Delivery Methods of Radiopharmaceuticals: Exploring Global Strategies to Minimize Occupational Radiation Exposure

Abstract

In the world of nuclear medicine, health care professionals face the challenge of safeguarding themselves and their patients from occupational radiation exposure. As the field experiences exponential growth, driven by the surge in approvals of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, it becomes vital to delve into the delivery methods of radiopharmaceuticals. Health care professionals take precautions during radiopharmaceutical administration, including maintaining distance from radioactive sources, using shielding, limiting exposure time, and monitoring radiation levels with badges. Regular evaluations provide compliance with recommended exposure limits, yet concerns persist, especially regarding the cumulative radiation exposure from manual injections over time. Understanding the long-term effects of radiation exposure has spurred the development of cutting-edge medical device technologies, such as autoinjectors, designed to administer radiopharmaceuticals accurately while minimizing total radiation dose to health care professionals. The U.S. Pharmacopeia 825 regulation refers to these devices as "direct infusion systems." Nuclear medicine technologists commonly refer to them as "autoinjectors," whereas device manufacturers may use terms such as injection system, radiopharmaceutical injector, or infusion system. Despite variations in terminology, these devices hold a pivotal role in shaping the future of radiopharmaceutical delivery. In an era of escalating demand for PET procedures worldwide, skilled health care professionals ensure the safe and precise dosing of radiopharmaceuticals. This article explores the state-of-the-art medical devices in radiopharmaceutical delivery, spotlighting transformative medical devices currently revolutionizing the nuclear medicine landscape in the global market.

Keywords: autoinjector; direct infusion systems; infusion system; medical device; radiation safety; radiopharmaceutical delivery system.