This application claims the benefit of priority to European Application No. 16193281.9, filed Oct. 11, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a device for synthesis of radiopharmaceutical products from radioactive compounds and/or chemical reagents located on cassettes or disposable cassettes.
The present disclosure relates, more specifically and without limitation, to a device for synthesis of radiopharmaceutical products, said device being able to perform multiple runs to produce radiopharmaceutical products, without human intervention.
In diagnostic modalities, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT), and therapeutic applications radiopharmaceutical or radiochemical compounds are generally used, which are labelled by means of radioactive elements, such as 11C, 13N, 15O, 18F, 68Ga, 177Lu, 90Y, 89Zr, 64Cu, 124I, 123I and many others for imaging and therapeutic purposes. The synthesis of these radiopharmaceutical compounds is often performed in apparatuses that enable the different chemical compounds located on a cassette to be brought into contact and heated, when applicable, during synthesis reactions.
During the synthesis process, four major issues may arise. The first issue concerns the handling of the compounds. The compounds comprise radioactive substances, which may be harmful for the humans that handle the synthesis apparatus. To avoid risk associated with the handling of radioactive products, the apparatuses are generally placed in a confined and shielded environment. These apparatuses are usually driven automatically, which may command the various operations enabling the synthesis, including the reaction, mixing, transfer, heating, and purification stages. The automation of these apparatuses generally reduces human error and human exposure to radioactivity.
The second issue concerns the quality and purity of the synthetized compounds. These products are usually injected into human beings for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Therefore, to avoid any contamination issues and/or incorrect dosage of the reaction compounds, cassettes comprising all the reaction compounds in pre-metered bottles are sometimes used. Such cassettes may allow making a single run to produce a radiopharmaceutical compound or substance.
The third issue concerns the half-life of the synthetized products (for example, products containing 18F, 68Ga, etc.). Generally, radiopharmaceutical products have a short half-life and cannot be stored for later use. Therefore, it is often necessary to produce radiopharmaceuticals at regular intervals and to more efficiently use the apparatus during the day. It may be advantageous for syntheses to be performed successively (“back-to-back” runs). However, compact automated synthesizers often have a single interface between the cassette and the synthesizer. Moreover, cassettes are often disposable, allowing a limited number of syntheses runs. Hence, after a limited number of syntheses runs occur, the human operator usually must open the confined and shielded environment, remove the cassettes from the apparatus, and add new cassettes in order to start production again. This may be dangerous, due to the radioactivity surrounding the synthesis apparatus. Moreover, this may lead to possible human errors. Generally, the less the human operators intervene during the synthesis process, the lower the probability of making mistakes and/or introducing contaminations. One current solution uses more than one synthesis machine within the limited shielded environment. However, such a solution is unsatisfactory when the space available is constrained. Another solution is the re-use of disposable cassettes designated for a single-run, typically requiring a washing procedure, which may jeopardize the overall quality of the final product. In addition, due to the particularly short half-life of some of the isotopes incorporated into the radiopharmaceutical compounds, it may be necessary to avoid any loss of time (e.g., time used for the washing procedure) for producing a needed product.
The fourth issue concerns the flexibility of use of the synthesis apparatus. Generally, with a single synthesis apparatus, it is not possible to program and synthetize a range of different radiopharmaceutical compounds without human intervention. For example, when different radiopharmaceutical compounds need to be synthetized, an operator usually must manually add a new and different cassette to the apparatus, after a first run, for the synthesis of a new product.
Extant apparatuses tend to address only a subset of the four issues mentioned above. For example, European patent No. 1343533 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,235,216 generally relate to an apparatus and a cassette creating a reduced risk of contamination or incorrect dosages. The apparatus may comprise a lead chamber to reduce safety risks for the human handling of the synthesis processes. However, when multiple runs must be performed in a short interval, the issues mentioned above are not resolved. For example, the loading of the cassette onto the synthesis apparatus still is performed manually by an operator, exposing the operator to the residual radioactivity when he opens the shielded environment.
