Patent ID: 8620679

Claim:
Apparatus for use with a container and a computer-communicatable container data carrier physically coupled to the container, the apparatus comprising: an imaging system which comprises a camera and an imaging control unit; and an automated radiopharmaceutical dispensing system, which comprises: a robot, configured to manipulate the container; a communication element; and a dispensing system control unit, configured to: receive imaging protocol information indicative of steps of an imaging procedure, for use with at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, receive patient information regarding a patient, drive the robot to automatically dispense a dose of the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent to the container, and drive the communication element to transmit to the container data carrier (a) the imaging protocol information indicative of the steps of the imaging procedure, for use by the imaging control unit for driving the camera to perform the steps of the imaging procedure, and (b) at least a portion of the patient information, wherein the imaging system is configured to receive the imaging protocol information from the container data carrier, and wherein the imaging control unit is configured to drive the camera to perform the steps of the imaging procedure responsively to the imaging protocol information received from the container data carrier.