Radioactive nuclide generator

Abstract

A method for generating radionuclides comprises receiving a container in a container receiving section of a radionuclide generator, and moving the container in the container receiving section from a first position to a second position. This method also comprises exposing the inner surface of the container to a precursor radionuclide source while the container is in the second position, and allowing sufficient time for the precursor radionuclide source to decay into one or more progressive radionuclides and release one or more progressive radionuclides into the container. This method further comprises isolating the precursor radionuclide source from the container while the container is in the first position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Application No. 63 / 458,296, filed Apr. 10, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The disclosed embodiments relate to radionuclide generators and related methods of use.

Background Art

[0003] Radionuclides such as lead-212 ( 212 Pb) can be used for various applications. For example, 212 Pb can be used therapeutically in radiotherapy for various health conditions, including various cancers. Lead-212 can be formed as a daughter radionuclide in the decay chain of a parent radionuclide such as thorium, radon, or radium.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In some embodiments, a method of generating a radionuclide can include receiving a container within a container receiving portion of a radionuclide generator, moving the container within the container receiving portion from a first orientation to a second orientation, and exposing an inner surface of the container to a precursor radionuclide source while the container is in the second orientation. The method can further include allowing sufficient time for the precursor radionuclide source to decay into one or more daughter radionuclides and release the one or more daughter radionuclides into the container. The method can include isolating the precursor radionuclide source from the container while the container is in the first orientation.

[0005] In a further embodiment, the radionuclide generator may include a container module that includes a container configured to receive a container. The container module can be configured to move the container within the container receiving portion between a first position and a second position. The radionuclide generator may further include a source module configured to receive a precursor radionuclide source and selectively expose the inner surface of the container to the precursor radionuclide source in an exposure configuration and isolate the inner surface of the container from the precursor radionuclide source in an isolated configuration.

[0006] It should be understood that the foregoing concepts, as well as additional concepts described below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, such that the present disclosure is not limited in this respect. Further, upon consideration of the accompanying drawings, other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting embodiments.

[0007] In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component shown in various figures may be represented by like numerals. For clarity, not all components are labeled in all figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a decay chain of the thorium series. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a radionuclide generator according to an embodiment, with the loading cover removed from the loading port. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of a radionuclide generator in a loading configuration according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of a radionuclide generator in a generation configuration according to an embodiment. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A is a top view of a source module of a radionuclide generator, with the precursor radionuclide source in an extended configuration. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional side view of the source module of FIG. 5A, with the precursor radionuclide source in an extended configuration. [Figure 5C] Figure 5C is a cross-sectional side view of the source module of Figure 5A, in which the precursor radionuclide source is in a recessed configuration. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a side view of a source mounting device for a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 7A] Figure 7A is a cross-sectional top view of a source mount for a radionuclide generator, which includes a source module inserted into the source mount and a latch of the source mount in an engaged position. [Figure 7B] Figure 7B is a cross-sectional top view of the source mounting fixture shown in Figure 7A, with the latch in the disengaged position. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the container receiving section of a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment, in which the container is located within the container receiving section. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a top view of the container drive assembly of a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional side view of a container drive assembly of a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the container drive assembly of a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a perspective view of a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment. [Figure 15A] Figure 15A is a schematic diagram of a radionuclide generator comprising multiple containers in a first orientation, according to one embodiment. [Figure 15B] Figure 15B is a schematic diagram of a radionuclide generator according to the embodiment of Figure 15A, which includes multiple containers in a second orientation. [Figure 15C] Figure 15C is a schematic diagram of a radionuclide generator according to the embodiment of Figure 15A, which has multiple precursor radionuclide sources in an extended configuration. [Figure 16]Figure 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating radionuclides using a radionuclide generator according to one embodiment. Configuration for carrying out the invention

[0009] Radionuclides can be used for a variety of purposes in fields such as medicine, biology, physics, and other industries. Some radionuclides with relatively short half-lives are suitable for use in various medical applications, such as targeted alpha particle therapy (TAT). Radionuclides with relatively short half-lives may be suitable for certain applications, as they can be administered to patients to treat specific conditions (e.g., prostate cancer or various cancers such as carcinoid cancer) while limiting the patient's exposure time to radioactivity. Therefore, therapy with radionuclides with short half-lives may have fewer or no serious side effects than therapy with radionuclides with long half-lives. Depending on the application, lead-212 ( 212 Since Pb has a half-life of approximately 10.6 hours, it may be a desirable radionuclide for use in TAT and other therapeutic and application applications.

[0010] While shorter half-lives for some radionuclides may be desirable for therapeutic purposes, this can also impose certain difficulties in delivering and storing the radionuclides before treatment. For example, 212 Because of its short half-life, lead (Pb) can be difficult to transport and / or store during transport and storage because it may decay into undesirable daughters, granddaughters, or other progressive radionuclides. On the other hand, parent, grandparent, or other precursor radionuclides may have longer half-lives, and as a result, these precursor radionuclides can be transported and / or stored for longer periods without decaying significantly into undesirable progressive radionuclides.

[0011] In view of the above, the inventors have recognized and acknowledged the benefits of a radionuclide generator that can generate a desired daughter radionuclide (or "target radionuclide") from a parent, grandparent, or other precursor radionuclide with a longer half-life. The radionuclide generator according to the present disclosure can enable the production of the target radionuclide at or near the location where the target radionuclide is used. Thus, the target radionuclide may have a shorter time until it decays to an undesirable daughter radionuclide before use. This can facilitate a higher amount and / or higher purity of the target radionuclide, thereby improving the effectiveness of the target radionuclide during use. For example, the generator can produce 228 Thallium 228 ( 224 Ra), a precursor radionuclide such as radium 224, or any other precursor radionuclide, and 212 Pb can be produced, and 212 Pb can be transported or stored for a significant period of time before producing 212 Pb can be produced in a generator at a hospital or treatment facility immediately before being administered to a patient. In such applications, 212 the period until 212 Pb decays before administration is shortened. Thus, when 212 Pb is administered, 212 the amount and / or purity of 212 Pb (and as a result, the effectiveness of the treatment) may be greater than if

[0012] Naturally, the generators described herein are not limited to being operated in hospitals, treatment facilities, or other locations of use. Rather, some of the generators described herein may be suitable for generating the target radionuclides in production facilities and / or other locations located further away from where the target radionuclides may be used. In this regard, some embodiments that are fully or partially automated, semi-automated, or otherwise mechanized, as described below, can facilitate a reliable and / or consistent generation process. Such reliability and / or consistency may be desirable at any location, including production facilities, treatment facilities, and / or any other location suitable for generating the target radionuclides.

