CA1055799A - Radiation safety shield syringe - Google Patents
Radiation safety shield syringeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1055799A CA1055799A CA260,240A CA260240A CA1055799A CA 1055799 A CA1055799 A CA 1055799A CA 260240 A CA260240 A CA 260240A CA 1055799 A CA1055799 A CA 1055799A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- shield
- syringe
- sheath
- radioactive
- serum
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A safety apparatus for use in administering radioactive serums by a syringe, without endangering the health and safety of the medical operators, consists of a sheath and a shield which can be retracted into the sheath to assay the radioactive serum in an assay well. The shield can be moved from the retracted position into an extended position when the serum is to be injected into the patient. To protect the operator, the shield can be constructed of tantalum or any like high density substance to attenuate the radiation, emanating from the radioactive serums contained in the syringe, from passing to the atmos-phere. A lead glass window is provided so that the opera-tor can determine the exact quantity of the radioactive serum which is contained in the syringe.
A safety apparatus for use in administering radioactive serums by a syringe, without endangering the health and safety of the medical operators, consists of a sheath and a shield which can be retracted into the sheath to assay the radioactive serum in an assay well. The shield can be moved from the retracted position into an extended position when the serum is to be injected into the patient. To protect the operator, the shield can be constructed of tantalum or any like high density substance to attenuate the radiation, emanating from the radioactive serums contained in the syringe, from passing to the atmos-phere. A lead glass window is provided so that the opera-tor can determine the exact quantity of the radioactive serum which is contained in the syringe.
Description
~55~7~3~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to syringes and has par-ticular utility in protecting an operator from undue ex-posure to repeated doses of radiation emanating from a radioactive serum containecl in the syringe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, medical researchers have made substantial break-throughs in combating and treating a number of serious disorders. Many of these advances have come in the field of chemotherapy whereby chemicals are administered to a patient to treat or diagnose a disease without having an unduly adverse effect on the patient.
This technique is used in the field of cancer therapy whereby different chemicals are introduced into the body of the patient in order to inhibit the spread of the dis-ease or to detect a diseased area. Many of these chemical agents contain highly radioactive isotopes or serums and while the dosages applied are themselves not lethal, con-stant and repeated contacts with the serums over an ex-tended period of time can create very harmful effects onthe medical technicians and operators who administer them.
While several radiation safety shields are in use at the present time, none of these shields adequately protects the technician and at tha same time allows him to precisely assay the amount of radioactive material that is injected into the patient. A lead shield under the ~, ..... .
U.S. trademark of Gamma Vur, which only affords limited protection to the operator, is presently in routine use.
After a syringe is placed in the shield of this device ; 30 and the serum withdrawn, the syringe must be removed to
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to syringes and has par-ticular utility in protecting an operator from undue ex-posure to repeated doses of radiation emanating from a radioactive serum containecl in the syringe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, medical researchers have made substantial break-throughs in combating and treating a number of serious disorders. Many of these advances have come in the field of chemotherapy whereby chemicals are administered to a patient to treat or diagnose a disease without having an unduly adverse effect on the patient.
This technique is used in the field of cancer therapy whereby different chemicals are introduced into the body of the patient in order to inhibit the spread of the dis-ease or to detect a diseased area. Many of these chemical agents contain highly radioactive isotopes or serums and while the dosages applied are themselves not lethal, con-stant and repeated contacts with the serums over an ex-tended period of time can create very harmful effects onthe medical technicians and operators who administer them.
While several radiation safety shields are in use at the present time, none of these shields adequately protects the technician and at tha same time allows him to precisely assay the amount of radioactive material that is injected into the patient. A lead shield under the ~, ..... .
U.S. trademark of Gamma Vur, which only affords limited protection to the operator, is presently in routine use.
After a syringe is placed in the shield of this device ; 30 and the serum withdrawn, the syringe must be removed to
- 2 -assay the serum. This exposes the clinical personnel to unnecessary and harmful radiation. Also, due to its bulk, the device makes an injection quite difficult to administer.
