Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A radiation-shielding assembly for accommodating a container having a radioactive material disposed therein, the assembly comprising:a body comprising a radiation shielding material, the body having a cavity and a first opening to the cavity defined therein; anda locator disposed in a radiation shielding portion of the cavity opposite the opening, the locator having an aperture defined therethrough spanning between first and second sides of the locator, a first aperture opening of the aperture being defined at the first side of the locator and a second aperture opening of the aperture being defined at the second side of the locator, wherein a size of the first aperture opening is greater than a size of the second aperture opening, wherein the first side of the locator is disposed between the second side of the locator and the first opening in the cavity of the body, and wherein the locator includes an interior wall that defines the aperture therethrough, the interior wall being stepped. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first aperture opening is greater than a cross-sectional area of the second aperture opening, and wherein the locator is made of a material transparent to radiation. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body has a second opening to the cavity defined therein, the second opening being defined at a portion of the body remote from where the first opening is defined. 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the first opening in the body is of a first size, the second opening in the body is of a second size, and the first opening is larger than the second opening. 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the locator is disposed adjacent the portion of the body in which the second opening is defined, such that a hypodermic needle may be disposed through both the second opening in the body and the aperture in the locator. 6. Use of the radiation-shielding assembly of claim 1 in eluting a radioisotope from a radioisotope generator. 7. A radiation-shielding assembly for accommodating a container having a radioactive material disposed therein, the assembly comprising:a body comprising a radiation shielding material, the body having a cavity and a first opening to the cavity defined therein; anda locator including a rigid non-shielding material, the locator being disposed in a radiation shielding portion of the cavity opposite the opening and having an aperture defined therethrough spanning between first and second sides of the locator, a first aperture opening of the aperture being defined at the first side of the locator and a second aperture opening of the aperture being defined at the second side of the locator, wherein a size of the first aperture opening is greater than a size of the second aperture opening, and wherein the first side of the locator is disposed between the second side of the locator and the first opening in the body. 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first aperture opening is greater than a cross-sectional area of the second aperture opening, and wherein the locator is made of a material transparent to radiation. 9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the locator comprises an interior wall that defines the aperture therethrough, the interior wall being stepped. 10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the locator comprises an interior wall that defines the aperture therethrough, the interior wall being tapered. 11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the body has a second opening to the cavity defined therein, the second opening being defined at a portion of the body remote from where the first opening is defined. 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first opening in the body is of a first size, the second opening in the body is of a second size, and the first opening is larger than the second opening. 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the locator is disposed adjacent the portion of the body in which the second opening is defined, such that a hypodermic needle may be disposed through both the second opening in the body and the aperture in the locator. 14. Use of the radiation-shielding assembly of claim 7 in eluting a radioisotope from a radioisotope generator. 15. A radiation-shielding assembly for accommodating a container having a radioactive material disposed therein, the assembly comprising:a body comprising a radiation shielding material, the body having a cavity, a first opening to the cavity defined therein, and a second opening to the cavity defined therein, the second opening being defined at a portion of the body remote from where the first opening is defined, wherein the first opening in the body is of a first size and the second opening in the body is of a second size; anda locator disposed in a radiation shielding portion of the cavity opposite the first opening, the locator having an aperture defined therethrough spanning between first and second sides of the locator, a first aperture opening of the aperture being defined at the first side of the locator and a second aperture opening of the aperture being defined at the second side of the locator, wherein a size of the first aperture opening is greater than a size of the second aperture opening, wherein the first side of the locator is disposed between the second side of the locator and the first opening in the body, and wherein the size of the second opening in the body is smaller than the size of the second aperture opening. 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first aperture opening is greater than a cross-sectional area of the second aperture opening, and wherein the locator is made of a material transparent to radiation. 17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the locator comprises an interior wall that defines the aperture therethrough, the interior wall being stepped. 18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the locator comprises an interior wall that defines the aperture therethrough, the interior wall being tapered. 19. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the locator is disposed adjacent the portion of the body in which the second opening is defined, such that a hypodermic needle may be disposed through both the second opening in the body and the aperture in the locator. 20. Use of the radiation-shielding assembly of claim 15 in eluting a radioisotope from a radioisotope generator.