[0013] In some embodiments, the generator according to the Disclosure may receive a container in which the target radionuclide can be generated and / or collected. The container may comprise a vessel for collecting or containing the radionuclide and / or a solution comprising the radionuclide, e.g., a vial, flask, ampoule, bottle, or any other suitable container. In some embodiments, the generator may be configured to expose one or more portions of the container (e.g., the inner surface and / or internal volume of the container) to a precursor radionuclide. The precursor may decay to become one or more progressive radionuclides containing the target radionuclide. In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more progressive radionuclides may be made gaseous at or near ambient pressure and temperature such that at least one progressive radionuclide is released as a gas from the precursor radionuclide. For example, radon-220( 220 Rn) is radium-224 ( 224 Ra), Thorium-228 ( 228 A precursor radionuclide, comprising Th) and / or any other suitable precursor radionuclide, may be released as a radionuclide in gaseous form. However, 220 Among gaseous radionuclides such as Rn, some have short half-lives, while others decay into progressive radionuclides that become solid or liquid at or near ambient pressure and temperature. In the example above, 220Rn has a half-life of less than 1 minute and can be solid at ambient pressure and temperature. 212 It has the potential to decay into Pb. Therefore, 224 Ra and / or 228 Exposure of the inner surface of a container to a precursor radionuclide containing Th is when the precursor radionuclide is gaseous 220 It decays into the precursor as Rn and is released from the radionuclide, and when exposed to environmental conditions inside a container that can correspond to the ambient temperature and pressure (although other temperatures and pressures suitable for allowing the formation of liquid or solid lead on the inner surface of the container may also be used), solid 212 It will further collapse into Pb, 212 It will be understood that Pb can be deposited on the interior surface.

[0014] Naturally, here, 228 From Th 212 This specification will describe the decay chain in the thorium series up to Pb, with specific reference to that chain, but it will be understood that this specification is not limited to any particular radionuclide or any particular decay chain. In this regard, the generators relating to this disclosure are 232 Th, 228 Ra, 228 Ac, 228 Th, 227 Th, 227 Ac, 226 Ra, 224 Ra, 223 Rn, 219 Rn can be configured to accept any suitable precursor nuclide, including any combination of the above, or any other suitable radionuclides or combinations of radionuclides. Similarly, the generators specified herein 222 Rn, 220 Rn, 219 Rn, 216 Po, 214 Pb, 214 Bi, 214 Po, 212 Pb, 212 Bi, 212 Po, 211 Pb, 211 Bi, 211 Po, 210 Pb, 210 Bi,210 Po, 208 Tl, 208 The generator can be configured to generate any suitable radionuclide, including Pb, any combination of the aforementioned radionuclides, or any other suitable radionuclide or combination of radionuclides. Furthermore, although a portion of the thorium series decay chain has been described herein, it will be understood that the generator according to this disclosure can be configured to accommodate the neptunium series, the uranium or radium series, the actinium series, or any other decay chain or portion thereof comprising any of the aforementioned parts.

[0015] In some applications, the operation of a generator or other method that generates a target radionuclide from a precursor radionuclide can be performed manually. For example, in some applications, the inner surface of a container can be exposed to the precursor radionuclide by manually inserting the precursor radionuclide into the container. Furthermore, the precursor radionuclide can be manually removed from the container. As is understood, such manual processes can lead to various undesirable consequences. For example, the manual insertion and removal of a precursor radionuclide may lead to accidental and / or incidental contact between the precursor radionuclide and parts of the container (e.g., the inner surface, rim, or outer surface of the container). This may result in some amount of precursor radionuclide accumulating on the contact points of the container. Accumulation of precursor radionuclide on the outer surface of the container is undesirable because the accumulation of unshielded radioactive material poses a danger to people exposed to the container. Accumulation of precursor radionuclide on the inner surface of the container may be undesirable because it results from contamination of the target radionuclide by the precursor radionuclide. In medical applications, it is sometimes desirable to maintain the stated purity, quantity, and composition of the product during manufacturing to ensure that it is in an appropriate composition for the prescribed treatment.

[0016] In view of the above, the inventors have recognized and acknowledged the benefits of radionuclide generators whose operation can be fully or partially automated, semi-automated, or otherwise mechanized. Such mechanization may reduce the risks associated with purely manual operation in the generation process, including, for example, the risk of exposure and contamination. Such generators may further facilitate a more reliable and / or reproducible generation process by reducing the variability associated with manual operation. In various embodiments, the generators according to the present disclosure can be configured to selectively expose the inner surface of a container to a precursor radionuclide in a consistent manner. In some embodiments, the generator may have a container module configured to receive a container and a source module configured to receive a precursor radionuclide. The container module and the source module may interact in various ways to expose the inner surface of the container to the precursor radionuclide. For example, the container module and the source module may be configured to cooperate in aligning the precursor radionuclide with an opening in the container so that the precursor radionuclide can be selectively inserted into and / or removed from the container. In some embodiments, the container module may have a container receiving section of dimensions and shape that can accommodate a container, and may be configured to move the container receiving section and / or move the container within the container receiving section.

[0017] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the generator or its container module can be configured to move the container between two or more orientations. As used herein, an orientation can be a specific position of the container in three-dimensional space, in combination with a specific orientation of the container (which may include angular orientation). Thus, moving the container between two orientations (e.g., a first orientation and a second orientation) may involve translating the container, rotating the container, or both translating and rotating the container. Mechanized movement of the container between two or more orientations as described herein can facilitate reliable positioning and / or alignment of the container during, before, or after the generating process. For example, the container can be loaded into the generator in a first orientation and moved to a second orientation (e.g., translated from the first position to the second position and / or rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation). According to some embodiments, when the container is in the first orientation, the container can be aligned with the loading port of the generator, which may be an opening in the housing, a container module, or another part of the generator. Accordingly, when the container is in the first position, it may be removable from the generator through the loading port. Furthermore, or when the container is in the second position, the container or its opening may be aligned, in contact with and / or otherwise positioned and / or oriented in a suitable manner in relation to the source module so that the internal volume of the container can be selectively exposed to the precursor radionuclide. Accordingly, when the container is in the second position, the precursor radionuclide may be inserted through the opening of the container to expose the inner surface of the container to the source. In operation, the inner surface of the container may be exposed to the source for an exposure time appropriate to allow the precursor radionuclide to decay into one or more progressive radionuclides and to allow at least one gaseous radionuclide to be released from the precursor radionuclide. The exposure time may be further sufficient, or additional time may be permitted, so that the gaseous progressive radionuclide(s) may accumulate on the inner surface of the container (as solid, liquid, or both). As can be understood, the exposure time can be predetermined in order to generate a predetermined amount of the target progressive radionuclide.In various embodiments, the container can be returned to a first position for release, or moved to a third position different from the first position in order to release the container from the generator. As recognized, the generator and / or its container module can be configured to move the container and / or container receiver between any suitable number of positions.

