Automated syringes for PET radiopharmaceutical administering
The automatic syringe for administering radiopharmaceutical for PET is a device that provides a safe and automatic method of administering the radioactive solution to a patient. The radiopharmaceutical and saline solution are injected according to the procedure selected on the control computer.
The device reduces direct staff contact with the syringe during administration. Due to the unique mechanism, the doses received at the fingers are reduced to a minimum compared to manual use. In addition, the user can select the speed of administration, which protects the patient from unwanted vascular problems (e.g., extravasation, vein rupture, etc.). The patient, in turn, receives a consistent dose each time. The station works with 2 ml, 3 ml, 5 ml, and 10 ml syringes (90Y Zevalin).
Device design, purpose, and use
Moreover, the primary mission that guided the staff during the device’s design was the radiological protection of medical personnel from unwanted radiation. The semi-automatic and fully automatic syringe mechanisms allow for better results. The dose is injected evenly over the entire set time through computer control. In addition, on the control computer, the user selects the rate or time of administration using dedicated software. After administration, the residual activity is automatically flushed out with saline solution previously prepared in another syringe.
Brief device description and basic specifications
It should be mentioned here that the device consists of the following parts: a base, a slide that holds the syringe with saline solution, and a tee and two arms to press the pistons of the syringes. The user operates the station through special software on a computer or manually by manipulating a knob. Moreover, the tubing containing the saline syringe and the needle tee must be prepared in advance in the slider. With this arrangement, a quick and easy connection of the syringe to the dose is provided by its cone attached to the jaw. In addition, the air is flushed out of the tube through the sidearm. The syringe containing the patient’s dose inside the sheath is located under the vertical arm. Once the dosing syringe is connected to the piston, the operating cycle begins with the computer. The software offers to specify the time of administration from one minute to thirty minutes.
