adjustable volume syringe device may include a delivery syringe having a delivery syringe barrel configured to hold a first amount of a fluid, a delivery syringe fluid port at a distal end of the delivery syringe barrel configured to dispense the fluid to a patient, a reservoir syringe having a reservoir syringe barrel configured to hold a second amount of the fluid, a reservoir syringe fluid port at a distal end of the reservoir syringe barrel configured to dispense the fluid into the delivery syringe barrel, and a reservoir plunger having a reservoir plunger body configured to cause one or more of at least a portion of the first amount of the fluid to be dispensed to a patient through the delivery syringe fluid port and at least a portion of the second amount of the fluid to be dispensed into the delivery syringe barrel through the reservoir syringe fluid port, and a reservoir plunger thumb-piece at a proximal end of the reservoir plunger. The reservoir syringe barrel is positioned at least partially within the delivery syringe barrel, and the reservoir plunger body is positioned at least partially within the reservoir syringe.

In an embodiment, a method of using an adjustable volume syringe having a delivery syringe, a reservoir syringe located at least in part within the delivery syringe, and a reservoir plunger located at least in part within the reservoir syringe may include storing a first amount of a fluid in the delivery syringe and a second amount of a fluid in the reservoir syringe, determining an administration amount of the fluid to administer to a patient, determining whether the administration amount is greater than the first amount, dispensing at least a portion of the second amount of the fluid from the reservoir syringe into the delivery syringe in response to the administration amount being greater than the first amount, and dispensing the administration amount of the fluid to the patient.

In an embodiment, a system for providing a fluid may include an adjustable volume syringe having a delivery syringe configured to contain a first amount of a fluid, a reservoir syringe configured to contain a second amount of the fluid and located at least in part within the delivery syringe, and a reservoir plunger located at least in part within the reservoir syringe, a dispensing module in mechanical communication with the adjustable volume syringe, a processor in operable communication with the dispensing module, and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor. The computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to determine an administration amount of the fluid to administer, determine whether the administration amount is greater than the first amount, transmit one or more signals to cause the dispensing module to dispense at least a portion of the second amount of the fluid from the reservoir syringe into the delivery syringe in response to the administration amount being greater than the first amount, and transmit one or more signals to cause the dispensing module to dispense the administration amount of the fluid from the delivery syringe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1Adepicts a cross-sectional view of an illustrative adjustable volume syringe according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 1A, the adjustable volume syringe100may substantially be a syringe-within-a-syringe. The delivery (outer) syringe may include a delivery syringe barrel105, a delivery syringe fluid port110and a delivery syringe finger guard115. A reservoir syringe may similarly include a reservoir syringe barrel120, a reservoir syringe fluid port125, and a reservoir syringe barrel end130. The delivery syringe barrel105may be configured to hold a first amount of a fluid, such as a radionuclide, in a delivery space155formed between an exterior surface of the distal end of the reservoir syringe and the interior surface of the distal end of the delivery syringe. The reservoir syringe may act as a fluid plunger for the delivery syringe so that fluid within a delivery space155may be extruded or dispensed from the delivery syringe fluid port110as the reservoir syringe barrel end130is pressed towards the delivery syringe finger guard115. In order to maintain pressure within the delivery space155, the exterior surface of the reservoir syringe may include at least one reservoir syringe seal135configured to seal against the interior surface of the delivery syringe barrel105. As such, the at least one reservoir syringe seal135may be positioned between the exterior surface of the reservoir syringe barrel120and the interior surface of the delivery syringe barrel105. The at least one reservoir syringe seal135may comprise an O-ring or similar type of movable seal.