[0018] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the source module may be configured to facilitate selective and / or consistent exposure of the container (or its inner surface) to a precursor radionuclide. The precursor radionuclide can be placed in part of the source module. In some embodiments, the source module may have a precursor radionuclide source on which the precursor radionuclide can be placed. As will be described later, the precursor radionuclide source (or simply "source") may be any material containing the precursor radionuclide. The source module may have a source holder configured to receive the source. Furthermore, the source module may be configured to selectively expose or isolate the precursor radionuclide and / or the precursor radionuclide source. For example, the source module may be configured to selectively move the source between an exposure configuration and a retraction configuration. In some embodiments, the source module may include a shaft. The shaft may have a source holder configured to receive a source, and the precursor radionuclide and / or source may be movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the source may be isolated within a source module. For example, in the retracted position, the source may be isolated from the container and / or the surrounding environment by one or more airtight seals. In the extended position, the source may be exposed. For example, in some embodiments, the generator may be configured so that the precursor radionuclide and / or source can be extended into a container located within a container module. Thus, in some embodiments, when the precursor radionuclide and / or source is in the extended position, the source or source holder may be extended through an opening in the container to expose the inner surface of the container to the precursor radionuclide. After the exposure time, the precursor radionuclide and / or source can be moved to the retracted position to isolate the inner surface of the container from the precursor radionuclide.

[0019] To further reduce the risk of precursor radionuclides contaminating the container, the source module may be configured to maintain a gap between the source or source holder and the container for at least part of the generation process or for the entire generation process. In some embodiments, the source module or its shaft may be configured to maintain a gap between the source housed therein together with the source holder and the container (or the inner surface of the container) during movement between a retracted position, an extended position, and / or between the retracted and extended positions. For example, the source module may be configured to selectively extend and retract the shaft, source holder, and / or source through an opening in the container while maintaining a gap between the container and the shaft or source holder.

[0020] Another hazard associated with manual operation during the generation process is the potential exposure of radionuclides (e.g., precursor radionuclides and / or progressive radionuclides) to the surrounding environment. Depending on the application, gaseous progressive radionuclides (e.g., 220 Rn) can release radioactive nuclides into the surrounding environment from its precursor radioactive nuclide. Such leakage of gaseous radioactive nuclides is undesirable.

[0021] In view of the above, the inventors have recognized and acknowledged the advantages of radionuclide generators that can reliably and consistently isolate precursor radionuclides from the surrounding environment when exposure is not desired. Some generators according to the present disclosure can isolate precursor radionuclides in any suitable manner, for example, by forming one or more airtight seals between the space containing the precursor radionuclide and / or progressive radionuclide and the surrounding external environment. In embodiments having a source module, the source module may be configured to selectively isolate source radionuclide and / or source radionuclide source. For example, in embodiments having a source module with a shaft, the source module may further have a sheath that at least partially surrounds the shaft. The shaft may be extendable and retractable via the sheath to move, for example, the precursor radionuclide and / or source between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. In some embodiments, the shaft and the sheath may be configured to isolate precursor radionuclides by cooperating to form one or more airtight seals between them. Some embodiments include one or more O-rings, gaskets, flexible materials, or other seals, which are included in the source module, for example, a shaft, a sheath, or both. In some embodiments, a precursor radionuclide may be positioned on a portion of the shaft between two seals formed together with the sheath, so that the precursor radionuclide can be isolated between the two seals when the shaft retracts into the sheath.

[0022] In addition to the above, some generators may have materials that can at least partially block the leakage of nuclear radiation emitted during use from the generator. For example, some generators may have housing and / or shielding components that may be formed from high-density and / or radiopaque metals, alloys, or composite materials including steel, lead, tungsten, tin, antimony, bismuth, aluminum, copper and / or any other suitable shielding material. While useful for safety purposes, some of the above materials may be difficult and / or expensive to obtain, manufacture, handle, transport, or otherwise perform during the manufacture of the generator.

[0023] In view of the above, the inventors have recognized and acknowledged the benefits of radionuclide generators having at least a portion that can be removed or replaced without requiring replacement of the entire generator. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the source module may be configured to be removable from the generator so that a single generator can be used with multiple different source modules and / or precursor radionuclide sources. For example, the user can replace the source device if the source is depleted or if a different precursor radionuclide is desired. According to some embodiments, the source module may be selectively connectable to the generator or generator housing using a source mounting fixture which may include one or more latches, fasteners, snaps, magnets, fasteners, adapters, return mechanisms, threaded parts, or any other suitable connecting parts. Furthermore, the source mounting fixture can be configured to form an airtight seal at an interface between the source module and the generator or generator housing, and / or to align a part of the source module (e.g., a shaft, sheath, source holder, and / or a precursor radionuclide source) with a container or a part thereof (e.g., the edge and / or opening of the container).

[0024] Furthermore, or in some embodiments, at least a portion of the source module may be configured to be detachable from the source module, thereby allowing the portion of the source module to be reused with multiple different sources or precursor radionuclides. In embodiments in which the source module comprises a shaft and / or sheath, various parts of the shaft and / or sheath may be detachable so that these various parts can be replaced and / or reused. For example, in some embodiments, the shaft of the source module may comprise a source holder in which a source may be placed, and a rod configured to allow the source holder to be extended and retracted. The source holder may be connected to the rod by one or more pins, clasps, snaps, adapters, threads, stoppers, fasteners, friction fits, magnets, and / or any other suitable connecting parts. By detaching the rod from the source holder, the rod can be removed and connected to a different source holder. Furthermore, in some embodiments in which the shaft is at least partially enclosed by the sheath, the sheath or a portion thereof may remain selectively connected to the source holder in order to maintain the isolation configuration of the source holder. For example, in embodiments in which one or more airtight seals are formed between the shaft and the sheath to isolate the source, the airtight seals may be maintained during the removal of the rod and / or other parts(s) of the source module.