To, at least partially, solve the issues mentioned above, embodiments of the present disclosure include a synthesis apparatus that may perform a plurality of synthesis runs in a safe and secured manner, without any human intervention during the plurality of synthesis. Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus for the synthesis of radioactive products, e.g., radiopharmaceutical products, from radioactive elements, which may be used in a safe manner. Once a human has prepared the apparatus for multiple synthesis runs, the apparatus may perform multiple runs successively without the need of human intervention. Embodiments of the present disclosure also include an apparatus which may minimize the risk of contamination of the synthetized products, while assuring the safety of humans handling the synthesis product. While providing multiple consecutive synthesis runs, embodiments of the present disclosure may synthesize different products consecutively with the same apparatus, without human intervention between the consecutive runs. Consecutive runs may thus result in different products, depending on which cassettes have been loaded.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for manufacturing of radiopharmaceutical products from reagents may comprise a synthesis device and a loading device on which chemical systems, e.g., in the form of a plurality of cassettes, may be mounted, with the cassettes having a mechanism for transferring the chemical reagents.
The synthesis device may include an interface and an extractor configured to act on the transfer mechanism of the cassettes when the cassettes are connected to the interface.
The apparatus may further comprise a shifter configured to successively shift the plurality of cassettes from a storage position to a connected position onto the interface, and the synthesis device may further comprise an ejector configured to eject a disposable cassette connected to the interface.
Indeed, with an apparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the four issues mentioned above may be, at least partially, mitigated. The whole apparatus may be placed in a safe and shielded environment, and/or the whole apparatus may be self-shielded to avoid any emission of radioactivity outside of the synthesis apparatus. The plurality of runs may be performed within cassettes that have, for each run, the necessary reagents for the synthesis of the desired radiopharmaceutical compounds. No human intervention is generally necessary in between runs, leading to a safe production of the radioactive compounds and/or no harmful radiation exposure to the operator(s). Another advantage of some embodiments of the present disclosure may be that multiple syntheses of the same radiopharmaceutical compound may be performed, in embodiments when all of the cassettes are of the same kind. In addition, it may also be possible to perform syntheses of a range of different radiopharmaceutical compounds in embodiments when the cassettes are of different kinds. Hence, according to the needs of the patients for the radiopharmaceutical compounds, apparatuses of the present disclosure may allow for the production of various compounds in correlation with these needs. For example, if a number of patients need to receive the same radiopharmaceutical compound, a sufficient quantity may be produced without human intervention once the apparatus is loaded with the cassettes. On the other hand, when a number of patients need to receive different radiopharmaceutical compounds, a variety of these compounds may be produced without human intervention. It may therefore be possible to produce the same and/or different radioactive compounds without human intervention. With apparatuses of the present disclosure, the loading of each new cassette onto the synthesis apparatus between synthesis runs is generally automatic.
In some embodiments, the apparatus according to the present disclosure may have a shifter including a transfer device configured to successively transfer the cassettes from the storage position to a loading position located near the interface, and the apparatus may comprise a connector configured to securely connect the cassettes to the interface.
In such embodiments, the connection of each cassette to the interface located on the synthesis device may be secured, leading to a more reliable apparatus and/or avoiding any misconnection between the cassette and the interface.
In some embodiments, the apparatus according to the present disclosure may comprise a shifter configured to dispose a positioning wedge on the connector when the shifter shifts a cassette from the storage position to the loading position.
In such embodiments, the interaction between the shifter and the connector may ensure an even more reliable positioning and connection of the cassette.
These and further aspects of the present disclosure will be explained in greater detail by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The drawings of the figures are neither drawn to scale nor proportioned. Generally, similar or identical components are denoted by the same reference numbers in the figures.
As illustrated in
A cassette (30), also known as module, is a removable cassette generally known by those of ordinary skill in the art, which may be reusable, washable, and/or disposable after a single or several synthesis runs. In one embodiment, the cassette may be a disposable cassette, such as a single use disposable cassette. The cassette may be in the shape of a support and may contain chemical reagents, one or several reaction compartments, and/or a transfer mechanism between the chemical reagents and the reaction compartments. Such a cassette is generally discussed, for example, in European patent No. 1343533.
The cassette (30), on which transfer, reaction and purification functions may be performed and on which the chemical reagents and reaction compartments may be arranged, may be intended for association with the synthesis device (10) on the interface (11).
The interface (11) may be a fixed module located on the synthesis device (10), and a plurality of mechanical devices may be arranged thereon. The mechanical devices may be configured to cooperate with the transfer mechanism present on the disposable cassette (30) to allow the transfer of the reagents to the various reaction compartments. The various operations for synthesis of pharmaceutical products, including the actuation of these mechanical devices, may be commanded via automation. In other words, the apparatus (1), and more specifically the synthesis device (10), may be linked to a computer which may command the various operations enabling the performance of the synthesis, such as reaction and heating stages, and/or transfers of the reagents. This is generally discussed in European patent No. 1343533.
