Patent Number: 
Section: description

Referring to FIG. 1, it will there be seen that the reference numeral 10 denotes an illustrative embodiment of the present invention as a whole. Novel package 10 includes a first panel that includes a layer of flame retardant heat-sealable plastic 12, a first layer of lead foil 14, a second layer of lead foil 16, and a second layer of flame retardant heat-sealable plastic 18. A first layer of adhesive 20 bonds together plastic 12 and lead foil 14, a second layer of adhesive 22 bonds together first layer of lead foil 14 and second layer of lead foil 16, and a third layer of adhesive 24 bonds together second layer of lead foil 16 and said second layer of plastic 18. A second panel, not shown, has the same construction as the first panel. For radiation to escape through a panel having two lead foils, there would have to be a pinhole in first lead foil 14, a pinhole in second lead foil 16, and both pinholes would have to line up with one another because radiation travels in a straight line. The probability of two independently manufactured sheets of lead foil having pinholes that are in juxtaposition with one another when the two sheets are laminated together is essentially zero. First plastic sheet 12 has a thickness of about 3.5 mils, as does second plastic sheet 18. The plastic is preferably polyvinylchloride (PVC). First lead foil 14 has a thickness of at least about 5.0 mils (0.005 inch), as does second lead foil 16. The thickness of each lead foil could be increased for extra protection. One or more extra layers of lead foil could also be added for the same reason, each layer being joined to its contiguous layer by a layer of adhesive. As indicated in FIG. 2, bag or pouch 10 is formed by heat-sealing three peripheral edges 11, 13, 15 of two facing panels together, leaving edge 17 unsealed to serve as the opening of the pouch. Pouch 10 need not be rectangular in configuration, said shape merely being a common shape selected for ease of illustration. Oval, triangular, and pouches of other shapes as well can also be constructed by joining together preselected edges of a laminated assembly of the type taught herein and leaving unjoined a preselected extent thereof to provide an opening. A ridge or ridges are formed in sealing lines 26, 28, and 30 and said ridge or ridges forces the lead foil laminates 14, 16 into the plane of the seal, thereby preventing radiation leakage through the sealed edge. FIG. 3 depicts a ridge 27 formed in lead foil layers 14, 16 that prevents radiation 29 from escaping from the confines of the pouch by traveling in a straight line parallel to the plane of the pouch and out a peripheral edge thereof. A folding line 32 is formed in parallel relation to the unsealed edge so that the structure may be folded along said line 32 and taped shut. In the alternative, the opening may be folded and heat sealed. Either way, the fold is formed in the lead foil to prevent the escape of radiation traveling in a straight line in parallel relation to the top and bottom panels of the package. The radioactive material is completely shielded and encased within container or pouch 10. No cutting action is required to open package 10. This is advantageous because cutting lead foil with scissors and knives is difficult. Upon receipt of pouch 10, a physician merely needs to open it and use the sterile, radioactive items therewithin, just as is done with non-radioactive supplies or tools. The radioactive items inside pouch 12 may be placed into vials, needles, cartridges, eye plaques, and the like. Such vials or other containment devices are wrapped in single or double wrapped sterilization bags. Such sterilization bags may be covered in lead foil as well or they may, as is more typical, have a lead foil strip that covers the radioactive part of the sterilized item for further protection of the user. The items may be gamma, e.t.o., or autoclave sterilized. For the convenience of the physician, radioactive seeds placed within needles or cartridges may be placed in a numbered card or membrane tray before insertion into the above-mentioned single or double-wrapped sterilization bags. The novel foil pouch may be enhanced by providing sterilization indicators and patient labels to eliminate doubt as to whether or not the contents have been sterilized and to eliminate confusion concerning for which patient the contents of the pouch are intended. Foil pouch 10, when ready for shipping, is placed in a box and secured in place by a foam cushion. The box is then placed within a shipping box and tested to determine if it meets Department of Transportation and IATA regulations for shipping radioactive material. In this way, hospital personnel open the shipping container and deliver the lead foil pouch to the physician in the operating room. Upon opening the packaging, the pre-sterilized contents are ready for use. It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Now that the invention has been described,