A reservoir plunger may be disposed at least partially within the reservoir syringe. The reservoir plunger may include a reservoir plunger body140and reservoir plunger thumb-piece145. The position of the reservoir plunger may be adjusted with respect to the reservoir syringe barrel120by adjusting the position of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece145with respect to reservoir syringe barrel end130. As the position of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece145is adjusted with respect to the reservoir plunger barrel end130, the volume of the fluid within a reservoir space160that is formed between the exterior surface of the distal end of the reservoir plunger body140and the interior surface of the distal end of the reservoir syringe may be adjusted. If the reservoir plunger thumb-piece145is pushed towards the reservoir plunger barrel end130, the fluid within the delivery space160may be extruded or dispensed from the reservoir syringe fluid port125into the delivery space155of the delivery syringe. In order to maintain pressure within the reservoir space160, the exterior surface of the reservoir plunger body140may include at least one reservoir plunger seal150configured to seal against the interior surface of the reservoir syringe barrel120. As such, the at least one reservoir plunger seal150may be positioned between the exterior surface of the reservoir plunger body140and the interior surface of the reservoir syringe barrel120. The at least one reservoir plunger seal150may comprise an O-ring or similar type of movable seal.

FIG. 1Bdepicts an exploded view of illustrative components of the adjustable volume syringe ofFIG. 1A. The exploded view ofFIG. 1Bincludes the delivery syringe comprising delivery the syringe barrel105, the delivery syringe fluid port110, and the delivery syringe finger guard115. The exploded view further includes the reservoir syringe comprising the reservoir syringe barrel120, the reservoir syringe fluid port125, the reservoir syringe barrel end130, and the at least one reservoir syringe seal135. The exploded view additionally includes the reservoir plunger comprising the reservoir plunger body140, reservoir plunger thumb-piece145, and the at least one reservoir plunger seal150.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of an exterior surface of the reservoir plunger body140may be threaded, and a threaded stop collar165may be located adjacent to the threaded portion of the reservoir plunger body. In an embodiment, the threaded reservoir plunger body140may include a scale which identifies an amount of fluid to dispense from the reservoir syringe barrel120. The scale may be used to position the threaded stop collar165in order to dispense a proper amount of fluid from the delivery space160of the reservoir syringe. In such an embodiment, the threaded stop collar165may be positioned outside of the reservoir syringe barrel120. When the reservoir syringe thumb-piece145is pushed, the threaded stop collar165may move with the reservoir plunger body140until it abuts the reservoir syringe barrel end130. When the threaded stop collar165abuts the reservoir syringe barrel end130, a proper amount of fluid may have been dispensed from the delivery space160of the reservoir syringe. The reservoir plunger body140and the reservoir syringe barrel120may then move in concert to dispense fluid in the delivery space155to a recipient.

In an embodiment, the reservoir syringe ofFIGS. 1A and 1Bmay be used to remove fluid from the delivery syringe. In such an embodiment, a radionuclide, such as FDG, may be contained within the delivery space155of the delivery syringe. An amount of the radionuclide may be withdrawn from the delivery space155of the delivery syringe into the delivery space160of the reservoir syringe by pulling the reservoir plunger thumb-piece145in a proximal direction. When an appropriate amount of radionuclide has been withdrawn from the delivery space155of the delivery syringe, the reservoir plunger body140may be fixed with respect to the reservoir syringe barrel120, and the radionuclide in the delivery space of the delivery syringe may be dispensed to a recipient through the delivery syringe fluid port110by moving the reservoir syringe body distally.

FIGS. 2A and 2Bdepict cross-sectional views of an illustrative adjustable volume syringe before and after dispensing a fluid from a delivery syringe according to an embodiment. More particularly,FIG. 2Aillustrates an adjustable volume syringe when configured for injection, andFIG. 2Billustrates the adjustable volume syringe after an injection has been made. In an embodiment, an injection may be performed by pushing the reservoir syringe barrel end230from a pre-injection position (as illustrated inFIG. 2A) until it is disposed against the delivery syringe finger guard215at a post-injection position (230′ inFIG. 2B), in the direction indicated by the arrow inFIG. 2A. In an embodiment, the friction of the at least one reservoir plunger seal250against the interior of the reservoir syringe barrel220may result in effectively no relative motion of the reservoir plunger240with respect to the reservoir syringe220/220′. In an alternate embodiment, a key-lock mechanism (not shown) may permit a user to lock the reservoir plunger240with respect to the reservoir syringe220/220′ such that pushing on the reservoir plunger thumb-piece245will not result in movement of the reservoir plunger. Because the reservoir plunger240may be prevented from moving with respect to the reservoir syringe220/220′, the amount of fluid within the reservoir space260may remain substantially constant before (FIG. 2A) and after (FIG. 2B) the injection.

