Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for loading, dose calibrating and injecting radioactive materials for use with a multi-dose vial for storing said materials and a syringe for withdrawing said materials from said vial and for injecting said materials into a patient, comprising: (a) syringe shield means for receiving and shielding a syringe contained therein; (b) mouth shield means coupleable to said syringe shield means and configured to at least engage said dosage vial for shielding at least the mouth of said vial during withdrawal of said materials from said vial, said mouth shield means comprising a radiation detector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for loading, dose calibrating and injecting radioactive materials for use with a multi-dose vial for storing said materials and a syringe for withdrawing said materials from said vial and for injecting said materials into a patient, comprising: (a) syringe shield means for receiving and shielding a syringe contained therein; (b) mouth shield means coupleable to said syringe shield means and configured to at least engage said dosage vial for shielding at least the mouth of said vial during withdrawal of said materials from said vial, said mouth shield means comprising a radiation detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said syringe shield means comprises means for transmitting radiation emanating from materials contained within said syringe to said detector at least when said syringe shield means is coupled to said vial shield means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said syringe shield means comprises a substantially tubular body means for receiving at least the barrel portion of said syringe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for transmitting radiation comprises an aperture defined in said tubular body means adjacent to said detector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said mouth shield means further comprises a mouth shield for covering the mouth of said multidose vial.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said mouth shield means further comprises a socket means for slidingly engaging at least a portion of said syringe shield means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said socket means further comprises a substantially tubular portion for slidably receiving at least a portion of said body means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said socket means further comprises means for aligning said aperture adjacent to said detector upon coupling of said syringe shield means to said vial shield means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said syringe shield means further comprises retaining means for retaining said syringe within said syringe shield means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said retaining means comprises a slot defining member located at the remote end of said body means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said tubular portion receives and surrounds surrounds substantially all of said body means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said body means is journalled within said tubular portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said body means further comprises viewing means for permitting visual observation of the contents of said syringe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein at least the interior surface of said body means disposed opposite from said viewing means is a material which optically contrasts with the volumetric markings of said syringe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said aperture is shielded when said syringe shield means is uncoupled from said vial shield means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of loading, calibrating and injecting radioactive materials into a patient using a conventional unshielded syringe, comprising: (a) inserting said syringe into a substantially tubular syringe shield having at least one aperture defined therein adjacent to the portion of said syringe to receive said materials, to thereby providing a shielded syringe assembly; (b) providing a mouth shield comprising at least a radiation detector; (c) providing a multidose vial containing said materials; (d) coupling said mouth shield with said shielded syringe assembly to thereby provide a coupled loading assembly; (e) engaging said multidose via with said loading assembly to draw an aliquot of said materials into said syringe; (f) calibrating the dosage of said materials within said syringe as indicated by said radiation detector; (g) uncoupling said shielded syringe assembly from said mouth shield; (h) injecting said materials into a patient.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of loading, calibrating and injecting radioactive materials into a patient using a conventional unshielded syringe, comprising: (a) inserting said syringe into a substantially tubular syringe shield having at least one aperture defined therein adjacent to the portion of said syringe to receive said materials, to thereby providing a shielded syringe assembly; (b) providing a mouth shield comprising at least a radiation detector; (c) providing a multidose vial containing said materials; (d) coupling said mouth shield with said shielded syringe assembly to thereby provide a coupled loading assembly; (e) engaging said multidose via with said loading assembly to draw an aliquot of said materials into said syringe; (f) calibrating the dosage of said materials within said syringe as indicated by said radiation detector; (g) uncoupling said shielded syringe assembly from said mouth shield; (h) injecting said materials into a patient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said coupling further comprises aligning said aperture adjacent to said detector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of shielding said aperture after performing step (f).