WO2002073628A2

WO2002073628A2 - Package protective case for radioactive substance and syringe assembly for radioactive solution

Info

Publication number: WO2002073628A2
Application number: PCT/EP2002/002584
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mitsuru Kakimi; Akira Kato
Original assignee: Schering Ag
Priority date: 2001-03-09
Filing date: 2002-03-08
Publication date: 2002-09-19
Also published as: WO2002073628A3; JP2002277588A; JP2004531709A; AU2002257635A1; JP4308532B2

Abstract

A package protective case (1) for a radioactive substance having a syringe assembly (4) enclose in a space (11) formed by a case body (2) and a closure (3), wherein the case body (2) and the closure (3) comprise respective radiation shield layers (22) (32) formed from a resin containing at least one metal powder and/or at least one metal pellets mixed therewith and respective shells (21) (31) which covers the shield layers (22) (32). The syringe assembly (4) may contain a radioactive solution and comprises a syringe (5) containing the radioactive solution, a radiation shield cylinder (6) having the syringe (5) accomodated therein, and a finger plate sleeve (7) mounted on a base end of the shield cylinder (6) and having a finger engaging piece (71) for use in giving an injection. The finger plate sleeve (7) is provided with an inward flange (73) at a base end thereof, and a flange (52) of the syringe (5) is held between the inward flange (73) and the base end of the shield sleeve (6). A heat shrinkable film tube (8) as shrunk is tightly fit around both the shield cylinder (6) and the finger plate sleeve (7) over a boundary therebetween.

Description

SPECIFICATION

PACKAGE PROTECTIVE CASE FOR RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCE AND SYRINGE ASSEMBLY FOR RADIOACTIVE SOLUTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to package protective cases for accommodating a radioactive substance, and a syringe assembly for a radioactive solution to be enclosed in the package protective case. BACKGROUND ART

It is widely known to use radioactive solutions such as a thallium chloride injection solution, for example, for diagnosing heart disease. For use in transporting such radioactive solution reliably with safety, a syringe assembly 4 for the radioactive solution and a package protective case 1 for enclosing the syringe assembly 4 which are shown in FIG. 5 are already proposed (see the publication of Japanese Patent No. 2623313) .

The syringe assembly 4 comprises a syringe 5 containing the radioactive solution, a radiation shield cylinder 6 having the syringe 5 accommodated therein, and a finger plate sleeve 7 mounted on the base end of the shield cylinder 6 and having a finger engaging piece 71 for use in giving an injection. The finger plate sleeve 7 means that is a sleeve which can be engaged by a finger.

The package protective case 1 comprises a case body 2 and a closure 3 each consisting mainly of lead. A buffer 28 of plastic foam sheet is fit in the case body 2 and has a cavity 29 shaped in conformity with the shape of the syringe assembly 4.

The package protective case 1 is adapted to accommodate the syringe assembly 4 as placed in the cavity 29 of the buffer 28 to prevent radiation leakage to the outside as long as possible.

The shield cylinder 6 has its base end fit into the finger plate sleeve 7 and is fit around the syringe 5 to prepare the syringe assembly 4. A flange cap 9 is provided on the inner side of the closure 3 of the package protective case 1. The flange cap 9 is fit over the finger plate sleeve 7 from the base end side of the shield cylinder 6, with leg hooks 91 of the flange cap 9 engaged with a stepped portion 75 of the sleeve 7 to hold the sleeve 7.

The syringe assembly 4 can be taken out of the package protective case 1 and is usable for giving an injection of radioactive solution to the person to be examined in the condition of leaving syringe 5 fit in the shield cylinder 6. This prevents radiation exposure to the person (e.g. the doctor) giving the injection.

However, the proposed means has the following problem.

Although lead is often used as a shield material against radiation, lead has the problem of poisoning or contamination.

In the conventional package protective case which is mentioned in the above, because the case body 2 is not covered with the buffer 28 over the inner surface of its upper portion, and lead forming an inner layer 26 of the case body 2 and a lead plate 36 on the inner surface of the closure 3 are exposed, the problem of poisoning or contamination has not been solved.

The shield cylinder 6 is expensive and therefore reused, so that a clearance is provided between the shield cylinder 6 and the syringe 5 to make the two components easy to separate .

In the shield cylinder 6 its base endmerely fits in the finger plate sleeve 7. Accordingly, if the frictional resistance between the shield cylinder 6 and the buffer 28 is greater than the fitting force between the sleeve 7 and the shield cylinder 6 when removing the syringe assembly 4 from the package protective case 1, the shield cylinder 6 is likely to remain in the package protective case 1.