Prior to the injection (FIG. 2A), the distal end of the reservoir syringe may be disposed away from the distal end of the delivery syringe, thereby creating a delivery space255. As the injection proceeds (FIG. 2B), the distal end of the reservoir syringe may approach the distal end of the delivery syringe, thereby reducing the volume of the delivery space255′. The fluid from the delivery space255may then be extruded from the delivery syringe205through fluid port210.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bdepict cross-sectional views of an illustrative adjustable volume syringe before and after dispensing a fluid from a reservoir syringe to a delivery syringe according to an embodiment. More particularly,FIG. 3Aillustrates the adjustable volume syringe when configured for injection, andFIG. 3Billustrates a change in deliverable fluid volume based on a change in configuration of the adjustable volume syringe. In an embodiment, the reservoir plunger body340may be configured to move distally or proximally within the reservoir syringe barrel320when the reservoir syringe thumb-piece345is linearly displaced, as described in further detail below.

FIG. 3Aillustrates an adjustable volume syringe pre-loaded with a volume of fluid in the delivery space355and an excess volume of fluid in the reservoir space360. The reservoir plunger body340may be disposed at a location within the reservoir syringe barrel320, and the reservoir syringe barrel may be disposed at a location within the delivery syringe barrel305.

If the delivery volume is acceptable for a procedure, the fluid in the delivery space355may be injected through the delivery syringe fluid port310as illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2Babove. If the delivery volume is insufficient for the procedure, the deliverable fluid volume may be increased by withdrawing some fluid from the reservoir space360into the delivery space355. Illustrative reasons for an insufficient delivery volume or amount of fluid may include a delay in performing the procedure.

Withdrawing the fluid from the reservoir space360into the delivery space355may be accomplished by occluding the delivery syringe fluid port310, and moving the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345with respect to the reservoir syringe barrel end330.FIG. 3Aillustrates the relative motions of these two components by arrow A (relative direction of motion of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345) and arrow B (relative direction of motion of the reservoir syringe barrel end330). Because the delivery syringe fluid port310is occluded, the sum of the fluid volume in the delivery space355and the fluid volume in the reservoir space360may be conserved. As such, a change from the initial position of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345with respect to the reservoir syringe barrel end330results in a concomitant change in the position of the reservoir syringe barrel end with respect to the delivery syringe finger guard315.

FIG. 3Billustrates the result of such fluid redistribution. The distance between the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345′ and the reservoir syringe barrel end330′ is decreased, thereby reducing the volume of the reservoir space360′. The fluid previously held in the reservoir space360(FIG. 3A) may be injected into the delivery space355′, thereby increasing the volume of the delivery space. As a result of the increased volume in the delivery space355′, the reservoir syringe barrel320′ may adjust with respect to the delivery syringe barrel305and the distance between reservoir syringe barrel end330′ and the delivery syringe finger guard315increases from their initial positions.

FIGS. 3C and 3Ddepict end views of an illustrative adjustable volume syringe before and after dispensing a fluid from a reservoir syringe by rotating a reservoir plunger according to an embodiment. As shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the reservoir syringe body320and/or reservoir plunger340of an adjustable volume syringe may be moved with respect to the delivery syringe305in order to increase the amount of fluid stored in a delivery space355for injection to a patient. In an embodiment, linear displacements of the reservoir syringe body320and/or reservoir plunger340may be performed to increase the amount of fluid available for delivery to a patient. In an alternate embodiment, at least a portion of the reservoir plunger340and at least a portion of the reservoir syringe body320may be threaded. In such an embodiment, rotating the reservoir plunger340may cause the reservoir plunger to be displaced within the reservoir syringe body320.

