Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A radiation shielding lid for a radiation shielding container, the lid comprising:a body having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface;a vial opening defined in the body, the vial opening having a lower end at the lower surface of the body and an upper end intermediate the upper and lower surfaces of the body;a finger recess in the upper surface of the body, the finger recess sized and shaped to allow at least distal portions of at least two digits to enter the finger recess, wherein the finger recess has an upper edge adjacent the upper surface of the body and a lower edge adjacent the upper end of the vial opening;first and second wings extending upward from adjacent the upper end of the vial opening, each of the first and second wings having opposite sides, a top portion, and an inner surface extending partially around a circumference of the upper end of the vial opening;wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second wings and the vial opening together define a vial passageway extending from the top portions of the first and second wings through the lower surface of the body, the vial passageway being sized and shaped for receiving a vial therein;wherein respective adjacent sides of the first and second wings are spaced apart from one another around the vial opening to partially define first and second finger channels leading from the finger recess to the vial passageway, each of the first and second finger channels being sized and shaped to allow at least the distal portion of one of the two digits to enter the corresponding finger channel from the finger recess to facilitate gripping of the vial during at least one of insertion of the vial in the vial passageway and removal of the vial from the vial passageway. 2. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner surface of each of the first and second wings extends at least 45 degrees and less than 180 degrees around the circumference of the upper end of the vial opening. 3. The lid set forth in claim 2, wherein the top portions of the first and second wings extend above the upper surface of the body. 4. The lid set forth in claim 2, wherein the inner surface of each of the first and second wings extends at least 60 degrees around the circumference of the upper end of the vial opening. 5. The lid set forth in claim 4, wherein the inner surface of each of the first and second wings extends at least 90 degrees around the circumference of the upper end of the vial opening. 6. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second wings are diametrically opposed to one another with respect the vial opening. 7. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein the sides of the respective first and second wings extend into the finger recess. 8. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein the finger recess comprises first and second finger recesses, wherein the first and second finger recesses are diametrically opposed to one another with respect to the vial opening. 9. The lid set forth in claim 8, wherein the lower edge of the first finger recess extends between the corresponding adjacent sides of the first and second wings to partially define the first finger channel, and wherein the lower edge of the second finger recess extends between the corresponding adjacent sides of the first and second wings to partially define the second finger channel. 10. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein the top portions of the first and second wings extend above the upper surface of the body. 11. The lid set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second wings has a notch in the corresponding top portion. 12. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper end of the vial opening is substantially circular, and wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second wings are generally arcuate. 13. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the vial passageway defined by the inner surfaces of the wings tapers from the top portions of the wings toward the vial opening. 14. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second wings includes a plurality of ribs on the inner surface of each wing projecting inward into the vial passageway, the ribs on each wing being spaced apart from one another between the opposite sides of each wing. 15. The lid set forth in claim 14, wherein the ribs project generally toward a centerline of the passageway from the inner surface of the corresponding wing, such that each rib has a terminal, guiding surface generally facing a centerline of the vial passageway, wherein each guiding surface is uniformly spaced from the centerline of the vial passageway along its length. 16. The lid set forth in claim 1, wherein the body is substantially disk-shaped and is formed, at least in part, from a radiation shielding material comprising at least one of depleted uranium, tungsten, tungsten impregnated plastic, or lead. 17. The lid set forth in claim 1, further comprising an elution tool opening defined in the body, wherein the elution tool opening is spaced apart and separate from the vial opening. 18. A lid for a radiation shielding container comprising:a body having upper and lower surfaces;a vial opening in the body having a centerline extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the body, the vial opening being sized and shaped to allow insertion of a vial therein;first and second alignment wings extending upward from the vial opening, each of the first and second alignment wings having opposite sides, a top portion, and an inner surface extending partially around a circumference of the vial opening;wherein the first and second alignment wings enable alignment of a longitudinal axis of a vial with the centerline of the vial opening as the vial is inserted in the vial opening;wherein respective adjacent sides of the first and second alignment wings partially define at least one finger channel, the at least one finger channel being sized and shaped to allow at least the distal portion of at least one digit to enter the finger channel to facilitate at least one of insertion of the vial in the vial opening and removal of the vial from the vial opening. 19. The lid set forth in claim 18, wherein the inner surface of each alignment wing extends at least 45 degrees and less than 180 degrees around the circumference of the vial opening, wherein said at least one finger channel comprises at least a first finger channel and a second finger channel. 20. The lid set forth in claim 19, further comprising first and second finger recesses in the upper surface of the body, each of the first and second finger recesses having an upper edge adjacent the upper surface of the body and a lower edge leading to the vial opening, wherein the first and second finger recesses are diametrically opposed to one another with respect to the vial opening. 21. The lid set forth in claim 18, further comprising an elution tool opening defined in the body, wherein the elution tool opening is spaced apart and separate from the vial opening.