Patent Number: 048333298
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a system for generating and containerizing radioisotopes, and more particularly to apparatus for the generation and containerization under sterile conditions of radioactive isotope solutions such as are obtained as the eluate in a radioisotope generator system. Reference may be made to the coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,981, issued Apr. 11, 1972, entitled Closed System Generation and Containerization of Radioisotopes for Eluting a Daughter Radioisotope from a Parent Radioisotope, the coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,118 issued Jan. 9, 1973, entitled Radioisotope Generator and the coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,785, issued Oct. 27, 1981, entitled System for Generating and Containerizing Radioisotopes, each disclosing a system for the preparation and packaging, under sterile conditions, of a solution of a daughter radioisotope, such as technetium 99M, generated from a parent radioisotope, such as molybdenum-99, wherein the daughter radioisotope is eluted from a parent radioisotope contained in a generator with an anion exchange medium or other medium, such as alumina, having a high adsorptive capacity for the parent but a low adsorptive capacity for the daughter, by washing with a suitable solvent or eluant such as a sterile, pyrogen-free isotonic saline solution. These three coassigned patents are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention involves improvements over the systems disclosed therein, in particular involving an improvement over the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,785. Reference may also be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,303, issued June 7, 1983, entitled Radioisotope Generator for disclosure of another system for generating and containerizing radioisotope, particularly for its disclosure therein of pinching a tube. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a system for generating and containerizing radioisotopes of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,785 utilizing an eluant reservoir with a vent for atmospheric pressurization of the eluant therein, with improved valving for operating with less tendency toward leakage, and easier assembly; and the provision of such a system utilizing plastic tubes for venting the eluant reservoir, for flow of eluant from the reservoir to the generator of the system, and for flow of eluate from the generator to the needle, wherein valving is accomplished by pinching the tubes, and wherein the tubes are readily assembled in the system; and the provision of such a system wherein the pinching of the tubes is effected in a manner which tends to avoid displacement and damaging the tubes. In general, a system of this invention is operable for eluting a daughter radioisotope from a parent radioisotope and for containerizing the resultant eluate in an evacuated container having a closure adapted to be pierced by a tubular needle. It comprises a generator containing a supply of the parent radioisotope having an inlet for an eluant for eluting the daughter radioisotope from the parent radioisotope and an outlet for the resultant eluate, a reservoir for holding a supply of the eluant having an outlet for delivery of eluant to the inlet of the generator and an air inlet for admission to the reservoir of air from the atmosphere to apply atmospheric air pressure to eluant in the reservoir, and a tubular needle for piercing the closure of an evacuated container. A first flexible tube is connected to the air inlet of the reservoir for venting it to atmosphere, a second flexible tube interconnects the outlet of the reservoir and the inlet of the generator, and a third flexible tube interconnects the outlet of the generator and the tubular needle, each of these tubes being resiliently compressible and thereby adapted to be pinched for closing it. Valve means is provided for pinching the tubes to close them and is operable on entry of the tubular needle through the closure of an evacuated container into the container to open the tubes for venting the reservoir to atmosphere via the first tube, for delivery of eluant from the reservoir to the generator via the second tube, and for delivery of eluate from the generator via the third tube to the needle and thence to the container. This valve means comprises a body having spaced side walls and being open at one edge of the walls, each side wall of the head having a slot therein extending down from said edge thereof. The first, second and third tubes are received in the slots in the side walls one on another with portions of the tubes extending from wall-to-wall. The body has a back-up for said portions of the tubes against which the tubes may be pinched for closing them. Means carried by the body is movable between a tube-pinching position wherein the tubes are pinched closed against said back-up and a retracted position for releasing the tubes to open them and operable on piercing of the closure of an evacuated container by the needle to open the tubes for the delivery of eluant into the container. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.