Patent ID: 7040856

Claim:
A method of transporting a spent syringe containing radioactive material from a location of use to a disposal area and, thereafter, safely disposing of the spent syringe, the method utilizing a radiopharmaceutical pig having a lower portion and an upper portion, each portion being made from a radiation-resistant material, and a sharps container including a puncture resistant housing having an inner cavity, which is sized to hold the spent syringe, and a cap configured to fit on top of the housing, the sharps container being generally transparent to radiation emitted by the radioactive material and configured to fit within a radiation-resistant chamber of the radiopharmaceutical pig, the method comprising: transporting the radiopharmaceutical pig containing the sharps container and the spent syringe from the location of use to the disposal area; disassembling the radiopharmaceutical pig by removing the upper portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig from the lower portion of the radiopharmaceutical pig; removing the sharps container containing the spent syringe from the radiopharmaceutical pig; and disposing of the sharps container containing the spent syringe.