Target transport assembly and irradiation system

Abstract

Providing target transport assemblies and irradiation systems. [Solution] The target transport assembly includes a housing, a target, and a collimator. The housing includes a collimator compartment and a target compartment, separated by a vacuum window foil. The collimator is removably positioned within the collimator compartment, and the target is positioned within the target compartment. The collimator compartment is mounted on the cyclotron beamline at the irradiation position, and the target compartment is in fluid communication with a cooling fluid supply line and a cooling fluid return line at the irradiation position. The target is cooled by the cooling fluid from the cooling fluid supply line. The collimator directs the particle beam from the cyclotron beamline to irradiate the target and includes a beam entry diameter and a beam exit diameter. The collimator is in thermal contact with the collimator compartment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority to U.S. Non - Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 303,126, filed May 20, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] (Field) This field generally relates to the production of radioisotopes, and more specifically to target carrier assemblies for use in systems and methods for preparing radioisotopes.

Background Art

[0003] (Background) Radiopharmaceuticals, i.e., drugs incorporating radioactive elements (e.g., radioisotopes), are typically used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic and / or therapeutic purposes. Radioisotopes can be produced by direct production (e.g., proton or neutron - induced reactions using particle beams). In the production of at least some radioisotopes by an irradiation system, a target carrier device can be used to move target material into and out of the irradiation system as a radioisotope (e.g., after the target has been irradiated), so that the radioisotope can be safely recovered. In these systems, at least some irradiated components cannot be removed from the irradiation system. For example, a collimator that directs a particle beam at a target material is not removed from the irradiation system like a target carrier device. Since maintenance and repair cannot be performed on an irradiation system that is “hot” (i.e., includes high radiation levels from irradiated components), there can be a delay of up to six months for maintenance and repair so that irradiated components can “cool” below a threshold radiation level. Thus, there is a need for methods and systems that remove all irradiated components from the irradiation system, facilitate reducing the radiation level, reduce personnel radiation exposure, and reduce the downtime required for maintenance and repair of the irradiation system.

[0004] This background section is intended to introduce readers to various aspects of the technology that may be relevant to the various aspects of this disclosure described and / or claimed below. This discussion is intended to be helpful in providing readers with background information to facilitate a deeper understanding of the various aspects of this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this context, not as an endorsement of prior art. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] (Brief summary) On one side, the target transport assembly for transporting the target to and from the irradiation position of the irradiation system includes a housing containing a collimator compartment and a target compartment, a target, and a collimator. The collimator compartment includes an inner surface and an outer surface, and the collimator compartment and the target compartment are separated by a vacuum window foil. The collimator compartment is mounted on the cyclotron beamline, and the target compartment is in fluid communication with a cooling fluid supply line and a cooling fluid return line at the irradiation position. The target is fixed within the target compartment and cooled by a cooling fluid from the cooling fluid supply line. The collimator is removablely mounted within the collimator compartment and is positioned to direct the particle beam from the cyclotron beamline to irradiate the target. The collimator includes an entry diameter and an exit diameter, and the collimator is in thermal contact with the inside of the collimator compartment.

[0006] In another aspect, the collimator, which is included within the collimator compartment of the target transport assembly of the irradiation system, has a beam entry diameter, a beam exit diameter, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The beam entry diameter is larger than the exit diameter and forms a constricted channel that is positioned to direct the particle beam to irradiate the target included within the target transport assembly. The inner surface of the collimator is curved such that the angle of incidence between the particle beam and the inner surface of the collimator at the beam entry diameter is greater than the angle of incidence between the particle beam and the inner surface of the collimator at the beam exit diameter.

[0007] In another aspect, the irradiation system includes a cyclotron beamline for generating a particle beam and a target station for irradiating a target. The target station includes a housing, a target transport assembly, a vertical transport system, and front and rear clamps. The target transport assembly contains the target and transports it to and from the irradiation position within the target station. The vertical transport system moves the target transport assembly to and from the irradiation position. The front and rear clamps secure the target transport assembly to the irradiation position and provide water and vacuum fittings to the target transport assembly.

[0008] In another aspect, the method for irradiating a target includes providing a reusable target transport assembly, positioning the target transport assembly at an irradiation position within a target station of an irradiation system using a vertical transport system, irradiating at least one target located within the target transport assembly with a particle beam to produce a radioactive isotope, and removing the target transport assembly from the irradiation position using the vertical transport system. The target transport assembly includes a housing which includes a target compartment and a collimator compartment, at least one target located within the target compartment, and at least one collimator within the collimator compartment. The particle beam is directed to at least one target by at least one collimator.

