Patent Publication Number: US-2004047444-A1

Title: Container for storing and shipping radioactive materials

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to containers for the storage and transportation of devices which contain radioactive material, preferably for shipping of radioactive seeds used for medical treatments.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Radioactive materials may be used for treating various illnesses including tumors and nodules. For example, radioactive materials, such as iodine 125  palladium 103 , or the like, may be implanted into a patient to provide localized radiation treatment of tumors.  
       [0003] It will be appreciated that such radioactive materials must be stored and transported in containers which protect patients, medical personnel and others that must handle the radioactive material from unnecessary exposure to radiation. Additionally, the radioactive materials must be packaged to allow safe transport from the manufacturer to an end user. Further, such radioactive materials must be safely packaged for storage at a facility, such as a warehouse or a hospital.  
       [0004] Conventional containers for transporting devices containing radioactive material are generally made of lead or steel or some other radiation shielding material. These containers, however, may be large, awkward, and heavy. Shipping such containers may be difficult, thereby increasing costs for the radioactive material, and discouraging return, cleaning and/or reuse of the containers.  
       [0005] One such existing container is made from a large block of steel having a handle formed integrally therewith. Within the steel block are formed a number of cylindrical cavities each for receiving a magazine containing radioactive seeds. Such steel containers are inordinately heavy and cumbersome and do not provide complete shielding of the radiation which escapes from the magazine.  
       [0006] Additionally, it is often necessary to sterilize medical equipment before use. The large size and weight of existing containers for magazines of radioactive seeds make them awkward to clean and/or sterilize. Also, these containers are unwieldy for handling the small quantities of radioactive material used in individual surgical procedures.  
       [0007] These and other drawbacks for presently available containers exist.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] An object of the present invention is to overcome these and other drawbacks in existing containers.  
       [0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a convenient, relatively lightweight container for storage and transportation of radioactive materials.  
       [0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for transporting and storing devices housing radioactive material, wherein the container and the device cooperate to provide radiation shielding.  
       [0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for transporting and storing devices housing radioactive material, whereby the devices are secured within the container to resist movement during transport and use.  
       [0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for transporting and storing devices housing radioactive material, wherein the container includes a separate device holder which may be sterilized within or apart from the radiation shielding container, thereby easing the process of sterilizing the devices for use.  
       [0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for transporting and storing devices housing radioactive material, wherein the devices are sealed within the container of the invention in a sterilized condition, thereby enabling transportation of sterilized devices.  
       [0014] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished according to various embodiments of the invention. One embodiment of the invention provides a container for storage and transportation of one or more devices each containing a plurality of individual dosage units of radioactive material. The container of the invention includes a radiation shielding material. The container also includes structure for retaining the devices within the container for transport. The container of the present invention is designed such that the container of the invention acts to contain at least some of the radiation emitted by the stored radioactive material. Other objects and advantages exist for the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the container shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a tray useful in a container according to a second embodiment of the invention including a plurality of magazines stored therein.  
     [0018]FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the tray shown in FIG. 3.  
     [0019]FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a container according to the second embodiment of the present invention for use in combination with the tray shown in FIGS.  3 - 4 .  
     [0020]FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of a container according to a third embodiment of the present invention with the upper portion removed.  
     [0021]FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the container depicted in FIG. 6 with the upper portion in place. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0022] The container of the present invention may be used for storage and transportation of one or more magazines housing radioactive materials. Nonetheless, the structures and characteristics of the invention are equally applicable to the storage and transport of other types of devices including radioactive material, such as preloaded needles as well.  
     [0023] Specific embodiments of the present invention, as will be illustrated further in FIGS.  1 - 7 , provide a container for the storage and transportation of magazines containing radioactive material. Radioactive seeds, which are used in the treatment of tumors and other medical problems, are often housed in magazines which generally contain a plurality of such seeds. The magazines function to both contain the seeds and to ease their loading into the applicators used to introduce the seeds into the human body. Such magazines typically dispense one seed at a time in a predetermined manner and orientation which facilitates the loading of such seeds into their applicators for use. One such magazine is available from Mick Radio and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,909. Another is illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 7  herein. The invention is generally applicable to a variety of such magazines, as well as other devices containing radioactive material.  
