Patent ID: 7825392

Claim:
A process for cleaning one or more spent radiopharmaceutical reusable pigs held in a transport box, each pig having a syringe or vial containment enclosure, comprising the steps of: removing each pig from the transport box; after removing all pigs from the transport box, scanning the box to detect the presence of radioactivity at a radiation level above background level; upon detecting the presence of transport box radioactivity at said radiation level, storing the radioactive box until the radiation has decayed to background level; disassembling each pig and emptying the contents thereof into a radiation attenuating containment vessel; scanning each disassembled pig externally to detect the presence of radioactivity at a radiation level above background level; upon detecting the presence of radioactive contamination of the pig at said radiation level, storing the radioactive pig until the radiation has decayed to background level; scanning at least the lower portion of the syringe or vial containment enclosure of each pig utilizing a high sensitivity probe adjacent said lower portion to detect the presence of radioactivity emanating from inside the pig at a radiation level above background level; upon detecting the presence of emanating radioactivity at said radiation level, storing the radioactive pig until the radiation has decayed to background level; inspecting the pigs exhibiting radiation at background level for evidence of blood contamination; disinfecting the spent pigs; and washing all the pigs at a temperature of at least 180° Fahrenheit for at least one minute.