[0025] To further understand, various materials and components of the generator may be exposed to radiation from radionuclides within the generator. Radiation can cause long-term degradation and / or damage to the generator materials. The rate of material degradation and / or damage, and consequently the effective lifespan of the materials, may be influenced by the intensity of the radiation emitted from the radionuclides. For example, a component adjacent to a precursor radionuclide source with a radiation intensity of 10 gigabecquerels (GBq) may degrade faster and / or have a shorter service life than a similar component adjacent to a similar component with a radiation intensity of 10 megabecquerels (MBq).

[0026] In view of the above, the inventors have recognized and acknowledged the advantages of a generator capable of housing multiple precursor radionuclide sources and / or multiple containers associated with multiple sources. In some embodiments, the generator may have two or more source modules and / or two or more container modules. In embodiments having multiple sources and / or multiple containers, each individual source can be selected to have a relatively low radiation intensity without significantly reducing the generation rate of the desired progressive radionuclide compared to a single-source generator with a relatively high radiation intensity. This reduced intensity emitted from each individual source can improve the service life of the generator or its various components compared to a single source with a higher intensity.

[0027] Naturally, the number of sources and / or containers in a generator can vary significantly depending on the application, as can the radiation intensity of the source(s). In this regard, the disclosure of a generator with multiple sources does not preclude the usefulness of high-intensity source or single-source generators. Furthermore, as is evident from this disclosure, there may be other advantages to a generator configured to house multiple high-intensity sources, so it should be understood that a generator and / or container configured to house multiple sources can be used with sources of any intensity. For example, the ability to expose and / or isolate multiple sources from the user or operating system by a single action (e.g., by the operation of a single actuator), and / or the ability to move multiple containers between various positions by a single action, can provide efficiency benefits during operation. Therefore, it should be recognized that both single-source and multi-source generators can be configured to handle any radiation intensity, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0028] As described above, in various embodiments, a precursor radionuclide source has any suitable substrate material into which the precursor radionuclide can be incorporated. In some embodiments, the source can be impregnated, coated, or otherwise loaded with the precursor radionuclide in any suitable manner. This includes loading liquid and / or solid precursor radionuclides onto the substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate may be porous to facilitate penetration and / or coating of the substrate by the precursor radionuclide. Furthermore, a precursor radionuclide source may have any suitable natural or synthetic substrate material for supporting the precursor radionuclide, including any suitable ceramic, plastic, polymer, metal, natural fiber, synthetic fiber, glass, mineral, paper, quartz, or any other suitable substrate material. In some embodiments, the precursor radionuclide source may have wool material, e.g., quartz wool, carbon wool, mineral wool, or metallic wool (e.g., steel wool). Furthermore, the precursor radionuclide source may be formed in any suitable regular or irregular geometric shape. In some embodiments, the precursor radionuclide source can be formed as a disk, an elongated disk, a cylinder (including an annular cylinder, a solid cylinder, or a combination thereof), a tablet, a lump, a piece of debris, a sphere, a sheet, a plate, a ball, a rod, or any other suitable geometric shape.

[0029] In addition to the above, it is understood that the rate at which gaseous source products can be emitted from the source may be influenced by the surface area of ​​the source substrate material. Therefore, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to provide a porous source substrate material in order to increase the emission rate by increasing the surface area of ​​the source. For example, in various embodiments, the source material may have any suitable porosity. In some embodiments, the source material may have a porosity of 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, or any other suitable porosity.

[0030] Furthermore, the source material may have a porosity of 99% or less, 90% or less, 80% or less, 70% or less, 60% or less, or any other suitable porosity. Also, the aforementioned combinations are possible, for example, including 30% to 99%, 50% to 90%, and / or other suitable combinations. Naturally, while specific ranges for the porosity of the source material are provided above, it will be understood that other porosities, both larger and smaller than those provided, are intended not to be limited thereto. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the source substrate material may have any suitable pore size, which can be interconnected to form an open porous structure. In some embodiments, the source material may have a pore size of 0.5 micrometers (μm) or larger, 5 μm or larger, 30 μm or larger, 40 μm or larger, 50 μm or larger, or any other suitable pore size. Furthermore, the source material may have pore dimensions of 200 μm or less, 100 μm or less, 80 μm or less, 60 μm or less, 40 μm or less, or any other suitable pore dimensions. For example, the aforementioned combinations are also possible, including 0.5 μm to 200 μm, 30 μm or more and 40 μm or less, and / or any other suitable combination of the above. Naturally, while specific ranges for pore dimensions within the source material are provided above, it will be understood that other pore dimensions larger and smaller than those provided are also not limited in this regard.

[0031] Furthermore, the precursor radionuclides of the radionuclide generator (e.g., precursor radionuclides placed on the precursor radionuclide source) may be provided in any suitable mass or quantity. In some embodiments, the precursor radionuclide source may have a mass of 10 micrograms (μg) or more, 50 μg or more, 100 μg or more, 250 μg or more, 500 μg or more, or any other suitable mass. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the precursor radionuclide source may have a mass of 1000 μg or less, 750 μg or less, 500 μg or less, 250 μg or less, or any other suitable mass. The aforementioned combinations are also intended, including 10 μg or more and 1000 μg or less, 50 μg or more and 250 μg or less, 250 μg or more and 500 μg or less, or any other suitable combination thereof. Naturally, while a specific range of masses for precursor radionuclides is provided above, it will be understood that other masses, both greater and less than those provided, are also intended, so as not to limit the disclosure in this regard. As will be understood, the mass or amount of precursor radionuclides placed on the precursor radionuclides source may affect the effective lifetime of the precursor radionuclides source.

[0032] In connection therewith, the precursor radionuclide source may be further configured to emit any suitable radiation intensity. In some embodiments, the precursor radionuclide source may have intensity masses of 10 MBq or more, 100 MBq or more, 250 MBq or more, 500 MBq or more, or any other suitable intensity. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the precursor radionuclide source may have intensity levels of 10 GBq or less, 4 GBq or less, 2 GBq or less, 1 GBq or less, or any other suitable intensity. Combinations of the above are also intended, including 10 MBq or more and 10 MBq or less, 10 MBq or less and 100 MBq or less, 1 GBq or more and 4 GBq or less, 1 GBq or more and 2 GBq or less, or any other suitable combination thereof. Naturally, while specific ranges for the intensity of the precursor radionuclide are provided above, it will be understood that other masses greater and less than those provided are also intended, so as not to limit this disclosure in this respect. As can be understood, the mass or amount of precursor radionuclides placed on a precursor radionuclide source can affect the effective lifetime of the precursor radionuclide source.