[0009] Various fine-tunings of the features mentioned in relation to the aspects described above exist. Further features may also be incorporated into the aspects described above. These fine-tunings and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For example, the various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated individually or in any combination into any of the aspects described above. The present invention provides, for example, the following: (Item 1) A target transport assembly for transporting a target to and from the irradiation position of an irradiation system, wherein the target transport assembly is A housing comprising at least a collimator section and a target section, wherein the collimator section and the target section are separated by a vacuum window foil, the collimator section is attached to the cyclotron beamline at the irradiation position, and the target section is in fluid communication with a cooling fluid supply line and a cooling fluid return line at the irradiation position, A target fixed within the target compartment and cooled by cooling fluid from the cooling fluid supply line, A collimator, which is removablely mounted within the collimator compartment and is positioned to direct a particle beam from the cyclotron beamline to irradiate the target, wherein the collimator includes an entry diameter and an exit diameter, and the collimator is in thermal contact with the collimator compartment. A target transport assembly equipped with the following features. (Item 2) The target transport assembly according to item 1 further includes a backing spacer for fixing the target in a fixed position within the target compartment, and allowing a cooling fluid to pass behind the target. (Item 3) The target compartment further comprises at least one additional target, each additional target absorbing radiation from the particle beam after the particle beam has exited the prior target, as described in item 1 of the target transport assembly. (Item 4) The target transport assembly according to item 1, further comprising a fluid housing adjacent to the collimator compartment, wherein the fluid in the fluid housing enters the fluid housing through a channel connected to the cooling fluid supply line. (Item 5) The target transport assembly according to item 4, further comprising a plurality of fins thermally coupled to the collimator section, each of the plurality of fins configured to increase the contact area between the collimator and the fluid and to facilitate heat exchange between the collimator and the cooling fluid. (Item 6) The target transport assembly according to item 1, wherein the cooling fluid flows around the target within the target compartment and cools the target as it is irradiated by the particle beam. (Item 7) A collimator included within a collimator section of a target transport assembly of an irradiation system, the collimator having a beam entry diameter, a beam exit diameter, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the beam entry diameter is greater than the exit diameter and forms a constricted channel arranged to direct a particle beam to irradiate a target included within the target transport assembly, and the inner surface of the collimator is curved such that the angle of incidence between the particle beam and the inner surface of the collimator in the beam entry diameter is greater than the angle of incidence between the particle beam and the inner surface of the collimator in the beam exit diameter. (Item 8) The collimator according to item 7, wherein the collimator includes at least one electrically isolated section connected to a potentiometer. (Item 9) The collimator section is a collimator as described in item 8, which is removablely attached to the collimator section using a retaining ring. (Item 10) The aforementioned section is an insulated collimator as described in item 8. (Item 11) The collimator described in item 7 is made from at least one of pure aluminum and an aluminum alloy. (Item 12) The collimator according to item 7, wherein the outer surface of the collimator is thermally bonded to the collimator compartment. (Item 13) It is an irradiation system, A cyclotron beamline for generating particle beams, A target station for illuminating the target and Equipped with, The aforementioned target station is The casing and A target transport assembly including the target, the target transport assembly transports the target to and from an irradiation position within the target station, A vertical transport system for moving the target transport assembly to and from the irradiation position, Front and rear clamps for fixing the target transport assembly to the irradiation position and for providing water and vacuum mounting fixtures to the target transport assembly. An irradiation system equipped with the following features. (Item 14) The vertical transport system is A winch and A cable fitting that is removably connected to the target transport assembly, wherein the winch adjusts the length of the cable to transport the target transport assembly to and from the illumination position, and The irradiation system described in item 13, including the one described in item 13. (Item 15) The irradiation system according to item 14, wherein the cable attachment includes a magnet for removably attaching the cable attachment to the target transport assembly and for removing it therefrom. (Item 16) The front and rear clamps are propelled using a screw jack mechanism to fix the target transport assembly in the irradiation position and to remove it therefrom, the irradiation system according to item 13, wherein the screw jack mechanism includes left-handed and right-handed threaded screws. (Item 17) The irradiation system according to item 13, wherein the front and rear clamps are simultaneously operated to fix the target transport assembly in the irradiation position. (Item 18) The irradiation system according to item 13, wherein the front and rear clamps simultaneously release the target transport assembly from the irradiation position and remove the target transport assembly from the irradiation position. (Item 19) The irradiation system according to item 13, wherein the target transport assembly includes a beam entry side and a side opposite the beam entry side, and the fluid inlet and outlet are adjacent to the opposite side. (Item 20) A method for irradiating a target, To provide a reusable target transport assembly, the reusable target transport assembly is A housing including a target compartment and a collimator compartment, At least one target is located within the target compartment, At least one collimator in the collimator compartment and To be equipped with, Using a vertical transport system, the target transport assembly is positioned at the irradiation location within the target station of the irradiation system. A particle beam is used to irradiate the at least one target located within the target transport assembly to produce a radioactive isotope, wherein the particle beam is directed towards the at least one target by the at least one collimator. Using the vertical transport system, remove the target transport assembly from the irradiation position. Methods that include... (Item 21) The method according to item 22, further comprising using a master-slave manipulator to remove the target from the target compartment. (Item 22) Using a master-slave manipulator, remove the collimator from the collimator compartment, Dispose of the collimator components separately from the other components of the target transport assembly. The method described in item 20, further including the method described in item 20. (Item 23) The method according to item 20, further comprising using a master-slave manipulator to replace a vacuum window and a vacuum seal located between the target compartment and the collimator compartment. (Item 24) Modifying the target transport assembly using a master-slave manipulator in a shielded chamber of the irradiation system, Next, the modified target transport assembly is reused to irradiate at least one additional target. The method described in item 20, further including the method described in item 20. (Item 25) The method of item 20, further comprising providing an accessible target station without highly activated components when the target transport assembly is removed from the irradiation position. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side view of an exemplary system for irradiating a target and generating radioactive isotopes.

