Systems, methods and apparatus for preparation, delivery and monitoring of radiopharmaceuticals

Abstract

In one aspect, systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which a dispensing station dispenses a large quantity of a radiotracer to one or more positron emission tomography imaging stations. In some aspects a quality control unit verifies the quality of the radiotracer. In some embodiments, components of the system are coupled by a local area network. In some aspects, each positron emission tomography imaging station includes an injector system, a physiological monitoring device, and a positron emission tomography scanner. All of the devices can be controlled by a computer system.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a local area network, operably coupled to at least one positron emission tomography imaging system;   a dispensing station to receive a multidose vial of a radiotracer, and to dispense portions of the radiotracer, at least one positron emission tomography imaging system, the dispensing station being operably coupled to the local area network; and   a control system operably coupled to the local area network, to receive status information from, and send commands to, the at least one positron emission tomography imaging system and the dispensing station.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a quality control unit, to monitor the radionucleic and chemical purity of the radiotracer that is dispensed by the dispensing station, the quality control unit being operably coupled to the local area network, operably coupled to the control system and operably coupled to the dispensing station. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the local area network is further operably coupled to a radioisotope producer and wherein the dispensing station receives the radioisotope from the radioisotope producer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the radioisotope producer further comprises a cyclotron. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the radioisotope producer further comprises a linear accelerator. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the radioisotope producer further comprises a radioisotope generator. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises being mounted on wheels. 
     
     
         8 . A medical radiopharmaceutical administration system comprising:
 a local area network, operably coupled to at least one positron emission tomography imaging system and operably coupled to a radioisotope producer;   a chemical synthesizer operably coupled to the radioisotope producer, to receive the radioisotope, and to produce a radiotracer;   a dispensing station to receive from the chemical synthesizer a liquid radiotracer in quantities suitable for multiple doses of the radiopharmaceutical, and to dispense the radiopharmaceutical to the at least one positron emission tomography imaging system, the dispensing station being operably coupled to the local area network; and   a control system operably coupled to the local area network, to receive status information from, and send commands to, the at least one positron emission tomography imaging system and the dispensing station.   
     
     
         9 . The medical radiopharmaceutical administration system of  claim 8 , further comprising a quality control unit, to monitor the radionucleic and chemical purity of the radiopharmaceutical that is dispensed by the dispensing station, the quality control unit being operably coupled to the local area network, operably coupled to the control system and operably coupled to the dispensing station. 
     
     
         10 . The medical radiopharmaceutical administration system of  claim 8 , wherein the radioisotope producer further comprises a cyclotron. 
     
     
         11 . The medical radiopharmaceutical administration system of  claim 8 , wherein the radioisotope producer further comprises a linear accelerator. 
     
     
         12 . The medical radiopharmaceutical administration system of  claim 8 , wherein the radioisotope producer further comprises a radioisotope generator. 
     
     
         13 . A medical radiopharmaceutical administration system comprising:
 a local area network, operably coupled to at least one positron emission tomography imaging system;   a dispensing station to receive liquid fluorodeoxyglucose in quantities suitable for multiple doses of the liquid fluorodeoxyglucose, and to dispense the fluorodeoxyglucose to the at least one positron emission tomography imaging system, the dispensing station being operably coupled to the local area network; and   a control system operably coupled to the local area network, to receive status information from, and send commands to, the at least one positron emission tomography imaging system, the dispensing station, and the quality control unit.   
     
     
         14 . The medical radiopharmaceutical administration system of  claim 13 , wherein the local area network is further operably coupled to a cyclotron and wherein the dispensing station receives the liquid fluorodeoxyglucose. 
     
     
         15 . The medical radiopharmaceutical administration system of  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises being mounted on wheels. 
     
     
         16 . The medical radiopharmaceutical administration system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one positron emission tomography imaging system further comprises a plurality of positron emission tomography imaging systems, and wherein each of the at least one positron emission tomography imaging system further comprises:
 a computer system having a graphical user interface operably coupled to the local area network;   an injector system to extract at least one individual dose from the liquid fluorodeoxyglucose and to inject the at least one individual dose into the living subject, the injector system being operably coupled to the local area network; and   a physiologic monitoring system operably coupled to the injector system and operably coupled to the living subject.