     [0024]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of a container  2  according to the invention for storing and transporting one or more magazines containing radioactive materials. Container  2  includes a lower portion  4  and an upper portion  6 , which may be separated to allow access to the inside of container  2 . Lower portion  4  may include a conventional radiation shielding material, such as lead, steel or other appropriate materials. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, both upper portion  6  and lower portion  4  of container  2  include a radiation shielding material. Upper portion  6  and lower portion  4  of container  2  may be joined together by a closure  10 . The closure may be a friction fit, a mechanical fastener, threads, a slip-fit, or other similar closing structures. The container may also be taped closed on the outside to provide additional security, and such tape may also contain a radiation shielding material.  
     [0025] A basket  7 , which serves as a holder for magazines  8 , may be located within lower portion  4  of container  2 . Basket  7  also functions to isolate magazines  8  from contact with the lower portion  4  of container  2 . Such isolation may be required depending on the materials used to fabricate lower portion  4  of container  2 . Basket  7  may optionally include a handle  12  to facilitate removal of basket  7  from container  2 . Magazines  8  may be placed in recesses  16  of basket  7  which are defined by sleeves  14  which function to surround and laterally support magazines  8 . A drain port  18  may be located in the bottom of each recess  16  of basket  7  to allow liquids to drain from recesses  16  in order to facilitate cleaning and sterilization of basket  7  including the inner surfaces of sleeves  14 . Recesses  16  may be customized to conform to the specific shape of the magazines  8  or to help properly align magazines  8  in recesses  16  during insertion, such as, for example by providing a narrower section of recesses  16  formed by shoulder  20  in sleeve  14 . Magazines  8  may optionally be secured in recesses  16  by threads  13  on magazines  8  which mate with threads  17  in recesses  16 . Sleeves  14  are preferably connected to one another by ribs  22  which, optionally, may all connect at a handle  12  if such is included as part of basket  7 . Secondary ribs  23  may also be provided to enhance the mechanical integrity of basket  7 .  
     [0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, basket  7  is made of a sterilizable material. Basket  7  may be removed from container  2 , and be separately placed in a sterilization unit, such as an autoclave or chemical disinfection, chemical sterilization or other conventional means of sterilization, or may be sterilized while within lower portion  4  of container  2 . Thus, basket  7  may act as a simple transfer device for handling one or more magazines  8  prior to, and during use. Basket  7  may be injection molded from, for example, nucleated polypropylenes, polysulfones, polycarbonates, high temperature acrylics or polyether sulfones. Other conventional materials and/or methods of making basket  7  may also be employed. In another embodiment, container  2  may itself be sterilized, such as by an autoclave or other conventional means, thereby allowing sterilized magazines  8  to be sterilized directly in container  2  or stored or transported in container  2  in sterilized condition.  
     [0027] Referring still to FIGS.  1 - 2 , upper portion  6  may also include a shoulder  24  which may be used to substantially secure magazines  8  against vertical movement in basket  7 , when upper portion  6  and lower portion  4  are associated to form container  2 . As described previously, magazine  8  may comprise a casing having an upper surface  11 . When a magazine  8  is placed into recess  16  of basket  7 , located in lower portion  4  and upper portion  6  is placed on lower portion  4  to enclose basket  7 , shoulder  24  is positioned closely adjacent to, or in abutment with, the upper surface  11  of each magazine  8 . Shoulder  24  thereby substantially secures magazine  8  in the vertical direction to minimize or prevent vertical movement of magazines  8  during transport.  
     [0028] Basket  7  of container  2  allows magazines  8  to be transported and sterilized easily, e.g., within a medical facility. Ease of transportation helps to minimize handling, thereby reducing the potential for exposure to radiation. A light-weight basket  7  also reduces the overall weight of container  2 , thereby reducing transportation costs and facilitating the handling of container  2 .  
     [0029] To use the container shown in FIGS.  1 - 2 , one or more magazines  8  containing radioactive material are placed in recesses  16  of basket  7 . Basket  7  is located in lower portion  4  of container  2 . In this configuration, without upper portion  6 , the radiation shielding material included in lower portion  4  may cooperate with radiation shielding  9  of magazine  8  to together contain a substantial portion of radiation emitted by the radioactive material when the magazine  8  is the type which includes its own radiation shielding material. Thus, the potential for exposure to radiation, even with the container  2  in the open position, is minimized due to either the radiation shielding of the lower portion  4  of container  2 , or due to the cooperative shielding provided by the radiation shielding  9  of magazine  8  and the lower portion  4  of container  2 .  