[0033] Certain non-limiting embodiments will be described in further detail with reference to the figures. It should be understood that the various systems, components, features, and methods described in relation to these embodiments may be used individually and / or in any desired combination, so as not to limit this disclosure to the specific embodiments described herein.

[0034] Figure 1 shows Thorium-232( 232 A diagram of an exemplary thorium series decay chain beginning with Th) is shown. The half-lives of each radionuclide in the decay chain are shown in Figure 1. Note that the radionuclide of radon-220 ( 220 The half-life of Rn is only 55.6 seconds, and polon-216( 216 Attenuates to Po) 216 Note that the half-life of Po is only 0.145 seconds), after which the radioactive nuclide of lead-212 ( 212 It attenuates to Pb), from Figure 1, 220 It is further noteworthy that Rn can be a gas at atmospheric pressure and temperature. Therefore,220 Precursor nuclides to Rn (for example) 224 Ra, 228 Th, 228 Ra, 232 Th, or, 228 When a source containing Ac) is exposed to a portion of the container, the precursor radionuclide becomes a gas. 220 It will be understood that it can decay into Rn. Next, the gas 220 Rn is 212 Attenuated to Pb, 212 It can adhere to the exposed part of the container as lead (Pb).

[0035] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a radionuclide generator 100 according to one embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the generator 100 may have a housing 102 configured to at least partially include, surround, or otherwise house various parts of the generator 100. The housing 102 can be formed from any suitable material, including any suitable metal, plastic, ceramic, composite, or other material. In some embodiments, the housing may be formed from stainless steel or any other suitable material. Optionally, the housing 102 can perform a shielding function, and as a result, the housing 102 can resist the leakage of nuclear radiation from the generator 100. In some such embodiments, the housing 102 or a portion thereof may be formed from a suitable shielding material, such as lead, tungsten, or any other suitable material.

[0036] In some embodiments, the housing 102 may be provided with a loading port 104. The loading port 104 may be an opening in the housing 102 through which a container can pass for loading the container into the generator 100 and / or for releasing the container from the generator. In this regard, the loading port 104 may be sized and shaped to receive the container and allow the container to pass through the loading port. Furthermore, the generator 100 may further include a loading cover 106. The loading cover 106 may be configured to selectively open and close the loading port 104. For example, the loading cover 106 or a part thereof may be partially inserted into and removed from the loading port 104 so as to open and close the loading port. In various embodiments, the loading cover may be selectively connectable and / or retained within the loading port using a snap, latch, fastener, screw, lock, friction fitting, or any other suitable interface. Furthermore, the loading cover and loading port may be configured to form an airtight seal when the loading cover is inserted into the loading port. For example, at least one of the loading cover and the loading port may have one or more gaskets, O-rings, flexible materials, or any other suitable type of seal. In some embodiments, both the loading cover and the loading port may have gaskets, O-rings, or other seals.

[0037] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the generator 100 may have one or more actuators to allow different parts of the generator to be moved between different orientations (i.e., translated and / or rotated) or otherwise operated. The actuators may move, operate and / or control parts of the generator in any suitable way, including the use of buttons, dials, knobs, switches, handles, push rods, plungers, levers, linear actuators, rotary actuators, biasing members, and / or any other suitable manual or automatic control or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the actuators may facilitate and / or enable the movement of the vessel, the movement of the precursor radionuclide source, the movement of parts of the generator, and / or the movement of any other suitable components. In the illustrated embodiment, the generator 100 may comprise a first lever 116 having a first handle 120A and a second lever 118 having a second handle 120B. As detailed below, the first lever 116 and the second lever 118 may be configured to move the vessel within the vessel receiving section. For example, the operation of the first lever and the second lever, respectively, can cause rotation and / or movement of the container within the container receiving section, thereby moving the container between a first position and a second position. Furthermore, the source module 110 may have a source handle 120A configured to allow movement of a precursor radionuclide source. For example, the source handle 120A can be operated to move the source between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, as described below (see Figures 5A to 5C).

[0038] As best shown in the cutaway diagrams of Figures 3 and 4, the generator may have a container module 108 and a source module 110. The container module 108 may be configured to receive a container 112. In some embodiments, the container module may have a container receiving section 114. The container receiving section 114 may be configured to receive the container 112 by, for example, having a cavity of a size and shape that accommodates the container. The container module 108 may be further configured to move the container within the container receiving section. In some embodiments, the container module may be configured to move the container between various positions within the container receiving section. For example, the container 112 may be loaded into the generator 100 in a first position (e.g., the position and orientation of the container in Figure 3) and moved to a second position (e.g., the position and orientation of the container in Figure 4). In the first orientation, the container may be positioned and / or oriented to be loaded into or released from a generator by, for example, aligning the container (or a part thereof, e.g., an opening, neck, rim, or any other suitable part) with the generator's loading port. In the second orientation, the container may be positioned and / or oriented to selectively receive a precursor radionuclide source into the container's internal volume through the container's opening. In some embodiments, when the container is in the second orientation, the container and / or its opening can be aligned with the precursor radionuclide source and / or a part of the source module 110 (e.g., a shaft, sheath, or another part of the source module).

[0039] In various embodiments, the container module may have any suitable actuators for moving the container receiving section and / or the container within the container receiving section. For example, the container module may have one or more of the following: buttons, dials, knobs, switches, handles, actuators, push rods, plungers, levers, linear actuators, rotary actuators, biasing members, and / or any other suitable manual or automatic controls or combinations thereof. Furthermore, one or more actuators may be optionally configured to be actuated and / or operated manually, semi-automatically, automatically, and / or by any other suitable method, for example, using an end effector or manipulator of a robot or other device. In the illustrated embodiment, the container module may comprise a first lever 116 and a second lever 118, each having a first handle 120A and a second handle 120B. Each of the first handle 120A and the second handle 120B may be configured to facilitate the actuating of the respective lever by an end effector or manipulator of a robot or other device. For example, each handle may have a rectangular or cubic shape to provide opposing flat surfaces to facilitate engagement of the handle by an end effector or manipulator. Naturally, it will be understood that the handle may instead be configured to facilitate operation in any suitable way, including manual operation. For example, the source handle 120C of the source module 110 may be tapered, rounded, or otherwise ergonomically shaped to facilitate manual operation by an operator wearing, for example, leaded gloves. As will be understood, the source handle may also be configured for mechanized operation by having, for example, a rectangular or cubic geometric shape, a T-shaped geometric shape, or any other geometric shape that can be engaged by a robot's end effector or manipulator or other mechanized actuator.

