Multiple generator elution system

Abstract

A multiple generator elution system for selectively eluting from a plurality of parent-daughter generators according to an elution schedule it calculates taking into account supply data, demand data, and available activity in each of the generators.

1 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators, comprising the steps of:
 inputting the supply data comprising information allowing calculation of the available activity in the generators into an elution system;   inputting demand data into the elution system, said demand data comprising at least an amount of radioactivity of daughter nuclide to be produced and a schedule for the production of the amount of daughter nuclide;   calculating and selecting the optimum elution schedule for each of said plurality of generators based on said demand data, said calculating and selecting step comparing current demand, future demand and the available activity from said plurality of generators both presently and at a subsequent demand point so as to minimize waste of daughter isotope produced by said plurality of generators in meeting the demand data;   eluting the daughter nuclide from selected ones of said plurality of generators according to the optimum elution schedule;   collecting the daughter nuclide from each of said selected ones of said plurality of generators in a concentration column;   eluting the daughter nuclide from said concentration column into a collection container.   
     
     
         35 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 34 , wherein said calculating and selecting step further comprises performing a Generalized Reduced Gradient Algorithm analysis of the demand data and the activity levels of the plurality of generators. 
     
     
         36 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 34 , wherein said calculating and selecting step further comprises running simulations of various elution schedules from the plurality of generators and selecting the elution schedule resulting in the lowest amount of waste of the daughter nuclide upon meeting the demand data. 
     
     
         37 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 34 , wherein said step of inputting demand data further comprises entering the demand data into a receiving unit which provides the demand data to the control system. 
     
     
         38 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 37 , wherein said step of inputting demand data further comprises the step of manually entering the demand data into a receiving unit which provides the demand data to the control system. 
     
     
         39 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 37 , wherein said step of inputting demand data further comprises the step of automatically entering the demand data into a receiving unit electronically. 
     
     
         40 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 39 , wherein said step of automatically entering the demand data into a receiving unit electronically further comprises the step of receiving the demand data from a web-based order processing site. 
     
     
         41 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 37 , wherein said calculating and selecting step is performed by a control system which receives the demand data from the receiving unit. 
     
     
         42 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 34 , wherein said inputting supply data step further comprises the steps of inputting calibration data for each generators, the date and time that each generator is available for use, the time and date of the first elution off set for each generator. 
     
     
         43 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 34 , wherein said calculating and selecting step considers the parent nuclide half-life, the parent nuclide decay equation, the daughter nuclide half-life, the daughter nuclide decay equation, the elution yield efficiency, the fraction of elution available from the parent nuclide decay, the equilibrium equation, and the expiration time for each generator. 
     
     
         44 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 34 , further comprising the steps of:
 displaying the available activity in each of the plurality of generators as calculated for a schedule of times;   displaying the demand data in a table at the schedule of times; and   displaying the selected elution schedule profile from said calculating and selecting step.   
     
     
         45 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 44 , further comprising the steps of:
 manually overriding the selected elution schedule profile;   calculating an override elution schedule profile resulting from said allowing step;   displaying the override elution schedule profile said allowing step; and   allowing an operator to one of confirm the override elution schedule profile and manually overriding the override elution schedule profile.   
     
     
         46 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 45 , wherein said manually overriding steps further comprise the steps of selecting which of the plurality of generators will be eluted at a time of the schedule of times. 
     
     
         47 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 34 , wherein said step of inputting supply data further comprises the step of calculating the in-growth activity levels of the selected ones of the plurality of generators after said eluting step. 
     
     
         48 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 34 , wherein said calculating and selecting step and said eluting step are performed by a control system. 
     
     
         49 . A method of eluting a daughter nuclide from a plurality of parent-daughter generators of  claim 48 , wherein said control system performs each said eluting step according to the selected elution profile without further operator input. 
     
     
         50 .- 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A computer program product for managing the elution from a multiple generator elution system, comprising:
 a computer-usable medium having computer-usable program code that manages a multiple generator elution system, computer program product including: computer-usable program code that receives inputted supply data for a number of parent-daughter generators; computer-usable program code receives demand data for activity from the generators; computer-usable program code that calculates an elution schedule for the generators based on the available activity in the generators and the demand data; and computer program code that directs an actuation system of the elution system to elute from selected ones of the generators according to the elution schedule.   
     
     
         54 . A computer program product of  claim 53 , further comprising computer program code for displaying at least one of the supply data, the demand data, the available activity in the generators, and the elution schedule. 
     
     
         55 . A computer program product of  claim 53 , wherein the computer program code that calculates an elution schedule further comprises computer program code for performing a Generalized Reduced Gradient Algorithm analysis of the demand data and the activity levels of the plurality of generators to determine the optimum elution schedule for minimizing waste. 
     
     
         56 . A computer program product of  claim 53 , wherein the computer program code for calculating an elution schedule further comprises computer program code for running simulations of various elution schedules from the plurality of generators and selecting the elution schedule resulting in the lowest amount of waste of the daughter nuclide upon meeting the demand data. 
     
     
         57 . A computer program product of  claim 53 , further comprising computer program code for allowing an operator to override the calculated elution schedule by inputting new constraints to the computer program product, and computer program code for calculating a new elution schedule based on the new constraints. 
     
     
         58 . A computer program product of  claim 53 , further comprising computer program code for storing the supply data, the demand data, and the elution schedule for future retrieval. 
     
     
         59 . (canceled)