Infusion system configurations

Abstract

Infusion system configurations and assemblies facilitate routing of infusion circuit tubing lines. Tubing lines are routed into and out from compartments of a shielding assembly for the infusion system, at locations which prevent kinking and/or crushing of the lines, and/or provide for ease in assembling the circuit. A plurality of the lines may be held together by a support frame to form a disposable infusion circuit subassembly, that can further facilitate routing of the lines.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An infusion system comprising:
 a cabinet structure including a shell defining an interior space thereof;   an eluant source;   a shielding assembly located within the interior space of the cabinet structure, the shielding assembly including a sidewall defining a plurality of compartments and providing a barrier to radioactive radiation for the compartments, the shielding assembly further including a corresponding plurality of doors, each door, when open, providing access to the corresponding compartment via an opening in the sidewall, and, when closed, providing further barrier to radioactive radiation for the corresponding compartment;   a radioisotope generator contained within a first compartment of the plurality of compartments of the shielding assembly;   an eluant line coupled to the eluant source and to the generator, the eluant line extending from the eluant source to the generator, through the shielding assembly, at a first location between the sidewall and a first door of the plurality of doors, which first door corresponds to the first compartment;   an eluate line coupled to the generator and extending out from the first compartment and into a second compartment of the plurality of compartments of the shielding assembly, at a second location between the sidewall and both the first door and a second door of the plurality of doors, which corresponds to the second compartment, the second compartment being located immediately adjacent the first compartment;   a patient line coupled to the eluate line, within the second compartment, the patient line extending out from the second compartment at a third location between the sidewall and the second door, and out from the interior space through an opening in the shell of the cabinet structure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the eluant source comprises a reservoir and a pump;   the reservoir is mounted to the cabinet structure outside the interior space defined by the shell and the pump is mounted within the interior space;   the eluant line includes a first segment coupled to the reservoir and to the pump and a second segment coupled to the pump and to the generator; and   the first segment of the eluant line extends from the reservoir to the pump through another opening in the shell of the cabinet structure.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the openings in the shell of the cabinet structure includes a grommet-type seal surrounding the corresponding line that extends therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bypass flush line coupled to the eluant source and coupled to the patient line, within the second compartment;   wherein the flush line extends from the eluant source to the patient line, through the shielding assembly at a fourth location between the sidewall and the second door.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a filter holder mounted within the interior space of the cabinet structure; and   wherein the eluant line includes a filter, the filter being housed in the holder.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises one or more generators contained in the first compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first compartment has a shape matching an exterior contour of the generator. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the eluate line includes a first segment and a second segment, the patient line being coupled to the second segment; and further comprising an eluate reservoir combined with another pump, the eluant reservoir being coupled to the eluate line in between the first and second segments thereof, and being contained in the second compartment of the shielding assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a waste bottle contained within a third compartment of the plurality of compartments of the shielding assembly; and   a waste line coupled to the eluate line, within the second compartment, and coupled to the waste bottle, within the third compartment;   wherein the waste line extends out from the second compartment at the third location.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the waste line extends into the third compartment at a fourth location, the fourth location being between the sidewall and a third door of the plurality of doors, which corresponds to the third compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the plurality of compartments of the shielding assembly further includes a fourth compartment located immediately adjacent the second compartment and the third compartment;   the waste line extends from the second compartment directly into the fourth compartment at the third location, the third location also being between the sidewall and a fourth door of the plurality of doors, which corresponds to the fourth compartment; and   the waste line extends from the fourth compartment directly into the third compartment at a fourth location, the fourth location being between the sidewall and a third door of the plurality of doors, which corresponds to the third compartment.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a retaining member mounted within the fourth compartment to hold the waste line in place within the fourth compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the patient line extends from the second compartment directly into the fourth compartment at the third location; and   the patient line extends out from the fourth compartment at a fifth location, the fifth location being between the sidewall and the fourth door.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a retaining member mounted within the fourth compartment to hold the waste line and the patient line in place within the fourth compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of compartments of the shielding assembly further includes a third compartment located immediately adjacent the second compartment;   the patient line extends from the second compartment directly into the third compartment at the third location, the third location also being between the sidewall and a third door of the plurality of doors, which corresponds to the third compartment; and   the patient line extends out from the third compartment at a fourth location, the fourth location being between the sidewall and the third door.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a retaining member mounted within the third compartment to hold the patient line in place within the third compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the shell of the cabinet structure includes a grommet-type seal surrounding the patient line extending therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . A shielding assembly for an infusion system, the shielding assembly comprising:
 a sidewall defining a plurality of compartments and providing a radioactive radiation barrier for the compartments;   a first passageway formed in an upper surface of a first portion of the sidewall, the first portion of the sidewall defining a first compartment of the plurality of compartments, the first compartment being sized to contain a radioisotope generator of the infusion system, and the first passageway being sized to accommodate routing of an eluate line from the generator;   a second passageway formed along a second portion of the sidewall, the second portion of the sidewall extending upward relative to the first portion of the sidewall and defining a second compartment of the plurality of compartments, the second compartment being sized to accommodate a waste bottle of the infusion system and the second compartment being located on a side of the second portion of the sidewall that is opposite the second passageway, and the second passageway being sized to accommodate routing of at least one extension of the eluate line from the generator.   
     
     
         19 . The shielding assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the upper surface of the first portion of the sidewall extends about a perimeter of an opening into the first compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The shielding assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the second passageway extends to an upper surface of the second portion of the sidewall, the upper surface of the second portion extending about a perimeter of an opening into the second compartment.