United States Patent No. 3,820,541 to Langan relates to a shield for a hypodermic syringe adapted to surround the barrel of the syringe to protect the user agains~ radiation emanating from radioactive fluids con-t`ained therein~ This shield is lead lined, and is provided with a bayonet-fitting element engaging the manually held end of the syringe. A coil spring cooperates with the bayonet-fitting element to prevent wobbling between the barrel of the syringe and the barrel of the shield. The barrel of the shield is so configured that a small end of the barrel of the sytinge is uncovered to permit visual inspection of ~low, to and from the syringe. However, as can easily be seen, this shield can neither be retracted to allow an assay of the serum in a satisfactoxy manner, nor does the device contain a means to ensure that a pro-per dosage is introduced into the syringe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is,accordingly, an object of the present in-vention to provide a radiation safety shield for a syringe which can safely, easily and conveniently be used by medi-cal technicians.
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a radiation safety shield which can be retracted when the syringe is lowered into an assay well, and then can be returned to its briginal position when the syringe is removed from the well.
~ 3 --In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a radiation safety shield which can be ~sed in conjunction with a standard syringe.
It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a radiation safety shield which contains a lead glass window to ensure that a proper dosage is introduced into the syringe.
; In yet another embodiment of the present invention,there is supplied a radiation safety shield which contains 10 a locking mechanism locking the shield in a retracted posi-tion when the radioactive substance is assayedO
' These and other objects o the invention are ful-f filled by using with a syringe a removably cooperating re-tractable shield which eliminates any unnecessary exposure to the radioactive substance contained in the syringe.
With the shield in place, a high density metal such as tan-talum attenuates the radiation to a safe level. When the opf~rator wishes to assay the radioactive material contained in the syringe, he merely retracts the shield as the filled 20 syringe is lowered into the assay well. After the comple-tion of the assay, the shield is moved over the exposed part of the syringe to prevent radiation leakage and there-by render any radiation levels safe to the operator. In-jection of the radioactive substance is now possible and easily accomplished because the shield configuration ; closely resembles that of the syringe. A locking mechanism is included in the shield for holding the syringe in place.
The shield also contains a lead glass window to ensure that a proper dosage is withdrawn into the syringe.
-:1~5~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D~AWING
The above and additional objects and advantagesof the present invention will become more apparent by reference to the description of an illustrated embodiment in a drawing thereof in which:
Figure 1 is a sidP view of the radiation retrac~
tion shield and a syringe inserted therein;
Figure 2 is a side view cross-section of the radiation safety shield; and - Figure 3 is a view of the slide button of the radiation safety shield.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 shows a radiation safety shield assembly 10 which is in its unretracted position and which contains a standard syringe 12 containing a needle 34 and embossed with calibrations 54 to indicate the quantity of dosage contained therein. Any conventional plastic type syringe may be used with the safety shield assembly 10, it being appreciated that the dimensions of each separate shield assembly can be changed according to the dimensions of the particular syringe which is utili2ed.
The assembly contains a substantially retractable shield 14 which is machined from a high density metal such as tantalum or lead capable of attenuating significant amounts of radiation and which is movable withln a sub-stantially cylindrical sheath 16. The shield 14 is the main protective entity in this device and therefoxe must ~ -~
be made of a very high density material so as to protect the users from any radioactive substances contained in the syringe 12.
5_ :. - . . . . .
~L~35~t7~9 Inorder to enable the ~perator to precisely know the exact dosage which i5 contained within the syringe 12, a lead glass window 26 is provided on the shield 14. This window 26 can be affixed to the shield 14 in any conven-tional manner such as by epoxy resin or other suitable adhesive material. ~he sheath 16 has an aperture 28 con-tained on its surface but since the function of this sheath is not to protect the user from the harmful effects of radiation, the aperture can be left completely open.