     [0030] Magazines  8  may be fitted into recesses  16  of lower portion  4  by a friction fit, mechanical fastener, slip-fit or by a thread  17 , provided on the inner surface of the sleeve  14  and the cooperating thread  13  provided on the outer surface of magazine  8 . Subsequently, upper portion  6  is fitted onto lower portion  4  such that the closure  10  holds upper portion  6  in place on lower portion  4 . In this manner, shoulder  24  is positioned closely adjacent to, or in abutment with, upper surface  11  of magazine  8  to thereby minimize or prevent vertical movement of magazine  8  within recess  16  during storage and transport. Upper portion  6  may also optionally include a radiation shielding material to provide additional shielding against radiation emitted in the vertical direction.  
     [0031]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a container  102  of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a tray  108  to be used in the container  102  illustrated in FIG. 5. Container  102  of FIG. 5 comprises a lower portion  104  and an upper portion  106 . Lower portion  104  preferably includes a conventional radiation shielding material, such as lead, steel or other appropriate materials. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, both upper portion  106  and lower portion  104  of container  102  include a radiation shielding material. Upper portion  106  and lower portion  104  may be joined by a closure  107  such as a friction fit, a mechanical fastener, a slip-fit, threads, or other similar closing structures. Tape may be provided on the outside of container  102  to ensure that the container  102  is not opened during transport  
     [0032] Tray  108  is designed to be placed within container  102 . Tray  108  includes a plurality of recesses  112  for holding magazines  8 . Recesses  112  are preferably generally cylindrical in shape and more preferably are designed to provide a friction fit with at least a portion of a magazine  8 . Most preferably, recesses  112  are shaped to provide a form fit with magazines  8 . Recesses  112  hold magazines  8  by limiting their lateral movement within container  102 . Tray  108  may be vacuum-formed, molded, or injection molded, for example, and is preferably made from plastic or other suitable material. Tray  108  may be made from, for example, nucleated polypropylenes, polysulfones, polycarbonates, high temperature acrylics or polyether sulfones.  
     [0033] Tray  108  stabilizes magazines  8  during shipment and isolates magazines  8  from direct contact with container  102 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, tray  108  is sterilizable. As such, tray  108  may be placed separately from container  102  in a sterilization unit, such as an autoclave or other conventional sterilization means, to facilitate handling and sterilization of the magazines  8  or may be sterilized together with container  102 .  
     [0034] In another embodiment of the invention, tray  108  may include a film  114  to hold magazines  8  in tray  108  against vertical movement. More preferably, film  114  seals tray  108  to permit shipment of sterilized magazines  8 . Alternatively, film  114  may include a radioactive shielding material and may optionally provide a seal for tray  108  as well. Film  114  may be any appropriate material, such as foil, a laminate, or the like. In another embodiment, the entire container  102  may be sterilized and sealed in any conventional manner, thereby allowing sterilized magazines  8  to be transported in tray  108  without requiring film  114  to seal the tray  108 .  
     [0035] Lower portion  104  of container  102  may optionally include a shelf  116  upon which a peripheral flange  109  of tray  108  may rest when tray  108  is placed within lower portion  104  of container  102 . Subsequently, when upper portion  106  of container  102  is put into place to close container  102 , peripheral flange  109  is pinched between shelf  116  of lower portion  104  and a mating surface  117  of upper portion  106  to thereby substantially secure tray  108  in place and prevent movement and shifting of tray  108  during transport of container  102 . Peripheral flange  109  may extend for only a portion of the periphery of tray  108  or around the entire periphery.  
     [0036] Tray  108  of container  102  allows a plurality of magazines  8  to be removed from container  102  and transported and sterilized more easily than if the magazines  8  remained in container  102 , e.g., within a medical facility. Additionally, the weight of the container  102  is reduced relative to the commercially available container, thereby reducing transportation costs and facilitating the handling of container  102 .  
     [0037] To use container  102 , magazines  8  are inserted into recesses  112  of tray  108  as shown in FIG. 3. Tray  108  is positioned in lower portion  104  of container  102  as shown in FIG. 5. Radiation shielding provided by lower portion  104  which may include a radiation shielding material may act in cooperation with radiation shielding material  9  of magazine  8  to contain a substantial portion of the radiation emitted by the radioactive material contained in magazine  8 . In this manner, the container shown in FIGS.  3 - 5  minimizes the potential for exposure to radiation even when the container  102  is open.  
