Delivery methods, systems and components for use with hazardous pharmaceutical substances

1. A method of injecting a hazardous pharmaceutical, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a source of flushing fluid to a first port of a fluid delivery set;

(b) connecting a pressurizing unit of a powered injector system to a second port of the fluid delivery set, the powered injector system including a powered injector and the pressurizing unit;

(c) purging air from the fluid delivery set;

(d) after purging air from the fluid delivery set, connecting a third port of the fluid delivery set to a source of the hazardous pharmaceutical; and

(e) injecting the hazardous pharmaceutical into a patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid delivery set includes a valve system to control flow of fluid through the fluid delivery set.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein further including the steps of removably connecting a disposable fluid path adapted to connect to a patient to the fluid delivery set and purging air from the disposable fluid path before connecting the fluid delivery set to the source of hazardous pharmaceutical.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the pressurizing unit is a syringe in operative connection with the powered injector, the method further including the steps of drawing hazardous pharmaceutical into the syringe and injecting the hazardous pharmaceutical through the fluid delivery set and the disposable fluid path.

5. The method of claim 4 further including the step of flushing the fluid delivery set and the disposable fluid path after injection using the flushing fluid.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the hazardous pharmaceutical is a radiopharmaceutical, the method further including the step of measuring the level of radioactivity of the radiopharmaceutical dispensed.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the level of radioactivity is measured by positioning a radioactivity detector in operative proximity to the syringe.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the level of radioactivity is measured by placing a radioactivity detector in operative connection with a line through which the radiopharmaceutical is dispensed.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first port, the second port and the third port are in fluid connection with a valve assembly, and further comprising the steps of

(a) connecting a patient fluid path to the valve assembly, the patient fluid path terminating in a patient connector;

(b) controlling the pressurizing unit so that a portion of the pressurizing unit that contacts the hazardous pharmaceutical is shielded by and operable within a protective container; and

(c) controlling the valve assembly at least during injection of the hazardous pharmaceutical such that operator presence in the vicinity of the hazardous pharmaceutical is not required.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of shielding at least a portion of The pressurizing unit that contacts the pharmaceutical.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of shielding at least a portion of the fluid delivery set.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising The step of measuring the radioactivity of a dose of pharmaceutical delivered to the patient generally simultaneously with injecting the pharmaceutical.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the valve assembly is controlled without close operator contact.

14. A method of injecting a radiopharmaceutical into a body, said method including the steps of:

(a) positioning a pressurizing device containing a first volume of the radiopharmaceutical within a dose calibrating unit adapted to measure the level of radioactivity of the radiopharmaceutical; and

(b) injecting a second volume of the radiopharmaceutical, the second volume being determined through measurement by the dose calibrating unit to provide a desired level of radioactivity.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second volume is less than the first volume.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the pressurizing device is a syringe in fluid connection with a powered injector.

17. A method of delivering a hazardous material to a patient, comprising:

(a) connecting a pressurizing device to a valve assembly of a fluid delivery set;

(b) connecting at least one source of a flushing fluid to the valve assembly;

(c) connecting a patient fluid path to the valve assembly, the patient fluid path terminating in a patient connector;

(d) connecting a ready-made source of the hazardous material to the valve assembly;

(e) controlling the pressurizing device, without close operator contact, so that a portion of the pressurizing device that contacts the hazardous material is shielded by and operable within a protective container; and

(f) controlling the valve assembly at least during injection of the hazardous pharmaceutical such that operator presence in the vicinity of the hazardous material is not required.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of purging all lines of the fluid delivery set of air before connecting the source of hazardous material to the valve assembly.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of shielding at least a portion of the pressurizing device that contacts the hazardous material.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of shielding at least a portion of the fluid delivery set.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the hazardous material is a pharmaceutical.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the pharmaceutical is a radiopharmaceutical.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising the step of measuring the radioactivity of a dose of radiopharmaceutical delivered to the patient generally simultaneously with injecting the radiopharmaceutical.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the valve assembly is controlled without close operator contact.