It should be noted that the upper portion of the shield assembly tthe sheath 16) need not be constructed of any lightweight conventional material (e.g., plastic or metal) since, in operation, the syringe is filled to a level not greater than the limits of the shield 14. For example, in the assembly as depicted in Fig. 1, the syringe 12 is shown to contain only a 1/2 cc dosage of radioactive serum 30. Thus, to ensure the safety of the medical technicians, the syringe should not be filled beyond the limits of the shield 14. The serums which are used in con-junction with the safety shield assembly do not radiate outwardly in a manner such that radiation rays would "turn the corner" beyond the shield end 56. For example, a l cc dosage of Technetium-99M, which can expose the operator to radiation levels as high as 800 mr/min during awway, was :Eound to be attenuated down to an acceptable level of 3.0 mr/min utilizing the present device.
To ensure that the syringe 12 is kept in place, the sheath 16 contains two locking mechanisms l9 each of which is composed of a slide button 18 and a washer-like bushing 20. The slide button 18 can be composed of any material similar to that of the sheath 16 and the bushing , 5~ 9 20 can be composed of a solid slippery material, e.g. acetal resin such as Delrin. Each slide button 18 (see Fig. 3) contains a male plug 22 which is retained within an opening 24 in the shield 14, The bushing 20 has a central hole through which the plug 22 extends to mate the bushing 20 with the slide button 18, and the locking mechanism 19 is then press-fitted into the shield 14 by the interconnection of the plug 22 in the hole 24. The sheath 16 is provided with two oppositely spaced elongated slots or r~mways 36, each associated with one of the locking mechanisms 19, in each case the sheath 16 being interposed between the bushing 20 and the shield 14 with the plug passing freely throuyh the runway 36. This configuration allows for the smooth retraction or telescoping of the shield 14 within the sheath 16 as well as holding the shield 14 in any position.
The end of the sheath 16 furthermost from the syringe needle 34 has also been designed to hold the syringe 12 firmly in place. An annular flange 46 which circles the entire circumference of the sheath end is provided to interact with two sheath appendages 44 which are separated from the annular flange 46 by an annular groove 42. This groove is adapted to receive a syringe flange 40 contained on the distal end 38 of the syringe 12.
To ensure that the shield 14 remains in a retract-ed position when the serum is assayed, a compression spring housing 48 is drilled or otherwise provided in the shield 14 so as to receive the device is then ready for patient injection. As previously stated, any conventional syringe may be utilized in conjunction with the shield assembly.
~5~7~9 This syringe contains a colorless hub 32 which helps the technician in determining whether any of the radioactive substance was being withdrawn or injected into the patient.
While this device has been described with parti-cular reference to the serum Technetium-99M, it should not be construed to be so limited and may be utilized with many other radioactive serums. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without ; departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be construed as limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.
United States Patent No. 3,820,541 to Langan relates to a shield for a hypodermic syringe adapted to surround the barrel of the syringe to protect the user agains~ radiation emanating from radioactive fluids con-t`ained therein~ This shield is lead lined, and is provided with a bayonet-fitting element engaging the manually held end of the syringe. A coil spring cooperates with the bayonet-fitting element to prevent wobbling between the barrel of the syringe and the barrel of the shield. The barrel of the shield is so configured that a small end of the barrel of the sytinge is uncovered to permit visual inspection of ~low, to and from the syringe. However, as can easily be seen, this shield can neither be retracted to allow an assay of the serum in a satisfactoxy manner, nor does the device contain a means to ensure that a pro-per dosage is introduced into the syringe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is,accordingly, an object of the present in-vention to provide a radiation safety shield for a syringe which can safely, easily and conveniently be used by medi-cal technicians.
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a radiation safety shield which can be retracted when the syringe is lowered into an assay well, and then can be returned to its briginal position when the syringe is removed from the well.
~ 3 --In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a radiation safety shield which can be ~sed in conjunction with a standard syringe.
It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a radiation safety shield which contains a lead glass window to ensure that a proper dosage is introduced into the syringe.
; In yet another embodiment of the present invention,there is supplied a radiation safety shield which contains 10 a locking mechanism locking the shield in a retracted posi-tion when the radioactive substance is assayedO
' These and other objects o the invention are ful-f filled by using with a syringe a removably cooperating re-tractable shield which eliminates any unnecessary exposure to the radioactive substance contained in the syringe.
