The present disclosure relates in general to nuclear medicine and generators for the production of radiopharmaceuticals for medical use. In particular, present disclosure relates to a generator column that resists high heat such as depyrogenation and sterilization. This allows some steps of the preparation of the column to be performed in a non-sterile environment. This also allows the generator column to be reusable. The present disclosure further describes methods for the preparation of a generator where a parent radioisotope is charged on the column matrix before or after the matrix is loaded in the column.

The present disclosure relates in general to nuclear medicine and generators for the production of radiopharmaceuticals for medical use. In particular, present disclosure relates to a generator column that resists high heat such as depyrogenation and sterilization. This allows some steps of the preparation of the column to be performed in a non-sterile environment. This also allows the generator column to be reusable. The present disclosure further describes methods for the preparation of a generator where a parent radioisotope is charged on the column matrix before or after the matrix is loaded in the column.

Infusion system configurations and assemblies facilitate routing of infusion circuit tubing lines. Tubing lines are routed into and out from compartments of a shielding assembly for the infusion system, at locations which prevent kinking and/or crushing of the lines, and/or provide for ease in assembling the circuit. A plurality of the lines may be held together by a support frame to form a disposable infusion circuit subassembly, that can further facilitate routing of the lines.

An infusion system may include a strontium-rubidium radioisotope generator that generates a radioactive eluate via elution, a beta detector, a gamma detector, and a controller. The beta detector and the gamma detector may be positioned to measure beta emissions and gamma emissions, respectively, emitted from the radioactive eluate. In some examples, the controller is configured to determine an activity of rubidium in the radioactive eluate based on the beta emissions measured by the beta detector and determine an activity of strontium in the radioactive eluate based on the gamma emissions measured by the gamma detector.

A radioisotope elution system is provided. The radioisotope elution system may comprise a controller that is configured to calculate the available amount of daughter radioisotope at any time during establishment of the equilibrium for decay of the parent radioisotope into its daughter radioisotope. The radioisotope elution system may comprise a controller that is configured to schedule various patient infusions planned for the next following days and weeks in accordance with the available amount of daughter radioisotope on each day. The elution system may also comprise a controller that is connected to the imaging software of a radioisotope imaging device, where the radioisotope imaging device is arranged for imaging the patient or a region of the patient; and the controller is configured to start an image acquisition at a predetermined time.

A radioisotope elution system is provided. The radioisotope elution system may comprise a controller that is configured to calculate the available amount of daughter radioisotope at any time during establishment of the equilibrium for decay of the parent radioisotope into its daughter radioisotope. The radioisotope elution system may comprise a controller that is configured to schedule various patient infusions planned for the next following days and weeks in accordance with the available amount of daughter radioisotope on each day. The elution system may also comprise a controller that is connected to the imaging software of a radioisotope imaging device, where the radioisotope imaging device is arranged for imaging the patient or a region of the patient; and the controller is configured to start an image acquisition at a predetermined time.

A shielding assembly may be used in a nuclear medicine infusion system that generates and infuse radioactive liquid into a patient undergoing a diagnostic imaging procedure. In some examples, the shielding assembly has multiple compartments each formed of a shielding material providing a barrier to radioactive radiation. For example, the shielding assembly may have a first compartment configured to receive a radioisotope generator that generates a radioactive eluate via elution, a second compartment configured to receive a beta detector, and a third compartment configured to receive a gamma detector. In some examples, the compartments are arranged to minimize background radiation emitted by the radioisotope generator and detected by the gamma detector to enhance the quality of the measurements made by the gamma detector.

A nuclear medicine infusion system (10) may be used to generate and infuse radioactive liquid into a patient undergoing a diagnostic imaging procedure. In some examples, the infusion system includes a frame (30) that carries a radioisotope generator (52) that generates radioactive eluate via elution. The frame may also carry a beta detector (58) and a gamma detector (60). The beta detector can be positioned to measure beta emissions emitted from the radioactive eluate supplied by the generator. The gamma detector can be positioned to measure gamma emissions emitted from a portion of the radioactive eluate to evaluate a safety of the radioactive eluate delivered by the infusion system.

An infusion system may include a strontium-rubidium radioisotope generator that generates a radioactive eluate via elution, a beta detector, a gamma detector, and a controller. The beta detector and the gamma detector may be positioned to measure beta emissions and gamma emissions, respectively, emitted from the radioactive eluate. In some examples, the controller is configured to determine an activity of rubidium in the radioactive eluate based on the beta emissions measured by the beta detector and determine an activity of strontium in the radioactive eluate based on the gamma emissions measured by the gamma detector.

A shielding assembly may be used in a nuclear medicine infusion system that generates and infuse radioactive liquid into a patient undergoing a diagnostic imaging procedure. In some examples, the shielding assembly has multiple compartments each formed of a shielding material providing a barrier to radioactive radiation. For example, the shielding assembly may have a first compartment configured to receive a radioisotope generator that generates a radioactive eluate via elution, a second compartment configured to receive a beta detector, and a third compartment configured to receive a gamma detector. In some examples, the compartments are arranged to minimize background radiation emitted by the radioisotope generator and detected by the gamma detector to enhance the quality of the measurements made by the gamma detector.