FIG. 3Cillustrates an end view of the adjustable volume syringe ofFIG. 3Aprior to a fluid volume of the delivery space355being increased using a screw-actuated embodiment. In such an embodiment, the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345may be concentric with the reservoir syringe barrel end330, and both are similarly concentric with the delivery syringe finger guard315. In an embodiment, the delivery syringe finger guard315may include indicia317around its circumference. The indicia317may include any sort of marker including, but not limited to, lines, numbers, letters, and symbols. The reservoir plunger thumb-piece345may also have an indicator347that indicates a relative rotational position of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345with respect to the reservoir syringe barrel end330or reservoir syringe body320.FIG. 3Cmay represent an embodiment corresponding to the adjustable volume syringe configuration illustrated inFIG. 3A, prior to an adjustment to the volume in the delivery space355.

FIG. 3Dillustrates an end view of the adjustable volume syringe ofFIG. 3Bafter a fluid volume of the delivery space355′ is increased using a screw-actuated embodiment. In such an embodiment, the indicator347′ may be directed towards a different indicium than the indicium towards which it was directed prior to the fluid volume of the delivery space355′ being increased. In other words, the reservoir plunger body340′ may be moved distally or proximally within the reservoir syringe body320′ in response to the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345′ being rotated.

In an embodiment, rotation of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345′ may be accomplished manually by a user. In an alternate embodiment, rotation of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345′ may be accomplished automatically through the use of, for example and without limitation, a transfer rod (not shown) and a controllable rotary motor (not shown). In yet another embodiment, automated rotation of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345′ with respect to the reservoir syringe body320′ may be controlled by specific commands received from a user. In another embodiment, automated rotation of the reservoir plunger thumb-piece345′ with respect to the reservoir syringe body320′ may be performed based on an elapsed time from a time of initial syringe dose preparation.

FIG. 4depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of using an adjustable volume syringe according to an embodiment. The adjustable volume syringe has a delivery syringe, a reservoir syringe located at least in part within the delivery syringe, and a reservoir plunger located at least in part within the reservoir syringe. As shown inFIG. 4, first and second amounts of fluid may be stored405in the delivery syringe and the reservoir syringe, respectively. In an embodiment, the fluid may include a radionuclide. In an embodiment, the fluid may be one of18F-deoxyglucose and99mTc or a99mTc containing compound or fluid. The first amount of fluid may correspond to a dosage to be delivered to a patient under an anticipated set of circumstances, such as a prescribed radioactivity dose at a particular time for a radionuclide. The second amount of fluid may correspond to an additional amount of the fluid.

An administration amount of the fluid may be determined410. The administration amount of the fluid may be an amount to be administered to a recipient, such as a patient, as a part of a procedure. The administration amount may be determined410based on the type of fluid to be administered as well as one or more dosing requirements for the recipient. For example, if the fluid is a radionuclide, the administration amount may be determined410automatically, such as by a processing device, based on an expected administration time, an actual administration time and a required radioactivity to be dosed to the patient.

The administration amount may be compared with the first amount to determine415whether the administration amount is greater than, less than or equal to the first amount. The administration amount may be greater than the first amount if, for example, a delay occurred in the administration of a radionuclide. Because the radioactivity of radionuclides decays over time, if the actual administration time is later in time than the expected administration time, additional fluid may be required in order to achieve a required radioactivity. The administration amount may be less than the first amount if, for example, the entire amount of radionuclide is located in the delivery space of the delivery syringe and a portion of the first amount is to be withdrawn before administration to a patient.