[0040] In some embodiments, the container module 108 may have a plurality of actuators, such as a first lever 116 and a second lever 118. Each actuator may be configured to move the container 112 between two or more orientations, for example, by translating the container 112 and / or the container receiving portion 114 to change the position of the container 112, and / or by rotating the container and / or the container receiving portion to change the orientation of the container 112. In some embodiments, the first actuator may rotate the container and / or the container receiving portion, and the second actuator may translate the container and / or the container receiving portion. For example, the first lever 116 may rotate in the direction of arrow 124 about the first lever axis 122. The first lever 116 can be operably connected to the container receiving section 114, so that when the first lever 116 rotates about the first lever axis 122, the container receiving section 114 and any container 112 placed therein can also rotate about the first lever axis 122. This rotation can at least partially control the alignment of the container 112 or its opening with the source module 110 or a part thereof (e.g., the source 132, source holder, and / or shaft 134 of the source module 110).

[0041] Furthermore, the second lever 118 can be rotated in the direction of arrow 126 to selectively extend, retract, or otherwise actuate the container drive assembly 128. As described below, the drive tip 214 can be selectively extended and retracted in the driving direction of arrow 130 as the second lever 118 is rotated. In some configurations (for example, when the container receiver 114 is rotated to align the container 112 with the source module 110, as shown in Figure 4), the container 112 can be moved along the driving direction 130 by extending and retracting the drive tip. For example, the drive tip 214 can engage with the container receiver 114 or a part thereof to bias the container 112 within the container receiver toward the source module 110 in a first driving direction and / or toward a second orientation. Furthermore, the retraction of the drive tip 214 may cause or enable the container 112 to move in a second drive direction opposite to the first drive direction (for example, away from the source module 110). For example, in some embodiments, the container receiver 114 may have a biasing member that biases the container in the second drive direction, such as a compression spring, tension spring, air spring, pneumatic cylinder, or any other suitable biasing member configured to apply a force that biases the container toward the source module.

[0042] Although the container module 108 has been shown and described having two actuators, the disclosure is not limited thereto, so it will be understood that any suitable number of actuators, including a single actuator, three actuators, or any other suitable number, may be included in the container module or generator of this disclosure. Furthermore, as stated above, one or more actuators other than the rotatable handle may be used to provide the desired action.

[0043] The source module 110 may be configured to receive a precursor radionuclide source 132 (the dashed lines in Figures 3 and 4 indicate the internal structure). In some embodiments, the source module 110 may have a shaft 134 on which the precursor radionuclide source 132 can be placed. The source module 110 may be further configured to selectively expose the inner surface of the container 112 to the precursor radionuclide source in an exposure configuration and to isolate the inner surface of the container from the precursor radionuclide source in an isolation configuration. For example, the shaft 134 may be selectively extendable and retractable so that the source module 110 can be configured to move the source 132 between a retracted configuration in which the source 132 is isolated from the container 112 (e.g., the configuration in Figure 3) and an extended configuration in which the inner surface of the container 112 is exposed to the source 132 (e.g., the configuration in Figure 4). In other words, the exposure configuration can be an extended configuration and / or the isolation configuration can be a retracted configuration, but the exposure and isolation configurations may further or otherwise accommodate other configurations. In some embodiments, the shaft may have a handle 120 for facilitating or enabling the movement of the source 132 between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration, for example, in the direction of arrow 136.

[0044] In some embodiments, the source module 110 or a portion thereof may be removable from the generator 100. For example, the generator 100 or its housing may be configured to removably receive the source module 110. In some embodiments, the housing may have a source mount 138 which can be configured to removably receive the source module 110 or any portion thereof. In various embodiments, the source mount may connect the source module or a portion thereof to the housing or generator in any suitable manner, including using one or more latches, fasteners, snaps, return mechanisms, fasteners, magnets, threaded parts, and / or any other suitable connecting parts. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the source mount and / or the source module may be configured to provide an airtight seal at the interface between the source mount and the source module, for example, by using one or more gaskets, O-rings, flexible materials, or other airtight seals at the interface.

[0045] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the source mount 138 may have and / or be connected to a source shield 140. The source shield 140 may be configured to at least partially block nuclear radiation from leaking from the generator during use. In some embodiments, the source shield may be sized and shaped to receive and at least partially surround a source and / or have an internal cavity to receive the shaft, sheath, source holder, and / or other parts of the source module. In some embodiments, the cavity may extend from a first end portion to a second end portion of the source shield 140, so that the source may be extended and / or retracted along the entire length of the source shield. As understood, such a source shield may be formed from any suitable radiopaque material, such as steel, lead, tungsten, tin, antimony, bismuth, aluminum, copper, and / or any other suitable material or any combination of materials capable of providing sufficient shielding to the generator. Furthermore, the source shield can be formed into any suitable shape, including regular or irregular shapes such as cylindrical, conical, cubic, or pyramidal shapes, or any suitable irregular or regular shape. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the source shield 140 can be formed with a stepped cylindrical shape, thereby the source shield may have a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The first end may be formed as a first cylinder having a first diameter, and the second end may be formed as a second cylinder having a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The intermediate portion may be formed as a cone, and the cone may have a varying diameter that can increase from the first end to the second end. It will be understood that the diameter at any given point along the length of the source shield can be selected based on the expected degree or amount of nuclear radiation at that location. For example, in applications where the radiation source is expected to be primarily located within the second end portion, the diameter of the second end portion can be larger than the diameter of the first end portion removed from the source.