With the shield in place, a high density metal such as tan-talum attenuates the radiation to a safe level. When the opf~rator wishes to assay the radioactive material contained in the syringe, he merely retracts the shield as the filled 20 syringe is lowered into the assay well. After the comple-tion of the assay, the shield is moved over the exposed part of the syringe to prevent radiation leakage and there-by render any radiation levels safe to the operator. In-jection of the radioactive substance is now possible and easily accomplished because the shield configuration ; closely resembles that of the syringe. A locking mechanism is included in the shield for holding the syringe in place.
The shield also contains a lead glass window to ensure that a proper dosage is withdrawn into the syringe.
-:1~5~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D~AWING
The above and additional objects and advantagesof the present invention will become more apparent by reference to the description of an illustrated embodiment in a drawing thereof in which:
Figure 1 is a sidP view of the radiation retrac~
tion shield and a syringe inserted therein;
Figure 2 is a side view cross-section of the radiation safety shield; and - Figure 3 is a view of the slide button of the radiation safety shield.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 shows a radiation safety shield assembly 10 which is in its unretracted position and which contains a standard syringe 12 containing a needle 34 and embossed with calibrations 54 to indicate the quantity of dosage contained therein. Any conventional plastic type syringe may be used with the safety shield assembly 10, it being appreciated that the dimensions of each separate shield assembly can be changed according to the dimensions of the particular syringe which is utili2ed.
The assembly contains a substantially retractable shield 14 which is machined from a high density metal such as tantalum or lead capable of attenuating significant amounts of radiation and which is movable withln a sub-stantially cylindrical sheath 16. The shield 14 is the main protective entity in this device and therefoxe must ~ -~
be made of a very high density material so as to protect the users from any radioactive substances contained in the syringe 12.
5_ :. - . . . . .
~L~35~t7~9 Inorder to enable the ~perator to precisely know the exact dosage which i5 contained within the syringe 12, a lead glass window 26 is provided on the shield 14. This window 26 can be affixed to the shield 14 in any conven-tional manner such as by epoxy resin or other suitable adhesive material. ~he sheath 16 has an aperture 28 con-tained on its surface but since the function of this sheath is not to protect the user from the harmful effects of radiation, the aperture can be left completely open.
It should be noted that the upper portion of the shield assembly tthe sheath 16) need not be constructed of any lightweight conventional material (e.g., plastic or metal) since, in operation, the syringe is filled to a level not greater than the limits of the shield 14. For example, in the assembly as depicted in Fig. 1, the syringe 12 is shown to contain only a 1/2 cc dosage of radioactive serum 30. Thus, to ensure the safety of the medical technicians, the syringe should not be filled beyond the limits of the shield 14. The serums which are used in con-junction with the safety shield assembly do not radiate outwardly in a manner such that radiation rays would "turn the corner" beyond the shield end 56. For example, a l cc dosage of Technetium-99M, which can expose the operator to radiation levels as high as 800 mr/min during awway, was :Eound to be attenuated down to an acceptable level of 3.0 mr/min utilizing the present device.
To ensure that the syringe 12 is kept in place, the sheath 16 contains two locking mechanisms l9 each of which is composed of a slide button 18 and a washer-like bushing 20. The slide button 18 can be composed of any material similar to that of the sheath 16 and the bushing , 5~ 9 20 can be composed of a solid slippery material, e.g. acetal resin such as Delrin. Each slide button 18 (see Fig. 3) contains a male plug 22 which is retained within an opening 24 in the shield 14, The bushing 20 has a central hole through which the plug 22 extends to mate the bushing 20 with the slide button 18, and the locking mechanism 19 is then press-fitted into the shield 14 by the interconnection of the plug 22 in the hole 24. The sheath 16 is provided with two oppositely spaced elongated slots or r~mways 36, each associated with one of the locking mechanisms 19, in each case the sheath 16 being interposed between the bushing 20 and the shield 14 with the plug passing freely throuyh the runway 36. This configuration allows for the smooth retraction or telescoping of the shield 14 within the sheath 16 as well as holding the shield 14 in any position.