[0011] [Figure 2A] Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary system shown in Figure 1.

[0012] [Figure 2B] Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of the mechanical transport system of the exemplary system shown in Figure 1.

[0013] [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary target transport assembly suitable for use in conjunction with the system shown in Figure 1.

[0014] [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary target transport assembly shown in Figure 3, obtained along the straight line "XX".

[0015] [Figure 5] Figure 5 is another perspective front view of the exemplary target transport assembly shown in Figure 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The corresponding reference letters indicate the corresponding part throughout several figures in the drawing.

[0017] (Detailed explanation) Figure 1 is a side view of an exemplary irradiation system 100 for irradiating a target and generating radioactive isotopes. System 100 may be used to irradiate target materials, including, but not limited to, natural rubidium targets, and generate various radioactive isotopes, including, but not limited to, Sr-82, for further processing. System 100 straddles a beam entry point 102 to a side 104 opposite the beam entry point, and generally includes a target station 106 and an exhausted cyclotron beamline 108. A target transport assembly 200 (shown in Figure 2A) is included within the target station 106 when the target transport assembly 200 is in the irradiation position. A particle beam (e.g., a low-energy 30 MeV proton beam or a high-energy 70 MeV proton beam) is generated by a cyclotron (shown here) and passes from the cyclotron beamline 108 to the target station 106 in the direction of arrow A.

[0018] The irradiation system 100 is preferably located in a radiation room, straddling vertically from an arched ceiling (not shown) to the floor (not shown). The target station 106 straddles the vertical length of the room; that is, the target station 106 is bolted to the floor and penetrates through the arched ceiling. The target station 106 may terminate in a shielded chamber (not shown), also called a “hot cell,” located above the arched ceiling. In other embodiments, the irradiation system 100 and the target station 106 may have any preferred configuration. For example, the hot cell may be located within a different part of the target station 106, or the hot cell may be separate from the target station 106.

[0019] The target station 106 includes a housing 110, a vertical transport system 112 (shown in Figure 2B) located within the housing 110, and a cooling fluid supply unit 114. The vertical transport system 112 uses a winch 116 to transport the target transport assembly 200 to and from the illumination position within the target station 106, as described below with respect to Figure 2B.