[0046] Figure 5A shows a top view of a source module 110 according to one embodiment. The source module 110 may have a proximal end portion 142 and a distal end portion 144. The proximal end portion 142 may be configured to be inserted into a generator or a part thereof (e.g., a source connector, a shielding element, and / or a generator housing). In some embodiments, the proximal end portion may be configured to extend from the generator when the proximal end portion is inserted into the generator. The shaft 134 may extend between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. In some embodiments, the source module may have a sheath that can at least partially enclose the shaft and can extend along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. For example, the sheath 146 can at least partially enclose the shaft 134 along at least a portion of the length of the shaft. The shaft 134 may be configured to be selectively extendable and retractable via the sheath 146 by pushing or pulling axially on a source handle 120C located at the distal end of the shaft. In some embodiments, the source module 110 may be configured to restrict the movement of the shaft within the sheath. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 134 may have a pin 148 extending radially outward from the shaft. The pin 148 may be located in or be locatable within a slot 150 formed in the sheath 146. The slot 150 may be an elongated opening formed along a portion of the sheath 146, and its dimensions and shape may be determined to receive the pin 148 and allow the pin 148 to move therebetween a first end of the slot 150 and a second end of the slot, thereby restricting the linear movement of the shaft in at least one of the extension direction (i.e., towards the proximal end 142) and the retraction direction (i.e., towards the distal end 144), which in some embodiments can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

[0047] In some embodiments, the source module may be configured to be detachable from the generator or a part thereof (e.g., the generator housing or source mounting fixture). For example, the source module may have a coupling portion 154. In various embodiments, the source module may have any suitable coupling portion for detachably coupling the source module or a part thereof to the generator, which includes one or more latches, fasteners, snaps, return stops, fasteners, magnets, threaded parts, and / or any other suitable coupling portion. A coupling portion of one non-limiting embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figures 6-7. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the source module may be configured to provide an airtight seal at an interface between the generator and the source module, for example, by using one or more gaskets, O-rings, or other airtight seals at the interface. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling portion 154 may include an O-ring 152 for forming an airtight seal at the interface between the generator and the source module.

[0048] Figures 5B and 5C show cross-sections of the source module 110 of Figure 5A, cut along line AA. Figure 5B shows the source 132 in an extended configuration, and Figure 5C shows the source 132 in a retracted configuration. In some embodiments, the shaft of the source module may have multiple components. For example, the shaft 134 may have a rod 156, an adapter 158, a shielding element 160, and a source holder 162. In some embodiments, the rod 156 may be an elongated member configured to extend from the distal end portion 144 toward the proximal end portion 142 of the source module 110. Furthermore, the rod 156 may have or be connected to a source handle 120C at the distal end of the rod to allow movement of the shaft 134 (or its rod). In some embodiments, the shielding element 160 may be included within the shaft (for example, distal to the source) to at least partially block nuclear radiation from the source 132 from leaking out of the generator. As with other shielding components described herein, the shielding element may be formed from any suitable material, including lead, tungsten, and / or others, as described herein or otherwise known. The source holder 162 may be configured to receive a precursor radionuclide source by, for example, providing an opening, slot, or other receiving portion of a size and shape suitable for receiving a source. In the illustrated embodiment, a source slot 258 may be formed within the source holder 162. The source slot 258 may be sized and shaped to receive a source 132, which may be formed as an elongate disc in the illustrated embodiment. Although the source is depicted as an elongated disk in the example shown, it will be understood that the source may be formed in any suitable regular or irregular geometric shape, including cylinders (including annular cylinders, solid cylinders, or combinations thereof), disks, tablets, lumps, scraps, spheres, sheets, plates, balls, rods, or any other suitable geometric shape.

[0049] Similarly, although the source slot 258 is depicted as a cavity or hollow portion of the source holder, it will be understood that the source holder may have any source receiving portion appropriately formed to receive a source of a corresponding shape. For example, in some embodiments, the source holder may be configured to engage and hold the source around and / or periphery of the source while opposing sides of the source are exposed. For example, two opposing openings may be formed in the source holder to hold the source. Furthermore, or alternatively, a single opening may extend from a first side of the source holder through the source holder to an opposing second side, and the opening may be configured to engage and hold the source while allowing these opposing sides of the source to be exposed. Such a structure may increase the surface area of ​​the source that is exposed when the source is in an extended configuration.

[0050] In addition to the above, in some embodiments, the source holder may have a source post that extends proximal to the source from its proximal end and can be formed to a size and shape that allows insertion into a hole or bore of the corresponding source. For example, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the source may be formed as a cylinder having a bore formed through at least a portion of the cylinder (e.g., along the central axis of the cylinder) to form an annular cylinder. In some such embodiments, the source holder may be configured to accommodate the annular cylinder, for example, by having a source post of a size and shape that allows insertion into the bore. Furthermore, in some such embodiments, a fixed aperture can be formed transversely (e.g., radially) through the source and source post, so that a dowel can be inserted into the fixed aperture to fix the source to the source holder. However, naturally, in such embodiments, the annular cylinder can be fixed to the rod of the source holder using any suitable method or structure, including press-fit or friction fit, snap fit, adhesive, threaded joint, or any combination thereof.

[0051] In some embodiments, the source cap 260 may be provided together with the source holder 162. The source cap 260 may be a removable part of the source holder 162 and may be sized and shaped to at least partially cover the source 132 when the source is placed on the source holder. The source cap may be any suitable shielding or non-shielding material, including any suitable metal, plastic, natural or synthetic polymer, or any other suitable material.

[0052] In some embodiments, adapters may be included to connect various components of the shaft to one another and / or to provide and / or facilitate a slidable engagement between the shaft and the inner surface of a sheath or cavity in which the shaft may be positioned. In the illustrated embodiment, the adapter 158 may engage with the rod 156 at its distal end and with the shielding element 160 at its proximal end. In various embodiments, the adapter may engage with the rod, shielding element, or other parts of the shaft by any suitable permanent or removable connector, including one or more snaps, friction fixtures, threaded fixtures, retainers, magnets, fasteners, pins, dowels, adhesives, welds, and / or any other suitable connectors.

[0053] Furthermore, or in some embodiments, two or more portions of the shaft can be joined directly (i.e., without using an adapter) using any suitable connecting part, including those described herein. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the shielding element 160 and the source holder 162 can be joined by a dowel 164. The dowel 164 can extend through through holes in both the source holder and the shielding element, and can be aligned to allow the dowel 164 to pass through them. In some embodiments, the dowel can be removable. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the dowel 164 can be configured to align with an aperture 166 formed within the sheath 146. The aperture 166 can allow the user to remove the dowel 164, thereby separating the source holder 162 from the shielding element 160.