The end of the sheath 16 furthermost from the syringe needle 34 has also been designed to hold the syringe 12 firmly in place. An annular flange 46 which circles the entire circumference of the sheath end is provided to interact with two sheath appendages 44 which are separated from the annular flange 46 by an annular groove 42. This groove is adapted to receive a syringe flange 40 contained on the distal end 38 of the syringe 12.
To ensure that the shield 14 remains in a retract-ed position when the serum is assayed, a compression spring housing 48 is drilled or otherwise provided in the shield 14 so as to receive the device is then ready for patient injection. As previously stated, any conventional syringe may be utilized in conjunction with the shield assembly.
~5~7~9 This syringe contains a colorless hub 32 which helps the technician in determining whether any of the radioactive substance was being withdrawn or injected into the patient.
While this device has been described with parti-cular reference to the serum Technetium-99M, it should not be construed to be so limited and may be utilized with many other radioactive serums. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without ; departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be construed as limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.
Claims (7)
1. A radiation safety apparatus for use with a syringe comprising:
a cylindrical sheath for encircling the distal end of a syringe; and a retractable cylindrical shield for encircling the proximal end of a syringe and constructed of a radiation attenuating material, said shield being coaxial with and being slidably connected to said sheath to allow said shield to be retracted into said sheath;
wherein when a radioactive serum is drawn into the syringe, the radioactive rays are shielded by said shield and do not pass through the atmosphere, but said shield can be retracted within said sheath to allow for assaying the radioactive substance.
a cylindrical sheath for encircling the distal end of a syringe; and a retractable cylindrical shield for encircling the proximal end of a syringe and constructed of a radiation attenuating material, said shield being coaxial with and being slidably connected to said sheath to allow said shield to be retracted into said sheath;
wherein when a radioactive serum is drawn into the syringe, the radioactive rays are shielded by said shield and do not pass through the atmosphere, but said shield can be retracted within said sheath to allow for assaying the radioactive substance.
2. A radiation safety apparatus according to claim 1, further including a locking means for locking said shield in a retracted position when the radioactive substance is assayed.
3. A radiation safety shield according to claim 2, wherein said locking mechanism includes a ball and compression spring.
4. A radiation safety shield according to claim 2, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a pair of guideways in said sheath, a pair of plugs extending from said shield each passing through one of said guideways, and a slidable member mounted on each plug in slidable relation with the outer surface of said sheath.
5. A radiation safety apparatus according to claim 1, further including a lead glass window in said shield in order to be able to ascertain the amount of radioactive substance contained in the syringe.
6. A radiation safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shield is constructed of tentalum or lead.
7. A method for assaying radioactive serums in a syringe before injecting serum into a patient comprising the steps of:
inserting a syringe in a radiation safety appa-ratus having a shield and sheath;
drawing the serum into the syringe;
lowering said syringe into an assay well;
retracting said shield into said sheath;
assaying said serum in the assay well; and injecting said serum into the patient.
inserting a syringe in a radiation safety appa-ratus having a shield and sheath;
drawing the serum into the syringe;
lowering said syringe into an assay well;
retracting said shield into said sheath;
assaying said serum in the assay well; and injecting said serum into the patient.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA260,240A CA1055799A (en) | 1976-08-31 | 1976-08-31 | Radiation safety shield syringe |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA260,240A CA1055799A (en) | 1976-08-31 | 1976-08-31 | Radiation safety shield syringe |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1055799A true CA1055799A (en) | 1979-06-05 |
Family
ID=4106751
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA260,240A Expired CA1055799A (en) | 1976-08-31 | 1976-08-31 | Radiation safety shield syringe |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1055799A (en) |
-
1976
- 1976-08-31 CA CA260,240A patent/CA1055799A/en not_active Expired
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