As illustrated in
A plurality of cassettes (30) may be mounted on the loading device (20). As illustrated in
The plurality of cassettes do not need to be identical regarding their chemical reagents content and/or their reaction compartments. The external edge of the plurality of cassettes (30) may have the same shape to cooperate with the loading device (20), but the content of the reagents may be different, for example, in embodiments when a diversity of radiopharmaceutical compounds have to be produced. In other embodiments, the plurality of cassettes (30) may be identical regarding their content, for example, in embodiments when a single radiopharmaceutical compound has to be produced by the synthesis device (10).
When a person is preparing the apparatus according to the present disclosure for multiple runs to synthesize different products, he may place/put each cassette on the loading device, in the order intended for synthesis of the various radiopharmaceutical products. Once the cassettes are placed on the loading device (20), no direct human intervention may be needed for the loading, shifting, connection and/or ejection of each cassette. When a cassette is placed on the loading device (20), the cassette may be defined as being on its stacking or storage position. This is illustrated in the example of
The apparatus (1) may comprise a shifter configured to successively shift the plurality of cassettes (30) from a storage position to a connected position onto the interface (11). As used herein, shifting refers to the movement of each cassette from a position where the cassette is placed on the loading device (20) in its storage position to the position where the cassette is functionally connected to the synthesis device (10) by way of the interface (11) (i.e., the connected position). The functional connection between the synthesis device (10) and a cassette is illustrated in the example
A variety of shifters (32) may be implemented in apparatuses consistent with the present disclosure. For example, the shifter may be a piston or a hydraulic cylinder controlled by automation. When the piston or hydraulic cylinder is activated, it may shift the cassette from its storage position to the connected position. The shifting movement may be any kind of movement, like a rotation of the cassettes, a translation of the cassettes, a plurality of translations of the cassettes, or a combination between rotation and translation.
The shifter may be present on the synthesis device (10) and/or on the loading device (20). In one embodiment, the shifter may be fully located on the loading device (20) as illustrated, for example, in
When the cassette is in its connected position, as illustrated in the example of
When the synthesis is over, the cassette connected to the interface (11) may be ejected. To this end, the synthesis device (10) may comprise an ejector configured to eject the cassette connected to the interface (11). This is illustrated in the example of
Once the cassette used for a synthesis run is ejected from the interface (11), another cassette located on the loading device (20) in its storage position may be shifted from this position to the connected position of the interface (11).
Accordingly, as long as a cassette is present on the loading device (20), a new synthesis run may be performed after the ejection of the previous cassette, without any human intervention.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shifter (32) may comprise a transfer device (320) and a connector (321). In this embodiment, the shifting of the cassette from its storage position to the connected position may comprise two movements. The first movement may be the movement of the cassette from its storage position, illustrated in the example of
The connector may, for example, be a piston or a hydraulic cylinder that translates the cassette from the loading position to the connected position, as illustrated in the example of
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector may be located on the synthesis device (20), e.g., near the interface (11). In one embodiment, the ejector and the connector may be configured to eject a cassette when it is connected to the interface (11) and may be configured to securely connect the cassette when it is in the loading position. The connector may be a piston or a hydraulic cylinder. In one embodiment, the connector may be a double acting hydraulic cylinder.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shifter (32) may also comprise a placement mechanism (322). This is, for example, illustrated in the example of
The placement mechanism (322) that allows the movement of the cassette from a storage position to a stacking position may, for example, be a piston or hydraulic cylinder linked to the rack or to each cassette, for example, with a pusher like a mechanical finger or a grasper like a jaw. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the placement mechanism (322) may be configured to linearly move the cassettes from their stacking position to the storage position. As an example, the loading device (20) may comprise a rail on which the cassettes are placed in their storage position. The rail may be gradually moved through the stacking position by the placement mechanism, pushing the disposable cassettes from their stacking position to the storage position.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shifter may be configured to linearly shift the cassette from its storage position to its connected position. Alternatively, in embodiments when the shifter comprises a connector, the shifter may be configured to linearly shift the cassette from its storage position to the loading position, and the connector may be configured to linearly move the cassette from the loading position to the connected position. These linear movements may be simple movements, which do not require a complex arrangement between the various mechanisms and/or devices that are able to move the cassette from one place to another. It may ensure a more robust device, and may allow better movement accuracy. As an example, the shifter, and the connector, if present, may both be a piston or a hydraulic cylinder, e.g., actuated by automation with a computer.