[0020] The cooling fluid supply unit 114 includes a cooling fluid supply line 120 and a cooling fluid return line 118. The cooling fluid supply line 120 supplies cooling fluid to the target transport assembly 200 when the target transport assembly is in the irradiation position, and the cooling fluid return line 118 discards the cooling fluid after it has been supplied to the target transport assembly 200, as further described herein. The cooling fluid supply unit 114 also supplies compressed air to the target transport assembly 200 through the cooling fluid supply line 120 and the cooling fluid return line 118. The compressed air supplied to the target transport assembly 200 purges any radioactive cooling fluid from the target transport assembly 200 so that the target transport assembly 200 is not contaminated with radioactive cooling fluid when the target transport assembly 200 moves away from the irradiation position.

[0021] The irradiation system 100 further includes a bellows 122 and a cube 124 positioned between the cyclotron beamline 108 and the target station 106. The bellows 122 allows for degrees of freedom of movement of a mechanically actuated clamp (e.g., a front clamp 126, shown in Figure 2A) that clamps the target transport assembly 200 into the irradiation position using a screw jack mechanism 125, as further described herein. The cube 124 provides a connection to a vacuum pump so that the target transport assembly 200 has a vacuum tight seal within the target station 106 when the target transport assembly 200 is in the irradiation position, as further described herein.

[0022] Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view of system 100, showing the target transport assembly 200 at the irradiation position within the target station 106. The target transport assembly 200 is at the irradiation position when it is fixed in place within the target station 106 and positioned to receive radiation from the particle beam. The target transport assembly 200 may be lowered into the irradiation position by the vertical transport system 112 after the target 206 has been inserted into the target transport assembly 200, so that the target material contained within the target 206 can be irradiated by the particle beam.

[0023] The target transport assembly 200 is secured in place by front clamps 126 and rear clamps 128 of the target station 106. Clamps 126 and 128 act simultaneously, both fixing the target transport assembly 200 in the illumination position (e.g., by being pushed toward the target transport assembly 200) and removing the target transport assembly 200 from the illumination position (e.g., by being pushed toward the target transport assembly 200). Clamps 126 and 128 are actuated using a screw jack mechanism 125 (shown in Figure 1) which includes left-handed and right-handed screws. The screw jack 130 actsuated by pushing the clamps to the release position (e.g., retracting clamps 126 and 128) when the target transport assembly 200 is removed from the illumination position. When the front clamp 126 is closed, it drives the vacuum flange 132 into the target transport assembly 200 so that the O-ring 134 creates a vacuum seal between the target transport assembly 200 and the vacuum flange 132. When the rear clamp 128 is activated, it drives the cooling fluid supply line 120 and the cooling fluid return line 118 into the target transport assembly 200. That is, when the rear clamp 128 is activated, it drives the cooling fluid supply line 120 into the cooling fluid supply channel of the target transport assembly 200 and drives the cooling fluid return line 118 into the cooling fluid return channel of the target transport assembly 200. The target material in the target transport assembly 200 is cooled as the target material is irradiated by the cooling fluid from the cooling fluid supply line 120. The cooling fluid flows from the cooling fluid supply line 120, passes through the target material, and exits the target transport assembly 200 through the cooling fluid return line 118.

[0024] The target transport assembly 200 is moved from the irradiation site after the target material contained within the target transport assembly 200 has been irradiated and radioactive isotopes have been generated. For example, the target transport assembly 200 may be moved from the irradiation site to a hot cell. The hot cell may include a lead glass frame and a master-slave manipulator so that the radioactive isotopes can be safely retrieved by personnel from the target transport assembly 200 (i.e., without exposing personnel to high levels of radiation from the radioactive isotopes), as further described herein.

[0025] Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of the vertical transport system 112 of system 100. The vertical transport system 112 includes a cable 152, which is attached to a winch 116 (shown in Figure 1). The cable 152 may be a single cable 152 or multiple cables 152. The vertical transport system 112 includes a shackle 154, a swivel 156, a weight 158 ​​to facilitate the downward movement of the cable 152, and a magnet 160 (for example, fabricated from a niodymium alloy) that magnetically and detachably connects the cable 152 to the target transport assembly 200. The winch 116 adjusts the length of the cable 152 and moves the target transport assembly 200 into and out of the illumination position when the cable 152 is magnetically coupled to the target transport assembly 200.

[0026] In one embodiment, the magnet 160 is connected to the upper plate 162 of the target transport assembly 200. The upper plate 162 is machined from steel or a steel alloy. The target transport assembly 200 further includes a lower plate 164 machined from plastic and a spacer 166 between the upper plate 162 and the lower plate 164.