At least a portion of the second amount of the fluid may be dispensed420from the reservoir syringe into the delivery syringe in response to the administration amount being greater than the first amount. The portion of the second amount of the fluid to be dispensed420into the delivery syringe may depend upon, for example, the amount of time that has elapsed since the anticipated administration time and the half-life of the fluid to be dispensed.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of an interior surface of the reservoir syringe and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the reservoir plunger may be threaded. In such an embodiment, dispensing420at least a portion of the second amount of the fluid may be performed by rotating the reservoir plunger within the reservoir syringe whereby the reservoir plunger moves distally into the reservoir syringe as a result of the threads. In an alternate embodiment, dispensing420at least a portion of the second amount of the fluid may be performed by pushing the reservoir plunger into the reservoir syringe such that the reservoir plunger moves distally into the reservoir syringe.

In an embodiment, the first amount of fluid can be automatically updated in real time to match the administration amount by dispensing420incremental amounts of the second amount of fluid from the reservoir syringe. For example, a controller, a processing device or the like could monitor an amount of time that has elapsed between an anticipated administration time and a current time and dispense420portions of the second amount of fluid into the delivery syringe over time so that the administration amount is present in the delivery syringe until the fluid is administered to the patient or the sum of the first amount of fluid and the second amount of fluid is less than the administration amount at a particular time.

At least a portion of the first amount of the fluid may be withdrawn422from the delivery syringe into the reservoir syringe in response to the administration amount being less than the first amount. The portion of the first amount of the fluid to be withdrawn422into the reservoir syringe may depend upon, for example, the amount of fluid that was originally stored in the delivery syringe, the administration time, and the half-life of the fluid to be dispensed.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of an interior surface of the reservoir syringe and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the reservoir plunger may be threaded. In such an embodiment, withdrawing422at least a portion of the first amount of the fluid may be performed by rotating the reservoir plunger within the reservoir syringe whereby the reservoir plunger moves proximally with respect to the reservoir syringe as a result of the threads. In an alternate embodiment, withdrawing422at least a portion of the first amount of the fluid may be performed by pulling the reservoir plunger from the reservoir syringe such that the reservoir plunger moves proximally with respect to the reservoir syringe.

The administration amount of the fluid may be dispensed425to the patient. In an embodiment, the administration amount of the fluid may be dispensed425by pushing the reservoir plunger. In an alternate embodiment, the administration amount of the fluid may be dispensed425by pushing a proximal end of the reservoir syringe.

FIG. 5depicts a partial block diagram of a system for providing a radionuclide to a patient according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 5, the system may include an adjustable volume syringe505, a dispensing module510, a processor515and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium520.

The adjustable volume syringe505may be a syringe as described above in reference to any ofFIGS. 1-4. The adjustable volume syringe505may include a delivery syringe530, a reservoir syringe535located at least in part within the delivery syringe, and a reservoir plunger540located at least in part within the reservoir syringe. The delivery syringe530may be configured to contain a first amount of a fluid. The reservoir syringe535may be configured to contain a second amount of a fluid. In an embodiment, the fluid may be a radionuclide. In an embodiment, the fluid may include18F-deoxyglucose. In an embodiment, the fluid may include99mTc.

The dispensing module510may be in mechanical communication with the adjustable volume syringe505. For example, the dispensing module510may be in mechanical communication with the reservoir plunger540and/or a proximal end of the reservoir syringe535. In an embodiment, the dispensing module510may comprise a motor drive that is used to move the reservoir plunger540and the proximal end of the reservoir syringe535independently.

The processor515may be in operable communication with the dispensing module510. The computer-readable storage medium520may be in operable communication with the processor515. The computer-readable storage medium520may contain one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor515to determine an administration amount of the fluid to administer, determine whether the administration amount is greater than the first amount, transmit one or more signals to cause the dispensing module510to dispense at least a portion of the second amount of the fluid from the reservoir syringe535into the delivery syringe530in response to the administration amount being greater than the first amount, and transmit one or more signals to cause the dispensing module to dispense the administration amount of the fluid from the delivery syringe.