If the syringe 5 slips out of the shield cylinder 6, the cylinder 6 is no longer serviceable as a shield against radiation.

To reuse the shield cylinder 6 after the radioactive solution is injected to the examinee and used, the flange cap 9 needs to be removed in order that the syringe 5 is pulled out of the shield cylinder 6. Since the leg hooks 91 in the flange cap 9 engage with the stepped portion 75 of the finger plate sleeve 7, plural leg hooks 91 must be disengaged together therefrom in order to remove the cap 9 from the sleeve 7. This procedure nevertheless requires much time and labor.

To render the shield cylinder 6 satisfactory to reuse, the cylinder 6 needs to be treated for the inhibition of corrosion as by plating the surface with silver, etc, whereas this also entails an increased cost.

In the above-mentioned package protective case 1 its outer layer 27 is made of resin, and is therefore low in strength and likely to become damaged during transport.

An object of the present invention is to provide a syringe assembly and a package protective case which can solve the foregoing problems. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a syringe assembly 4 comprising a syringe 5 containing a radioactive solution, a radiation shield cylinder 6 having the syringe 5 accommodated therein, and a finger plate sleeve 7 which is mounted on a base end of the shield cylinder 6 and which has a finger engaging piece 71 for use in giving an injection. The finger plate sleeve 7 is provided with an inward flange 73 at a base end thereof, and a flange 52 projecting from a base end of the syringe 5 is held between the inward flange 73 and the base end of the shield cylinder 6. A heat shrinkable film tube 8 as shrunk is tightly fit around both the shield cylinder 6 and the finger plate sleeve 7 over a boundary therebetween.

The invention provides a package protective case 1 for a radioactive substance comprising a case body 2 and a closure 3.

A space 11 for accommodating the radioactive substance therein is formed between the case body 2 and the closure 3. The case body 2 and the closure 3 comprise respective radiation shield layers 22, 32 formed from a resin containing a metal powder or metal pellets mixed therewith and respective metal shells 21,31 which covers the outer surface of the shield layers 22,32. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in section showing a syringe assembly as enclosed in a package protective case;

FIG.2 is a view in section taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view partly broken away and showing a finger plate sleeve;

FIG.4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of finger plate sleeve; and

FIG. 5 is a view in section of a case body and a syringe assembly of the prior art. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Overall Construction)

FIG. 1 shows a syringe assembly 4 as enclosed in a package protective case 1 for containing a radioactive solution. The syringe assembly 4 comprises a syringe 5 filled with radioactive solution such as a thallium chloride injection solution, gallium citrate injection solution or the like, a shield^' cylinder 6 fitting around the syringe 5 and serving as a shield against radiation, a finger plate sleeve 7 fitting around an upper base end of the shield cylinder 6 and having a finger engaging piece 71 for use in giving an injection, and a heat shrinkable film tube 8 provided around both the shield cylinder 6 and the finger plate sleeve 7 over a boundary therebetween.

The syringe 5 is a transparent barrel made from glass or synthetic resin and has a spout 51 projecting from the forward end thereof and having a small diameter. The spout 51 is fit with a plastic tip 55, which is covered with a rubber cap 56.

The syringe 5 has a flange 52 projecting outward from an upper base end thereof at a short distance. The radioactive solution filled in the syringe 5 is confined therein by a packing 54 closing the spout 51 of the syringe 5 and a piston 53 fitting in the base end of the syringe 5. The piston 53 has a screw bore 53a for attaching a plunger 58 thereto.

The shield cylinder 6 is made from a metal having a great density, such as tungsten or a tungsten alloy, is in the form of a cylinder permitting insertion of the syringe 5 free of resistance, and has at its forward end an inward section 62 bent into a conical shape toward the spout 51 of the syringe 5.

A window 63 formed in the shield cylinder 6 extends from a shoulder portion 57 thereof close to the forward end toward the base end thereof in the form of slot and is fit with a piece of lead glass 64.

The lead glass piece 64 has a thickness larger than the wall thickness of the shield cylinder 6 and projects outward beyond the outer surface of the shield cylinder 6.

With reference to FIG.1, the inward section 62 of the shield cylinder 6 is formed at such a position that when the base end of the shield cylinder 6 comes into contact with the lower face of the flange 52 on the syringe 5, the inward section 62 is at a small allowance distance from a forward end shoulder portion

I 57 of the syringe 5.