[0027] Figures 3-5 illustrate various views of the target transport assembly 200. Figure 3 is a perspective side view of the target transport assembly 200. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the target transport assembly 200 obtained along the straight line "XX" shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is another perspective side view of the target transport assembly 200.

[0028] Referring to Figure 3, the target transport assembly 200 includes a housing 201 and spans from the beam entry side 202 to the side 204 opposite the beam entry side 202. When the target transport assembly 200 is at the irradiation position within the target station 106, and the target 206 (shown in Figure 4) placed within the target transport assembly 200 is irradiated by the particle beam, the particle beam enters the target transport assembly 200 at the beam entry side 202 and passes through the target transport assembly 200 in the direction of arrow A.

[0029] Referring to Figure 4, the target transport assembly 200 includes a collimator compartment 208 and a target compartment 210. A vacuum window foil 212 is positioned between the collimator compartment 208 and the target compartment 210. The target 206 is positioned within the target compartment 210. When the target transport assembly 200 is in the irradiation position, the collimator compartment 208 is attached to the cyclotron beamline 108 (shown in Figure 2), and the target compartment 210 is attached to (i.e., fluidly communicates with) the cooling fluid supply unit 114 (shown in Figure 2). In the irradiation position, as the cooling fluid moves from the cooling fluid supply line 120 into the target transport assembly 200, the target 206 is cooled by the cooling fluid supply unit 114, and as the cooling fluid moves past the target 206, it absorbs the heat radiated from the target 206 and exits the target transport assembly 200 through the cooling fluid return line 118.

[0030] The collimator 214 is removablely positioned within the collimator compartment 208 to direct the particle beam and irradiate the target 206 within the target compartment 210. The collimator 214 includes an inner surface 216 and an outer surface 218, and spans from the beam entry side 220 to the beam exit side 222. The beam entry side 220 has a beam entry diameter N, and the beam exit side 222 has a beam exit diameter T. The beam entry diameter N is greater than the beam exit diameter T, and therefore the collimator 214 forms a constricted channel 224 from the beam entry side 220 to the beam exit side 224. The inner surface 216 of the collimator 214 is curved such that the angle of incidence θ1 between the inner surface 216 and the particle beam (shown as a dotted line through the channel 224) at the beam entry side 220 is greater than the angle of incidence θ2 between the inner surface 216 and the particle beam at the beam exit side 222. For example, the angle of incidence θ1 may be greater than 10° (e.g., 11°), and the angle of incidence θ2 may be less than 5° (e.g., 3° ​​or 4°). The fluctuating angles of incidence θ1 and θ2 of the collimator 214 minimize the activation of the collimator 214 (e.g., radiation to the collimator 214) because some particles that drift off the path of the particle beam and strike the inner surface 216 of the collimator 214 are deflected due to the narrow angles of incidence.

[0031] The deflection of particles from the beam axis (e.g., the dotted line shown in Figure 4) generally follows a normal distribution, with the number of particles decreasing as the distance from the beam axis increases. When particles encounter the surface of collimator 214, they can be deflected or absorbed. The probability of a particle being deflected increases as the angle of incidence on collimator 214 decreases. For example, at an incidence angle of 90 degrees (a common incidence angle in conventional collimators), almost 100% of all particles are absorbed, leading to overheating and activation of conventional collimators. By presenting a smaller incidence angle θ2 on collimator 214 for particles closer to the beam axis, where the particles are more likely to strike, the number of deflected particles increases and the number of absorbed particles decreases. Thus, particle loss from the particle beam is minimized by collimator 214, and the fluence of the particle beam on target 206 is therefore maximized by collimator 214, while the activation and heating of the collimator are minimized.

[0032] The outer surface 218 of the collimator 214 is in thermal contact with the collimator compartment 208, and the housing 201 of the target transport assembly 200 is in thermal contact with the collimator compartment 208. The housing 201 includes a cooling fluid volume 226 adjacent to the collimator compartment 208. The cooling fluid volume 226 is connected to the cooling fluid supply line 120 by a channel 228. As the cooling fluid supply line 120 supplies cooling fluid to the target 206, a portion of the supplied cooling fluid flows through the channel 228 to the cooling fluid volume 226. The cooling fluid volume 226 includes a number of fins 230 that are thermally coupled to the collimator compartment 208. The fins 230 increase the surface area between the collimator compartment 208 and the fluid volume 226, facilitating heat exchange between the collimator 214 and the cooling fluid in the fluid volume 226. The cooling fluid enters the fluid volume 226 through the cooling fluid supply line 118, moves around the collimator 214, absorbs the heat radiated from the collimator 214 as the particle beam passes through the collimator 214, and exits the fluid volume 226 to the cooling fluid return line 118.

