Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. Container for a radiopharmaceutical vial containing a radiopharmaceutical to be extracted via a needle inserted into a sealed cap secured to the mouth of the radiopharmaceutical vial, said container being made of a material suitable for shielding the operator from radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical through the vial, and consisting ofa receptacle, made of transparent material, with a cavity capable of containing the vial of radiopharmaceutical, and ofa lid coupled to the receptacle for closing the container, wherein said lid presents a central through-hole, said central through-hole being provided above an upper compartment for housing the mouth of the vial, said upper compartment being provided in the lid and flaring downward into a hollow truncated-cone portion. 2. Container according to claim 1, wherein said through-hole presents an outward facing upper flared portion. 3. Container according to claim 1, wherein the vial of radiopharmaceutical is mobilely coupled to the cavity of the receptacle,wherein, when the container is in the closed position, the lid is in contact with the mouth of the vial of radiopharmaceutical, the central through-hole in the lid being situated above the cap of the vial of radiopharmaceutical. 4. Container according to claim 1, wherein the radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical are beta-radiations and the material of which the receptacle and the lid are made is polymethyl methacrylate. 5. Container according to claim 1, wherein the radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical are beta and gamma radiations and the material of which the receptacle and lid are made is polymethyl methacrylate containing lead as an additive. 6. Container according to claim 1, wherein the radiopharmaceutical contains [18F]FDG. 7. Container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is made of transparent material. 8. Container according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a cylindrical outer surface. 9. Container according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes a generally cylindrical inner surface having a height dimensioned to be less than the height of the vial, such that the vial projects above the generally cylindrical inner surface in use. 10. Container according to claim 1, wherein transparent material of said receptacle is positioned so as to enable viewing of the entire outer circumferential surface of the vial. 11. Container for a radiopharmaceutical vial containing a radiopharmaceutical to be extracted via a needle inserted into a sealed cap secured to the mouth of the radiopharmaceutical vial, said container being made of a material suitable for shielding the operator from radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical through the vial, and consisting ofa receptacle, made of transparent material, with a cavity capable of containing the vial of radiopharmaceutical, and ofa lid coupled to the receptacle for closing the container, wherein said lid presents a central through-hole, said central through-hole being provided above an upper compartment for housing the mouth of the vial, wherein said upper compartment flares downward into a hollow truncated-cone portion. 12. Container according to claim 11, wherein said through-hole presents an outward facing upper flared portion. 13. Container according to claim 11, wherein the vial of radiopharmaceutical is mobilely coupled to the cavity of the receptacle, wherein, when the container is in the closed position, the lid is in contact with the mouth of the vial of radiopharmaceutical, the central through-hole in the lid being situated above the cap of the vial of radiopharmaceutical. 14. Container according to claim 11, wherein radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical are beta-radiations and the material of which the receptacle and the lid are made is polymethyl methacrylate. 15. Container according to claim 11, wherein radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical are beta and gamma radiations and the material of which the receptacle and lid are made is polymethyl methacrylate containing lead as an additive. 16. Container according to claim 11, wherein the radiopharmaceutical contains [hu 18F]FDG. 17. Container according to claim 11, wherein the receptacle has a cylindrical outer surface. 18. Container according to claim 11, wherein the receptacle includes a generally cylindrical inner surface having a height dimensioned to be less than the height of the vial, such that the vial projects above the generally cylindrical inner surface in use. 19. Container according to claim 11, wherein transparent material of said receptacle is positioned so as to enable viewing of the entire outer circumferential surface of the vial. 20. Container for radiopharmaceutical vial containing a radiopharmaceutical to be extracted via a needle inserted into a sealed cap secured to the mouth of the radiopharmaceutical vial, said container being made of a material suitable for shielding the operator from radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical through the vial, and consisting ofa receptacle, made of transparent material, with a cavity capable of containing the vial of radiopharmaceutical, and ofa lid coupled to the receptacle for closing the container, wherein said lid presents a central through-hole, said central through-hole being provided above an upper compartment for housing the mouth of the vial, said upper compartment being provided in the lid,wherein the radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical are beta and gamma radiations and the material of which the receptacle and lid are made is polymethyl methacrylate containing lead as an additive. 21. Container according to claim 20, wherein said upper compartment flares downwards into a hollow truncated-cone portion. 22. Container according to claim 20, wherein said through-hole presents an outward facing upper flared portion. 23. Container according to claim 20, wherein the vial of radiopharmaceutical is mobilely coupled to the cavity of the receptacle, wherein, when the container is in the closed position, the lid is in contact with the mouth of the vial of radiopharmaceutical, the central through-hole in the lid being situated above the cap of the vial of radiopharmaceutical. 24. Container according to claim 20, wherein the radiations emitted by the radiopharmaceutical are beta-radiations and the material of which the receptacle and the lid are made is polymethyl methacrylate. 25. Container according to claim 20, wherein the radiopharmaceutical contains [18]FDG. 26. Container according to claim 20, wherein the lid is made of transparent material. 27. Container according to claim 20, wherein the receptacle has a cylindrical outer surface. 28. Container according to claim 20, wherein the receptacle includes a generally cylindrical inner surface having a height dimensioned to be less than the height of the vial, such that the vial projects above the generally cylindrical inner surface in use. 29. Container according to claim 20, wherein transparent material of said receptacle is positioned so as to enable viewing of the entire outer circumferential surface of the vial.