In an embodiment, the one or more programming instructions that cause the processor515to determine an administration amount of the fluid may include one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to determine an administration amount of the fluid based on an expected administration time, an actual administration time, and a required radioactivity.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of an interior surface of the reservoir syringe535and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the reservoir plunger540may be threaded. In such an embodiment, the one or more programming instructions that cause the processor515to transmit one or more signals that cause the dispensing module510to dispense at least a portion of the second amount of the fluid may include one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to transmit one or more signals that cause the dispensing module to rotate the reservoir plunger540within the reservoir syringe535. In such an embodiment, rotating the reservoir plunger540may cause the reservoir plunger to move distally into the reservoir syringe535as a result of the threads.

In an alternate embodiment, the one or more programming instructions that cause the processor515to transmit one or more signals that cause the dispensing module510to dispense at least a portion of the second amount of the fluid may include one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to transmit one or more signals that cause the dispensing module to push the reservoir plunger540into the reservoir syringe535. In such an embodiment, rotating the reservoir plunger540may cause the reservoir plunger to move distally into the reservoir syringe535.

In an embodiment, the one or more programming instructions that cause the processor515to transmit one or more signals that cause the dispensing module510to dispense the administration amount of the fluid may include one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to transmit one or more signals that cause the dispensing module to push the reservoir plunger540. In an alternate embodiment, the one or more programming instructions that cause the processor515to transmit one or more signals that cause the dispensing module510to dispense the administration amount of the fluid may include one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to transmit one or more signals that cause the dispensing module to push a proximal end of the reservoir syringe535.

In an embodiment, the adjustable volume syringe505may be placed within a dose calibration chamber (not shown). The dose calibration chamber may be used to determine a radioactivity of a radionuclide stored within the adjustable volume syringe505at one or more particular times or in real time. The determined radioactivity of the radionuclide in the adjustable volume syringe may be communicated to the processor515which uses the information to determine whether to adjust the amount of radionuclide within the delivery syringe of the adjustable volume syringe505. If the amount of radionuclide is to be adjusted, the processor515may direct the dispensing module510to adjust the amount of radionuclide by moving one or more of the reservoir plunger540and the proximal end of the reservoir syringe535.

FIG. 6depicts a block diagram of illustrative internal hardware that may be used to contain or implement program instructions, such as the process steps discussed above in reference toFIGS. 4 and/or 5, according to an embodiment. A bus600serves as the main information highway interconnecting the other illustrated components of the hardware. CPU605is the central processing unit of the system, performing calculations and logic operations required to execute a program. CPU605, alone or in conjunction with one or more of the other elements disclosed inFIG. 5, is an illustrative processing device, computing device or processor as such terms are used within this disclosure. Read only memory (ROM)610and random access memory (RAM)615constitute illustrative memory devices (i.e., processor-readable non-transitory storage media).

A controller620interfaces with one or more optional memory devices625to the system bus600. These memory devices625may include, for example, an external or internal DVD drive, a CD ROM drive, a hard drive, flash memory, a USB drive or the like. As indicated previously, these various drives and controllers are optional devices.

Program instructions, software or interactive modules for providing the interface and performing any querying or analysis associated with one or more data sets may be stored in the ROM610and/or the RAM615. Optionally, the program instructions may be stored on a tangible computer readable medium such as a compact disk, a digital disk, flash memory, a memory card, a USB drive, an optical disc storage medium, such as a Blu-ray™ disc, and/or other non-transitory storage media.

The hardware may also include an interface645which allows for receipt of data from input devices such as a keyboard650or other input device655such as a mouse, a joystick, a touch screen, a remote control, a pointing device, a video input device and/or an audio input device. In an embodiment, the interface645may receive data from a dose calibration chamber or other activity detector.