US-12620504-B2 - Irradiation vial with breakaway cap

Abstract

A vial for an irradiation target. The vial comprises a body including a cylindrical wall extending along a longitudinal axis, a bottom wall portion at a first end of the body, and an opening at a second end of the body that is opposite the first end. The vial further comprises a cap coupled to the body at the second end, the cap includes an exterior frangible portion and an interior frangible portion.

Inventors

• Matt Critchley

Assignees

• SHINE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230525

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A vial for an irradiation target, the vial comprising: a body including a cylindrical wall extending along a longitudinal axis, a bottom wall portion at a first end of the body, and an opening at a second end of the body that is opposite the first end; and a cap coupled to the body at the second end, the cap includes an exterior frangible portion and an interior frangible portion; and wherein the exterior frangible portion and the interior frangible portion at least partially overlap along the longitudinal axis.
2. 2 . The vial of claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a breakaway portion that intersects the longitudinal axis.
3. 3 . The vial of claim 2 , wherein a burr formed in response to removing the breakaway portion from the cap is positioned radially outward from an inner cylindrical surface of the body.
4. 4 . The vial of claim 1 , wherein the vial is configured to receive an irradiation target within a cavity formed by the body and the cap.
5. 5 . The vial of claim 1 , wherein the exterior frangible portion is a circumferential groove.
6. 6 . The vial of claim 1 , wherein the interior frangible portion is a circumferential groove.
7. 7 . The vial of claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a neck portion, a breakaway portion, and a main portion positioned between the neck portion and the breakaway portion.
8. 8 . The vial of claim 7 , wherein the exterior frangible portion and interior frangible portion are positioned between the main portion and the breakaway portion.
9. 9 . The vial of claim 7 , wherein the cap includes an inner cylindrical cap surface that defines a cap cavity diameter, and wherein the inner cylindrical cap surface extends through the main portion and the neck portion.
10. 10 . The vial of claim 7 , wherein the body includes a circumferential groove that at least partially receives the neck portion of the cap.
11. 11 . The vial of claim 7 , wherein the cap includes a plurality of circumferential ribs formed on the neck portion.
12. 12 . The vial of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical wall of the body includes an inner cylindrical surface that defines a cavity diameter, and wherein the cap includes an inner cylindrical cap surface that defines a cap cavity diameter, wherein the cap cavity diameter is equal to the cavity diameter.
13. 13 . The vial of claim 12 , wherein a cavity is at least partially defined by the inner cylindrical surface of the body and the inner cylindrical cap surface of the cap.
14. 14 . The vial of claim 12 , wherein the cap includes an end surface, wherein the interior frangible portion is positioned between the end surface and the inner cylindrical cap surface.
15. 15 . The vial of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical wall of the body includes an outer cylindrical surface that defines a body diameter, and wherein the cap include an outer cylindrical cap surface that defines a cap diameter, wherein the cap diameter is equal to the body diameter.
16. 16 . The vial of claim 1 , wherein the exterior frangible portion is a circumferential groove; the interior frangible portion is a circumferential groove; wherein the cap includes a neck portion, a breakaway portion, and a main portion positioned between the neck portion and the breakaway portion; and wherein the exterior frangible portion and interior frangible portion are positioned between the main portion and the breakaway portion.
17. 17 . The vial of claim 16 , wherein the breakaway portion intersects the longitudinal axis.
18. 18 . The vial of claim 17 , wherein the cylindrical wall of the body includes an inner cylindrical surface that defines a cavity diameter, and wherein the cap includes an inner cylindrical cap surface that defines a cap cavity diameter, wherein the cap cavity diameter is equal to the cavity diameter; and wherein a cavity is at least partially defined by the inner cylindrical surface of the body and the inner cylindrical cap surface of the cap.
19. 19 . The vial of claim 18 , wherein the cap includes an end surface, wherein the interior frangible portion is positioned between the end surface and the inner cylindrical cap surface.

Description

TECHNOLOGY The present disclosure is generally related to irradiation vials. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to vials for an irradiation target (e.g., ytterbium) for use within a hot cell. BACKGROUND Ytterbium-176 (Yb-176), when irradiated, generates Lutetium-177 (Lu-177). Lu-177 is a radioisotope that is used in the treatment of neuro endocrine tumors, prostate, breast, renal, pancreatic, and other cancers. In the coming years, approximately 70,000 patients per year will need Lu-177 during their medical treatments. Once an irradiation vial (containing Yb-176, for example) has been irradiated, the irradiation vial can only be handled by manipulators within a hot cell (e.g., an appropriately radiation-shielded enclosure). This makes it difficult to manipulate and open the irradiation vial. Accordingly, a need exists for improved irradiation vials. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vial for an irradiation target, the vial comprising: a body including a cylindrical wall extending along a longitudinal axis, a bottom wall portion at a first end of the body, and an opening at a second end of the body that is opposite the first end; and a cap coupled to the body at the second end, the cap includes an exterior frangible portion and an interior frangible portion. A second aspect includes the vial of the first aspect, wherein the cap includes a breakaway portion that intersects the longitudinal axis. A third aspect includes the vial of the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein a burr formed in response to removing the breakaway portion from the cap is positioned radially outward from an inner cylindrical surface of the body. A fourth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the vial is configured to receive an irradiation target within a cavity formed by the body and the cap. A fifth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the exterior frangible portion is a circumferential groove. A sixth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the circumferential groove extends 360 degrees. A seventh aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the interior frangible portion is a circumferential groove. An eight aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the circumferential groove extends 360 degrees. A ninth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the exterior frangible portion and the interior frangible portion at least partially overlap along the longitudinal axis. A tenth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the cap includes a neck portion, a breakaway portion, and a main portion positioned between the neck portion and the breakaway portion. An eleventh aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the exterior frangible portion and interior frangible portion are positioned between the main portion and the breakaway portion. A twelfth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the cap includes an inner cylindrical cap surface that defines a cap cavity diameter, and wherein the inner cylindrical cap surface extends through the main portion and the neck portion. A thirteenth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the body includes a circumferential groove that at least partially receives the neck portion of the cap. A fourteenth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the cap includes a plurality of circumferential ribs formed on the neck portion. A fifteenth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the cylindrical wall of the body includes an inner cylindrical surface that defines a cavity diameter, and wherein the cap includes an inner cylindrical cap surface that defines a cap cavity diameter, wherein the cap cavity diameter is equal to the cavity diameter. A sixteenth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein a cavity is at least partially defined by the inner cylindrical surface of the body and the inner cylindrical cap surface of the cap. A seventeenth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the cap includes an end surface, wherein the interior frangible portion is positioned between the end surface and the inner cylindrical cap surface. A eighteenth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the cylindrical wall of the body includes an outer cylindrical surface that defines a body diameter, and wherein the cap include an outer cylindrical cap surface that defines a cap diameter, wherein the cap diameter is equal to the body diameter. An nineteenth aspect includes the vial of any of the previous aspects, wherein the cap includes a hex surface, and wherein the exterior frangible portion is positioned between the hex surface and the outer cylindrical cap surface. A twentieth aspect includes the vial of any of the previou