The finger plate sleeve 7 is prepared from a synthetic resin f such as polypropylene, polyethylene or ABS resin and is removably fittable around the base end of the shield cylinder 6 free of any backlash. The sleeve 7 has an inward flange 73 extending from a base end thereof to a position corresponding to the inner periphery of the base end of the syringe 5 and covering the flange

52 of the syringe 5, and a ridge 72 formed around a forward end of the sleeve 7 over the entire circumference thereof. The finger engaging piece 71 projecting from the sleeve 7 in the form of a flange is positioned between the inward flange 73 and the ridge

72 for fingers to engage with when giving an injection with the radioactive solution within the syringe 5.

The finger plate sleeve 7 is fit around the base end of the shield cylinder 6, with the inward flange 73 positioned over the flange 52 of the syringe 5. More specifically, the syringe 5 is restrained from moving axially thereof by the base end of the shield cylinder 6 and the inward flange 73 of the sleeve 7.

The heat shrinkable film tube 8 is a transparent or partly or mostly colored tube made from vinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or the like. Before shrinkage, the tube 8 is diametrically so sized as to be loosely fittable around the shield cylinder 6 and the ridge 72 of the sleeve 7 and over the projecting portion of the lead glass piece 64 fit in the cylinder 6. When shrunk, the tube 8 extends from the forward end inward section 62 of the shield cylinder 6 to the lower end of the finger engaging piece 71 of the sleeve 7 to cover these portions in contact therewith.

As shown in FIG. 3, the film tube 8 is provided with two discrete scores 81, 81 extending in parallel and in proximity to each other over the entire axial length thereof.

The film tube 8 is fit around both the sleeve 7 and the shield cylinder 6 over the boundary therebetween, then shrunk primarily circumferentially thereof by heating and thereby brought into intimate contact with the sleeve 7 and the cylinder 6, whereby the cylinder 6 and the sleeve 7 are held together on the syringe 5.

The package protective case 1 comprises a case body 2 having a deep bottom and a top opening, and a closure 3 provided over the opening. The package protective case 1 has a space 11 capable of accommodating the syringe assembly 4 therein.

The case body 2 and the closure 3 comprise respective radiation shield layers 22, 32, and respective metal shells 21, 31 each covering the shield layer, and are used again instead of being discarded after use.

The shell 21 of the case body 2 is in the form of a cylinder having a bottom. The radiation shield layer 22 of the case body 2 is in the form of a bottomed cylinder like the shell 21 and can be fit into the shell 21 in intimate contact with the inner surface of the shell 21. The shield layer 22 has an upper end projecting upward slightly beyond the upper end of the shell 21. A label (not shown) having printed thereon information as to the radioactive solution of the syringe assembly 4 is affixed to the outer surface of the case body 2.

The shell 31 of the closure 3 comprises a cover plate 31a in the form of a disk, a peripheral wall 31b extending downward from the outer periphery of the cover plate 31a, and a short/- cylinder portion 31c integral with the lower end of the wall 31b and having an increased diameter so as to fit around the upper end of the shell 21 of the case body 2.

The radiation shield layer 32 of the closure 3 is in the form of a thick plate fittable to the cover plate 31a and the peripheral wall 31b of the shell 31 in intimate contact with their inner surfaces.

The shells 21, 31 of the case body 2 and the closure 3 are made from a metal, such as iron, stainless steel, brass or like copper alloy, tungsten or tungsten alloy, which is not limited in kind.

However, the shells 21, 31 of the present invention themselves are also adapted to have an effect to serve as a shield against radiation, and the radiation shield effect is related with the density of the material to be used for the shells 21, 31. Accordingly when made from tungsten or tungsten alloy which has a greater density than other metals, the shells 21, 31 can be smaller in thickness in the case where the same radiation shield effect is to be obtained.

If the need for the shield.against radiation is small, the shells can be up to 0.5 mm in thickness.

The shield layers 22, 32 of the case body 2 and the closure 3 are prepared by kneading a molten resin with a metal powder or metal pellets and molding the mixture into shapes fittable to the shells 21, 31 and defining the space 11 which can accommodate the above-mentioned syringe assembly 4. '

The material for the metal powder or metal pellets for use in the radiation shield layers 22, 32 is preferably a metal, such as tungsten, tungsten alloy or lead, having a great density from the viewpoint of radiation shield effect as described above. Furthermore, the metal powder or metal pellets are preferably so shaped as to resemble balls so as to prevent exposure at the surfaces of the shield layers 22, 32.