     [0038] For storage and/or transport, upper portion  106  of container  102  is placed atop lower portion  104  as shown in FIG. 5 with closure  107  holding upper portion  106  in place on lower portion  104 . As can be seen in FIG. 5, upper portion  106  preferably pinches flange  109  of tray  108  atop shelf  116  of lower portion  104  in order to firmly secure tray  108  in position within container  102 . Upper portion  106  may optionally include a radiation shielding material to provide additional shielding against radiation emitted in the vertical direction.  
     [0039]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of a container  202  of the present invention. Container  202  comprises a lower portion  204  and an upper portion  206 . Lower portion  204  includes a conventional radiation shielding material, such as lead, steel or other appropriate materials. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, upper portion  206  of container  202  also includes a radiation shielding material. Alternatively, upper portion  206  may be made of a material which does not act as a shield against radiation, such as a light-weight plastic, or other appropriate material. Upper portion  206  may be made from, for example, nucleated polypropylenes, polysulfones, polycarbonates, high temperature acrylics or polyether sulfones. Use of plastic in upper portion  206  further reduces the total weight of the container  202 , with a possible weight reduction 40-45%, versus use of lead. Reduced weight reduces costs for shipping and transporting container  202  and makes it easier to handle. Upper portion  206  and lower portion  204  may be joined by a closure  213  such as a friction fit, a mechanical fastener, threads, a slip-fit, or other similar closing structures and may be taped closed to ensure that the container  202  is not opened during transport.  
     [0040] Lower portion  204  includes recesses  210  to receive magazines  8 . Recesses  210  are preferably cylindrical in shape and more preferably recesses  210  provide a friction fit with at least a portion of a magazine  8  or form fit with the entire magazine  8 . In one embodiment of the invention, it may be desirable to isolate magazines  8  from lower portion  204  through use of a plastic sleeve (not shown) or other appropriate device such as those described in the other embodiments of the present invention. A plastic sleeve may be placed over magazines  8 , or may be placed in recesses  210 .  
     [0041] Upper portion  206  of container  202  includes a plurality of holders  212  formed by projections  214 , each holder  212  designed to receive an end of a magazine  8 . Upper portion  206  and lower portion  204  are manufactured so that holders  212  align with recesses  210  when the container  202  is closed, thereby allowing each magazine  8  to be secured against lateral movement by a combination of the action of holders  212  and recesses  210 . Moreover, projections  214  of upper portion  206  can be fabricated to be closely adjacent to, or in abutment with, upper surfaces  11  of magazine  8  when container  202  is closed to further secure magazines  8  against vertical movement in container  202 . Upper portion  206  may be placed on lower portion  204 , thereby enclosing magazines  8  within container  202 . More specifically, magazines  8  are preferably enclosed within holders  212  and recesses  210  to prevent lateral movement thereof as shown in FIG. 7.  
     [0042] To use the container shown in FIGS.  6 - 7 , magazines  8  are placed into recesses  210  of lower portion  204  of container  202  as shown in FIG. 7. In this position, without upper portion  206  of container  202 , the radiation shielding material which may be contained in lower portion  204  may cooperate with the radiation shielding material  9  of magazines  8  to together contain a substantial portion of the radiation emitted by the radioactive material contained in magazines  8 . In this manner, the potential for exposure to radiation is minimized, even when container  202  is open.  
     [0043] For storage and shipment, upper portion  206  of container  202  is placed atop lower portion  204  shown in FIG. 7 and the closure  213  maintains upper portion  206  in position on lower portion  204 . Upper portion  206  provides vertical and additional lateral stability to magazines  8  by virtue of holders  214  which limit lateral movement of magazines  8  and which are closely adjacent to, or in abutment with, upper surface  11  of magazines  8  to thereby also limit vertical movement thereof. Upper portion  206  may optionally include a radiation shielding material to provide additional shielding against radiation emitted in the vertical direction.  
     [0044] According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, lower portion  204  and upper portion  206  may be placed in a sterilization unit, such as an autoclave or other conventional sterilization means and subsequently sealed in any conventional manner. This allows container  202  to store and transport magazines  8  in a sterilized condition.  
     [0045] These and other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. For example, containers may be altered to accept magazines of various sizes and shapes. The specification and examples should be considered exemplary only. The scope of the invention is only limited by the claims appended hereto.