[0033] The target compartment 210 further includes a backing spacer 232 that fixes the target 206 in place within the target compartment 210, while allowing the passage of cooling fluid on the rear side of the target 206 (e.g., the side adjacent to the opposing side 204). In some embodiments, the target compartment 210 may include one or more additional targets 206 located behind the backing spacer 232 (i.e., behind the target 206 and facing the opposing side 204). In these embodiments, the targets 206 are located within the target compartment 210, and so the particle beam enters and exits the first target 206, enters and exits the adjacent second target 206, and so on. Thus, each target 206 absorbs radiation from the particle beam after the particle beam has exited each preceding target 206. Each target 206 includes a backing spacer 232 for holding the target 206 in place within the target compartment 210.

[0034] The housing 201, collimator compartment 208, target compartment 210, and collimator 214 of the target transport assembly 200 are fabricated from pure aluminum metal or an aluminum alloy. The vacuum window foil is fabricated from HAVAR®, molybdenum, or a similar high-strength metal alloy. The target 206 is fabricated from INCONEL®, Monel, stainless steel, niobium, titanium, or another metal alloy that can be mixed with the target material, and a suitable target material (e.g., rubidium) is placed inside the target 206, and the target material produces isotopes after irradiation.

[0035] Referring here to Figure 5, a side perspective view of the beam entry side of the side 202 of the target transport assembly 200 is illustrated to show and illustrate the collimator 214 in more detail. In this embodiment, the collimator 214 includes four electrically insulated sections 240a-d arranged around the circumference of the collimator section 208. In other embodiments, the collimator 214 may include any preferred number of sections 240, for example, two sections 240, three sections 240, five sections 240, etc. The sections 240 are electrically insulated through an anodizing process, and the sections 240, and therefore the collimator 214, are fabricated from pure aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0036] Sections 240a-d, and therefore the collimator 214, are removably coupled to the collimator compartment 208 using the retaining ring 242. That is, each of the sections 240 can be removed independently from the collimator housing 201 when the retaining ring 242 is removed from the collimator compartment 208 (for example, to separate highly activated components from bulky, less activated components in order to minimize high levels of waste). For example, any section 240 of the retaining ring 242 and collimator 214 may be removed by the master-slave manipulator of the hot cell of the target station 106 (shown in Figure 1) as described above.

[0037] Section 240 may be electrically connected to a potentiometer circuit (not shown) (for example, using copper wire and connectors). Any particles (e.g., protons) that drift from the particle beam and are absorbed into section 240 generate a current in the wire. If the particle beam deviates from the center of the collimator 214, the increased current through at least one of the sections 240 will be detected by the potentiometer circuit. Thus, the operator of the irradiation system 100 can be alerted to any anomalous behavior of the particle beam.

[0038] The systems and methods described herein include several advantages. The first advantage is that the target transport assembly 200 is reusable. For example, many of the components of the target transport assembly 200 (e.g., vacuum window foil 212, target 206, gasket, O-ring, etc.) can be removed and replaced using a remote manipulator, and thus the target transport assembly 200 can be modified and subsequently reused in the irradiation of many target materials to produce radioisotopes. Components of the target transport assembly 200 may be removed and replaced with a master-slave manipulator in a hot cell mounted on the target station 106. The ability to modify the target transport assembly 200 and replace its components, in particular the components that generally require the most maintenance, results in less waste and a more efficient radioisotope production process.

[0039] Furthermore, components of the target transport assembly 200 that require different levels of radioactive waste disposal can each be disposed of at their corresponding waste levels, so the entire target transport assembly 200 does not need to be disposed of at the highest waste level due to non-removable components. For example, if the collimator section 240 is fabricated from an aluminum alloy, the radioactive by-products of the particle beam interacting with the collimator 214 and section 240 may take many years to decompose, thus requiring high-level nuclear waste disposal, i.e., high costs. The remaining parts of the target transport assembly 200 may only require low-level nuclear waste disposal, which is not nearly as expensive.