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shifter (32) may be further configured to place a positioning wedge (15) on the connector when the shifter (32) is shifting a cassette from its storage position to the loading position. The wedge may allow for finely positioning at least a part of the connector (321) that will be in interaction with the cassette. The interaction between the cassette and the connector (321) may therefore be more secured and/or easier. It may ensure that the connection movement operated by the connector is precise and accurate, allowing a better interaction between the cassette and the interface (11) after the connection movement. This embodiment is, for example, illustrated in
In one embodiment, the connector may further comprise an interacting mechanism configured to interact with the positioning mechanism located on the cassette. This interacting mechanism may allow for an improved interaction between the cassettes and the connector (321), improving further the accuracy of the movement of the cassette from the loading position to the connected position. A positioning mechanism may be, for example, a groove configured to interact with a rod located on the disposable cassette. Alternatively, a groove may be located on the cassette, and the positioning mechanism may be a rod. Similar mechanisms may also be implemented by one of ordinary skill in the art.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the various mechanisms and/or devices for moving the cassette from any position to another position may be actuated by automation with a computer. In other words, the various moving mechanisms and/or devices may be linked to a computer, the computer configured to command the operations enabling the movements of the plurality of cassettes. This may allow an automatic actuation of the different mechanisms and/or devices to ensure a correct sequence of actuation of each mechanism and/or device to move, successively, each cassette located on the loading device to the interface, and eject it after each synthesis run. The computer may comprise one or more dedicated software programs to execute these actuation sequences.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the apparatus may further comprise a plurality of cassettes. Each cassette may comprise at least one shoulder configured to fit into grooves located on the loading device (20), the placement mechanism (322) being configured to translate at least one cassette through the grooves. This may ensure a correct movement of the cassette from a stacking position to the storage position or to another stacking position.
The cassette may further comprise dedicated portions configured to interact selectively or universally with the various moving mechanisms and/or devices (e.g., the shifter, the connector, the placement mechanism, the ejector, or the like). As used herein, selectively interacting indicates that a plurality of different portions, each configured to cooperate with only a single moving mechanism or device, are located on the cassette. As used herein, universally interacting indicates that a single portion located on the cassette is configured to cooperate with all the moving mechanisms and/or devices. As an example, the moving mechanism may comprise grooves, and the cassette may comprise a rod. The various moving mechanisms and/or devices may all be configured to translate the cassette through the groove for moving it from one location to another location via its interaction with the rod located on the cassette. Other mechanisms and/or device may also be implemented by one of ordinary skill, like a plurality of graspers.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shifter (32) may further comprise a pusher like a mechanical finger or a grasper like a jaw, a hook and/or a seizer configured to grasp, hook and/or seize a disposable cassette. These mechanisms may be configured to drag or push the cassette through the connected position or the loading position when the shifter is actuated. This may allow an easier movement of the cassette. For example, when the loading device (20) is located on the top of the synthesis device, the grasper may help to properly move the disposable cassette by transmitting a moving force to the disposable cassette. In one embodiment, these mechanisms may be a pusher, like a finger, that pushes downward the disposable cassette through its connection position.
Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in terms of specific embodiments, which are illustrative only and not to be construed as limiting. More generally, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited by what has been particularly shown and/or described herein.
Reference numerals in the claims do not limit their protective scope.
Use of the verbs “to comprise,” “to include,” “to be composed of” or any other variant, as well as their respective conjugations, does not exclude the presence of elements other than those stated.
Use of the article “a,” “an” or “the” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.
One embodiments of the present disclosure may also be described as follows:
A synthesis module for the synthesis of chemical compounds, e.g., radiopharmaceutical compounds, said synthesis module comprising a loading module configured to receive a plurality of chemical cassettes having reagents and a transfer mechanism, the loading module comprising a transfer device configured to move the cassettes from a location on the loading module to a location connected to the synthesis module, where an extractor disposed and configured to interact with the transfer mechanism located on the cassette or on the synthesis device.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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16193281.9 | Oct 2016 | EP | regional |