Furthermore, the metal powder or metal pellets should be at least one kind.

According to the invention, terms "metal powder" refers to a powder less than 1 mm in particle size, and the term "metal pellets" refers to particles or pellets at least 1 mm to up to 5 mm in particle size or diameter. In view of scattering of the metal powder before kneading with the resin, it is desirable that the metal powder be at least 0.5 mm in particle size.

For the radiation shield layers 22, 32 to produce a high radiation shield effect, it is required to incorporate a large amount of metal powder or metal pellets into the resin. The amount of metal powder or metal pellets to be incorporated into the resin may range between 50 and 80% by volume.

To render the shield layers 22, 32 homogeneous, there is a need to disperse the metal powder ormetal pellets of great density uniformly into the molten resin for injection molding. For this purpose, it is recommendable to use a viscous resin such as polyamide or ABS resin, or a resin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, which is moldable under highly viscous condition.

When a molding is prepared from a molten resin and a metal powder or metal pellets mixed with the resin by kneading, it is unlikely that the metal powder or metal pellets will become exposed directly on the surface of the molding. Thus, even if lead pellets are incorporated into the shield layers 22, 32, the person handling the case 1 will not be exposed to the lead, hence no problem of lead poisoning.

The radiation shield layer 22 of the case body 2 can of course be integrally molded. In the case where the lead glass piece 64 of the syringe assembly' 4 is low in radiation shield effect, however, the portion of the shield layer 22 corresponding to the lead glass piece 64 can be made to serve as a shield portion 24 provided by a material having a high radiation shield effect, by fitting the shield portion 24 into a cutout 23 formed in the shield layer 22.

Placed on the bottom of the shield layer 22 in the interior of the case body 2 is a water absorbing member 25 which is made of a material having a water absorbing property and a buffer effect, such as a blotter, and which has formed at the center thereof a cavity 25a for the rubber cap 56 of the syringe assembly 4 to fit in. (Packaging)

When the syringe assembly 4 is to be enclosed in the package protective case 1, the assembly 4 is placed into the case body 2 with the rubber cap 56 down, and the closure 3 is placed over the case body 2, with the rubber cap 56 fit in the cavity 25a of the water absorbing member 25.

The syringe assembly 4 is restrained from moving by the shield layers 22, 32 and the water absorbing member 25 of the package protective case 1.

A heat shrinkable film tube 82 is fit around both the case body 2 and the closure 3 over the boundary therebetween and thermally shrunk for sealing.

Like the film tube 8 on the syringe assembly 4, the film tube 82 is provided with two discrete scores extending in axially of the tube in parallel and in proximity to each other for unwrapping the case 1.

Information as to the radioactive solution in the syringe assembly 4, such as the name and quantity of the product, can be partly or wholly printed on the film tube 82. Furthermore, the information as to the radioactive solution can be partly indicated by the color of the film tube 82.

The shells 21, 31 of the case body 2 and the closure 3 of the package protective case 1 are made from metal, are therefore resistant to impact and can be protected against a leak of radioactive solution due to an accidental breakage or damage during transport or storage or due to a fire accident unlike the conventional case having a resin and lead outer layer. The radiation shield layers 22, 32 covered with the shells 21, 31 are prepared from a resin having a metal powder or metal pellets incorporated therein, are accordingly serviceable as shields against radiation and also have a buffer effect. For this reason, the shield layers effectively protect the packaged syringe assembly 4 from impact during transport without necessitating the buffer made of plastic foam sheet conventionally used as an inner layer.

Information as to the radioactive solution in the syringe assembly 4, such as the name and quantity of the product, is partly or wholly printed on the film tube 82 used for sealing the closure 3, or the color of the film tube 82 is made to represent part of such information. Even if the information label on the case body 2 is not properly positioned on the visible side, the film tube 82 enables the user to recognize the information as to the radioactive solution. (For Use)

When the syringe assembly 4 is to be used, the film tube 82 is torn open to remove the closure 3, and the syringe assembly 4 is taken out. The film tube 82 as torn open indicates whether the package has been opened or not, i.e., whether the syringe assembly. is used or not.

Since the thermally shrunk film tube 8 is fit around the finger plate sleeve 7 and the shield cylinder 6 over the boundary thereof, fixedly holding the sleeve 7 and the cylinder 6 together, these two components are unlikely to separate inadvertently.