[0040] Another advantage of the system and method described is that the collimator 214 is incorporated within the target transport assembly 200. When the target transport assembly 200 is removed from the irradiation position and target station 106, all highly irradiated components of the irradiation system 100 are removed, and the target station 106 has no "hot" components. Thus, the target station 106 cools down rapidly, and maintenance can be safely performed on the target station 106 by personnel (e.g., without exposing personnel to radiation levels above threshold safety values) immediately after the target 206 in the target transport assembly 200 is removed from the irradiation position.

[0041] When describing elements of the present invention or its embodiments, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to indicate that one or more of the elements are present. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to indicate that they are comprehensive and that additional elements other than those listed may exist.

[0042] Since various modifications can be made to the above configuration and method without departing from the scope of the present invention, all matters contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings are intended to be interpreted as illustrative, not restrictive.

Claims

1. A collimator included within a collimator section of a target transport assembly of an irradiation system, the collimator having a beam entry diameter, a beam exit diameter, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the beam entry diameter is greater than the exit diameter and forms a constricted channel arranged to direct a particle beam to irradiate a target included within the target transport assembly, and the inner surface of the collimator is curved such that the angle of incidence between the particle beam and the inner surface of the collimator in the beam entry diameter is greater than the angle of incidence between the particle beam and the inner surface of the collimator in the beam exit diameter.

2. The collimator according to claim 1, wherein the collimator includes at least one electrically insulated section connected to a potentiometer.

3. The collimator according to claim 2, wherein the section of the collimator is removablely attached to the collimator section using a retaining ring.

4. The collimator according to claim 2, wherein the aforementioned section is insulated by anodizing.

5. The collimator according to claim 1, wherein the collimator is processed from at least one of pure aluminum and an aluminum alloy.

6. The collimator according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the collimator is thermally bonded to the collimator compartment.

7. It is an irradiation system, A cyclotron beamline for generating particle beams, A target station for illuminating the target and Equipped with, The aforementioned target station is The casing and A target transport assembly including the target, wherein the target transport assembly transports the target to and from the irradiation position within the target station. A vertical transport system for moving the target transport assembly to and from the irradiation position, Front and rear clamps for fixing the target transport assembly to the irradiation position and for providing water and vacuum fixtures to the target transport assembly. An irradiation system equipped with the following features.

8. The vertical transport system is A winch and A cable attachment that is removably connected to the target transport assembly, wherein the winch adjusts the length of the cable to transport the target transport assembly to and from the illumination position. The irradiation system according to claim 7, including the following:

9. The irradiation system according to claim 8, wherein the cable attachment includes a magnet for removably attaching the cable attachment to the target transport assembly and for removing it from the target transport assembly.

10. The irradiation system according to claim 7, wherein the front and rear clamps are propelled using a screw jack mechanism to fix the target transport assembly in the irradiation position and to remove it from the irradiation position, the screw jack mechanism including left-handed and right-handed threaded screws.

11. The irradiation system according to claim 7, wherein the front and rear clamps are simultaneously operated to fix the target transport assembly in the irradiation position.

12. The irradiation system according to claim 7, wherein the front and rear clamps simultaneously release the target transport assembly from the irradiation position and remove the target transport assembly from the irradiation position.

13. The irradiation system according to claim 7, wherein the target transport assembly includes a beam entry side and a side facing the beam entry side, and the fluid inlet and outlet are adjacent to the opposing side.

14. A method for irradiating a target, To provide a reusable target transport assembly, the reusable target transport assembly is A housing including a target compartment and a collimator compartment, At least one target is placed within the target compartment, At least one collimator in the collimator compartment and To be equipped with, Using a vertical transport system, the target transport assembly is positioned at the irradiation location within the target station of the irradiation system. The method involves irradiating the at least one target, which is placed within the target transport assembly, with a particle beam, wherein the particle beam is directed towards the at least one target by the at least one collimator. Using the vertical transport system, remove the target transport assembly from the irradiation position. Methods that include...

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising using a master-slave manipulator to remove the target from the target compartment.

16. Using a master-slave manipulator, remove the collimator from the collimator compartment, Dispose of the collimator components separately from the other components of the target transport assembly. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising using a master-slave manipulator to replace a vacuum window and a vacuum seal positioned between the target compartment and the collimator compartment.

18. Modifying the target transport assembly using a master-slave manipulator in a shielded chamber of the irradiation system, Next, the modified target transport assembly is reused to irradiate at least one additional target. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising providing an accessible target station without highly activated components when the target transport assembly is removed from the irradiation position.

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