US-12620505-B2 - Multiple source container

US12620505B2US 12620505 B2US12620505 B2US 12620505B2US-12620505-B2

Abstract

A multiple source container for radioactive material is provided. The multiple source container can include a cap attachable to a housing. The housing can include a plurality of source vials and a plurality of transfer vials. The cap and the housing can each be made from a radiation shielding material such that the source vials and the transfer vials can store radioactive material therein. The multiple source container can further include a plurality of ports, wherein a hole can be provided at a bottom of each of the plurality of source vials and each of the plurality of transfer vials, wherein the hole can each be coupled to one of the plurality of ports respective.

Inventors

Dorian Lust

Assignees

NorthStar Medical Technologies, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230803

Claims (15)

1 . A multiple source container comprising: a cap attachable to a housing; and the housing comprising a plurality of source vials and a plurality of transfer vials, wherein the housing defines a plurality of ports, each of the plurality of source vials and each of the transfer vials is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports, and the housing includes a mount for receiving one or more probes; wherein a hole is provided at a bottom of each of the plurality of source vials and each of the plurality of transfer vials, wherein each hole is coupled to one of the plurality of ports respectively; wherein the housing further comprising a base having a manifold, and wherein the plurality of ports are provided in the manifold; and wherein the manifold further includes the mount for receiving one or more probes.
2 . The multiple source container of claim 1 , wherein the cap and the housing are made from a radiation shielding material.
3 . The multiple source container of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of source vials and the plurality of transfer vials are adapted to store radioactive materials therein.
4 . The multiple source container of claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises an external vent configured to vent from the housing to an external environment when the cap is affixed to the housing.
5 . The multiple source container of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of dividing walls, wherein each of the plurality of dividing walls separates two of the plurality of source vials from one another, two of the plurality of transfer vials from one another, or one of the plurality of source vials from one of the plurality of transfer vials.
6 . The multiple source container of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of dividing walls further comprises a balancing vent.
7 . The multiple source container of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a fluid trap.
8 . The multiple source container of claim 4 , wherein the cap further comprises a vent channel at a bottom surface of the cap, the vent channel is positioned to provide venting to at least one of the plurality of source vials or the plurality of transfer vials.
9 . The multiple source container of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ports is a one-way valve or a two-way valve.
10 . The multiple source container of claim 1 , wherein the cap and the housing are each constructed out of a radiation shielding material.
11 . The multiple source container of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of source vials are each provided along a perimeter of the housing, and wherein the plurality of transfer vials are each provided proximal to a center of the housing.
12 . A multiple source container comprising: a cap attachable to a housing; the housing comprising a plurality of source vials and a plurality of transfer vials; a plurality of ports, wherein a hole is provided at a bottom of each of the plurality of source vials and each of the plurality of transfer vials, wherein the hole is each coupled to one of the plurality of ports respective; and the housing further comprising a base having a manifold, wherein the plurality of ports are provided in the manifold, wherein a bottom of each of the plurality of source vials and each of the plurality of transfer vials are conical in shape.
13 . A method for handling multiple source materials comprising: providing a multiple source container including a housing, and a cap attachable to the housing, the housing including a plurality of source vials and a plurality of transfer vials, a plurality of ports, each of the plurality of source vials and each of the transfer vials being in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports, and a mount for receiving one or more probes; and providing a first fluid in a first source vial that is one of the plurality of source vials; and transferring the fluid from the first source vial to one of a plurality of transfer vials; and transferring the fluid from the one of the plurality of transfer vials back to the first source vial.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising: providing a second fluid in a second source vial that is another one of the plurality of source vials, wherein the first fluid is different from the second fluid.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluid is a radioactive material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/431,413, filed Dec. 9, 2022, entitled, “Multiple Source Container”, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure generally relates to an apparatus for containing source materials in a manufacturing process. More specifically, this disclosure relates to an apparatus that contains multiple radioactive source materials in as small of a footprint as possible. BACKGROUND Manufacturing and productions of radioisotopes such as those used in medical contexts often utilize one or more radioactive source materials. Handling of radioactive source materials typically involves shielding the radioactive source materials from the external environment. Some materials suitable for shielding for radioactive materials can be lead, tungsten, or concrete. Having a shielded container for each radioactive source material can become unwieldy and takes up a substantial amount of space in a manufacturing facility. Thus, there is a need for a device and system capable of holding multiple radioactive source materials of a same or a different type, while minimizing the footprint for such a device. Moreover, vials contain radioactive source materials and can be delivered at different times and the vials can contain different amounts of radioactivity. Thus, there is a need to maintain multiple vials so that each can be tracked separately, rather than mixing them all into a single larger reservoir. BRIEF SUMMARY A first aspect of this disclosure pertains to a multiple source container having a cap attachable to a housing. The housing can include a plurality of source vials and a plurality of transfer vials. A second aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein the cap and the housing are made from a radiation shielding material. A third aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein the plurality of source vials and the plurality of transfer vials are adapted to store radioactive materials therein. A fourth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect further includes a plurality of ports, wherein a hole is provided at a bottom of each of the plurality of source vials and each of the plurality of transfer vials, wherein the hole is each coupled to one of the plurality of ports respective. A fifth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein the cap further includes an external vent configured to vent from the housing to an external environment when the cap is affixed to the housing. A sixth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein the housing includes a plurality of dividing walls, wherein each of the plurality of dividing walls separates two of the plurality of source vials from one another, two of the plurality of transfer vials from one another, or one of the plurality of source vials from one of the plurality of transfer vials. A seventh aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein each of the dividing walls further includes a balancing vent. An eighth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein the housing includes a fluid trap. A ninth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein the cap further includes a vent channel at a bottom surface of the cap, the vent channel is positioned to provide venting to at least one of the plurality of source vials or the plurality of transfer vials. A tenth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the fourth aspect, wherein the housing further includes a base having a manifold, and wherein the plurality of ports are provided in the manifold. An eleventh aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the tenth aspect, wherein the manifold further includes a mount for receiving one or more probes. A twelfth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the fourth aspect, wherein each of the plurality of ports is a one-way valve or a two-way valve. A thirteenth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein the cap and the housing are each constructed out of a radiation shielding material. A fourteenth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, wherein the plurality of source vials are each provided along a perimeter of the housing, and wherein the plurality of transfer vials are each provided proximal to a center of the housing. A fifteenth aspect of this disclosure pertains to the multiple source container of the first aspect, where