The film tube 8 gives an aesthetic appearance to the shield cylinder 6 and serves also as a protective film, so that there is no need to treat the surface of the shield cylinder 6 for silver plating or corrosion inhibition. The package protective case 1 can therefore be correspondingly less expensive.

The film tube 8 is positioned also over the lead glass piece 64 which is fit in the cutout 23 of the shield layer 22, so that the glass piece 64 which is most liable to break and likely to slip out of place in the shield cylinder 6 can be protected from damage and prevented from slipping off by the film tube. This contributes to an improvement in the reusability of the shield cylinder 6 including the lead glass piece 64.

The syringe 5 is reliably precluded from slipping out of the shield cylinder 6 by the inward flange 73 of the finger plate sleeve 7 and the base end of the shield cylinder 6 which hold the flange 52 at the syringe base end therebetween. This obviates the likelihood that the syringe 5 will slip out of the shield cylinder 6 inadvertently to result in an exposure to radiation.

Should the syringe 5 break within the package protective case 1, permitting the radioactive solution to leak out of the syringe assembly 4, the water absorbing member 25 absorbs the solution, hence a facilitated aftertreatment .

The plunger 58 is joined to the piston 53 of the syringe assembly 4 taken out, the rubber cap 56 is removed, . a double- ended needle (not shown) is inserted through the packing 54, and the radioactive solution is injected into the examinee.

The shield cylinder 6 of the syringe assembly 4 protects the person (doctor) giving the injection against radiation exposure.

The quantity of the solution remaining in the syringe 5 during injection can be seen through the lead glass piece 64 on the shield cylinder 6.

The package protective case 1 used is cleaned in preparation for reuse.

The case body 2 of the package protective case 1 is in the form of a bottomed cylinder and has a simple shape in its entirety, and the closure 3 is not complex in shape. The case is therefore easy to clean.

For the reuse of the shield cylinder 6 of the syringe assembly 4 used, the syringe 5 is removed from the shield cylinder 6. For this procedure, the film tube 8 is torn open and removed first, and holding of the shield cylinder 6 and the finger plate sleeve 7 is released.

The film tube 8 is easy to tear open since the tube has the discrete scores 81, 81 extending in parallel over the entire length of the tube.

The sleeve 7 is removed from the shield cylinder 6 to release the syringe 5 from the restraint and remove the syringe 5 from the cylinder 6.

The shield cylinder 6 is cleaned in preparation for reuse.

To seal the closure 3 to the case body 2 in practicing the present invention, an adhesive tape may be wound around both the closure 3 and the case body 2 over the boundary therebetween in place of the heat shrinkable film tube 82. The color of the tape thus used can also be made to represent part of information as to the contents.

Even if lead pellets are used for the package protective case 1 and syringe assembly 4 of the present invention, as incorporated in the radiation shield layers 22, 32 of the package protective case 1, resin invariably adheres to the surfaces of pellets when the pellets and resin are kneaded together. This eliminates the likelihood that the lead will directly become exposed on the surfaces of the shield layers 22, 32, obviating the problem of lead poisoning.

FIG.4 shows another embodiment wherein an inward flange 73a is formed as a member separate from a finger plate sleeve 7. The inward flange 73a is removably joined to the sleeve 7 by screw-thread engagement. In this case, the syringe 5 can be removed from the shield cylinder 6 merely by removing the inward flange 73a, with the sleeve 7 fit around the shield cylinder 6.

The package protective case 1 of the present invention is not limited to use for enclosing the syringe assembly 4. The invention can of course be embodied as package protective cases for storing or transporting a radioactive substance as accommodated in containers other than the syringe assembly 4, for example, in vials.

Incidentally, the syringe assembly and the package protective case therefor according to the invention may be minimum in dimensions, such as length and wall thickness, insofar radiation leaks can be precluded. For example, when having an outside diameter of 18 mm, the shield cylinder 6 of the syringe assembly 4 can be 2 to 5 mm in wall thickness if the cylinder is made from tungaten and the lead glass piece of the shield cylinder 6 can be 5 to 6 mm in the thickness.

Further in the case where the shells 21, 31 of the package protective case 1 are made from iron, these shells are 0.5 to 5 mm in thickness, and the radiation shield layers 22, 32 are 2 to 10 mm in thickness. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The package protective case 1 and the syringe assembly 4 of the present invention are adapted to provide a shield against radiation without using a shield wall of lead. Even if lead pellets are used as incorporated in the shield layers 22, 32 of the package protective case 1, the layers are molded from a mixture of molten resin and lead pellets kneaded together, so that the lead pellets are embedded in the resin. This obviates the likelihood of the lead pellets becoming exposed directly on the surfaces of the shield layers 22, 32, ameliorating the problem of lead poisoning.

The package protective case 1 has outer shells 21, 31 which are made of metal and is therefore more resistant to impact and fires than the conventional package protective case which has a resin outer layer, and can be protected against leakage of radiation that would otherwise occur during transport or storage due to damage to or a break of the case 1 or syringe assembly 4.

This advantage improves the package protective case 1 in reusability.

Since the shield layers 22, 32 of the package protective case 1 are made from a resin having a metal powder or metal pellets incorporated therein by kneading, these layers serve as radiation shields and also function as buffers at the same time. For this reason, the package protective case 1 effectively protects the packaged syringe assembly 4 against impact during transport without necessitating the buffer of plastic foam sheet conventionally used as an inner layer.

In the case of the syringe assembly 4, the heat shrinkable film tube 8 is fit around both the finger plate sleeve 7 and the

_ shield cylinder 6 over the boundary thereof and thermally shrunk to hold the two components as fixed together. These components are therefore unlikely to separate inadvertently.

Further because the film tube 8 serves as a film for giving an aesthetic appearance to the shield cylinder 6 and protecting the surface thereof, the shield cylinder 6 need not be surface-treated for silver plating or corrosion inhibition to achieve a corresponding cost reduction.

The syringe 5 is reliably prevented from slipping out of the shield cylinder 6 by the inward flange 73 of the finger plate sleeve 7 and the base end of the shield cylinder 6 which hold the flange 52 at the syringe base end therebetween. This feature obviates the likelihood that the syringe 5 will inadvertently slip out of the shield cylinder 6 as experienced with the prior art to expose the environment to radiation.

After the syringe assembly 4 is used for giving an injection of radioactive solution in the syringe 5 to the examinee, the syringe 5 is removed from the shield cylinder 6 for the reuse of the cylinder 6. The film tube 8 is torn open first to release holding of the finger plate sleeve 7 and the shield cylinder 6. The sleeve 7 is removed from the shield cylinder 6, and the syringe 5 is then removed from the cylinder 6. A clearance can be provided between the shield cylinder 6 and the syringe 5 so as to render the syringe 5 removable free from resistance. Accordingly, the syringe assembly 4 can be separated without trouble.

Claims

1. A package protective case (1) for a radioactive substance comprising a case body (2) and a closure (3) which form a space (11) for accommodating the radioactive substance therein, the package protective case being characterized in that the case body

(2) and the closure (3) comprise respective radiation shield layers (22) (32) formed from a resin containing at least one kind of metal powder and/or at least one kind of metal pellets mixed therewith and respective metal shells (21) (31) which cover the shield layers (22) (32) .

2. A package protective case (1) for a radioactive substance having a syringe assembly (4) enclosed in a space (11) formed by a case body (2) and a closure (3) , the package protective case being characterized in that the case body (2) and the closure (3) comprise respective radiation shield layers (22) (32) formed from a resin containing at least one metal powder and/or at least one metal pellets mixed therewith and respective shells (21) (31) which covers the shield layers (22) (32) .

3. A package protective case (1) for a radioactive substance according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a buffer member (25) is disposed in the case body (2) at a bottom thereof.

4. A package protective case (1) for a radioactive substance according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a heat shrinkable tube (82) as shrunk is provided around both the case body (2) and the closure (3) over a boundary therebetween, and information as to the radioactive substance enclosed in the case body (2) is indicated on the tube (82) .

5. A syringe assembly (4) for a radioactive solution comprising a syringe (5) containing the radioactive solution, a radiation shield cylinder (6) having the syringe (5) accommodated therein, and a finger plate sleeve (7) which is mounted on the base end of the shield cylinder (6) and which has a finger engaging piece (71) for use in giving an injection, the syringe assembly being characterized in that the finger plate sleeve (7) is provided with an inward flange (73) at a base end thereof, a flange (52) at a base end of the syringe (5) is held between the inward flange (73) and the base end of the shield cylinder (6), and a heat shrinkable film tube (8) as shrunk is tightly fit around both the shield cylinder (6) and the finger plate sleeve (7) over a boundary therebetween.

6. A package protective case for a radioactive substance according to claim 2 wherein the syringe assembly (4) is a syringe assembly defined in claim 5.