[0054] In addition to the removable dowel 164, the pin 148 is removable from the shaft or shielding element 160. For example, the pin 148 may be a threaded fastener that can engage with a threaded bore of the shaft or a portion thereof (e.g., a threaded bore, adapter, rod, or other part of the shielding element). As understood, when the pin 148 and the dowel 164 are removed, the source module 110 may be partially disassembled so that the source handle 120C, rod 156, adapter 158, and shielding element 160 can be removed from the sheath 146, while the source holder 162 may remain isolated and / or sealed within the sheath. In some embodiments, this allows certain parts of the source module 110 (e.g., source handle, rod, adapter, and / or shielding element) to be reused, while other parts (e.g., source holder and / or sheath) remain connected to and / or isolated from the precursor radionuclide source 132.

[0055] In the recessed configuration shown in Figure 5C, the precursor radionuclide source 132 can be isolated from the container or its inner surface, part of the generator, and / or the surrounding environment surrounding the generator or source module. In some embodiments, when the source is isolated from an object or area, progressive gaseous radionuclides that may be emitted from the precursor radionuclide placed on the source can be prevented from reaching and / or coming into contact with the object or area. Therefore, in some embodiments, the source module may have at least one seal configured to form an airtight interface to isolate the source. For example, the source module may comprise a plurality of seals, each forming an airtight interface between the shaft and the sheath. Some of these seals may be airtight, movable and / or sliding and / or resealable. In some embodiments, the plurality of seals may comprise one or more seals located on a first side of the source and one or more seals located on a second side of the source. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, one or more seals (e.g., a ring 152, although other types of seals may be incorporated in addition to or instead of the ring) may be positioned proximal to the source 132 to form an airtight interface on the proximal side. In this regard, when the source module 110 is installed in the generator and the container is loaded into the generator, the container can be isolated from the source by one or more O-rings 152 (or other sealing material). Furthermore, one or more seals (e.g., two O-rings 152 as shown in the figure) may be positioned distal to the source 132 to form an airtight interface on the distal side so that the seals can isolate the source 132 from its surroundings. Naturally, although the shown embodiment depicts two O-rings distally and one O-ring proximal, it will be understood that any number of O-rings or other types of seals may be included at any suitable location within the source module according to this disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, two or more seals may be included on the proximal and / or distal sides of the source, as this disclosure is not limited thereto.In some embodiments, the sheath may further or otherwise have an O-ring or other sealing member to form an airtight interface between the sheath and the shaft. Furthermore, when the source module is inserted into the source mount, an additional O-ring 152 or other sealing member may be provided on the outer portion of the sheath 146 to form an airtight interface between the source module 110 and the source mount of the generator.

[0056] In addition to the above, the source module may have one or more seals for selective engagement and forming an airtight interface with the container to prevent gaseous progressive radionuclides from leaking through the interface between the source module and the container. For example, the source module 110 and / or sheath 146 may have a container seal 262 located at its proximal end. The container seal 262 may be configured to engage with the container or a part thereof (e.g., an edge or an opening in the container) to form an airtight interface between the container and the source module and / or sheath. In various embodiments, the container seal 262 may comprise an O-ring, a gasket, a part or covering of flexible material, or any suitable seal, or any other configuration suitable for forming an airtight interface with the container.

[0057] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a source mount 138 according to one embodiment, with the source mount removed from the generator for clarity of explanation. The source mount 138 can be configured to removably receive a source module 110. In some embodiments, the source mount may have a collar 168 configured to receive a portion of the source module. For example, the collar 168 may have an opening 264 of dimensions and shape such that it receives a portion of the source module, including the shaft, sheath, source, and / or any other suitable portion of the source module. In some embodiments, the collar or its opening may have a seal configured to form an airtight interface between the collar and the source module received therein. For example, the collar 168 may have one or more O-rings, gaskets, flexible material, or other sealing members within the opening 264.

[0058] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the latch assembly 170 may extend from or be formed adjacent to the collar 160. The latch assembly can be detachably and / or selectively engaged with the source module or its connectors so that the source module can be inserted into and removed from the source mount 138. In some embodiments, the latch assembly may have a latch 172. The latch 172 can be configured to engage with the latch of the source module, as described with reference to Figure 7. The latch 172 can be operably engaged with a camshaft 174 configured to actuate the latch 172 to engage with and / or disengage the source module. The latch 172 may have a first through-hole 180. The cam portion 176 of the camshaft 174 may be located within the first through-hole 180. The diameter of the first through-hole 180 may be larger than the diameter of the cam portion 176, thereby allowing the latch 172 to move relative to the cam portion 176 to a distance equal to the difference between the diameters. Furthermore, the cross-section of the cam portion 176 can be eccentric with respect to the central axis BB of the camshaft 174, and as a result, the rotation of the camshaft 174 about its central axis BB can cause eccentric rotation of the cam portion 176, and as a result, the latch 172 can be actuated on the cam portion 176. In some embodiments, the camshaft 174 may be fixed to or integrally formed with the source release lever 178 so that turning the source release lever 178 can cause rotation of the camshaft 174 about its central axis BB. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the source release lever 178 may have or be connected to a source release handle 120D to facilitate automation, semi-automation, mechanization, or manual operation as described above.

[0059] Figures 7A and 7B show top views of a cross-section of the source mount 138 cut along line CC, and the source module 110 is included to demonstrate selective engagement between the source module and the source mount. Figure 7A shows the latch assembly in the engaged position according to one embodiment, in which the source mount 138 engages with the source module 110 in cooperation with it to hold the source module within the generator. Figure 7B shows the latch assembly in the disengaged position, in which the source module is released from the source mount and can be removed from the generator. As shown in the figures, the latch 172 may be selectively engageable with a catch 189 or its coupling formed on the source module 110. The latch 172 may have a second through-hole that can engage with the pivot post 182 of the source mount. As can be understood by referring to the drawings, the diameter of the pivot post may be substantially the same as the diameter of the second through-hole, such that the engagement between the latch and the pivot post can restrain the translational motion of the latch 172, while allowing the latch 172 to rotate around the pivot post 182. The torsion spring 186 is provided around the pivot post 182 so that the torsion spring 186 can bias the latch 172 in the direction of arrow 184A and can contact the latch 172. This biasing force can maintain contact between the inner surface of the first through-hole 180 and the cam portion 176.

[0060] During operation, the source module 110 can be slid into the collar 168 of the source mount 138. As the source module gradually slides into the collar, the inclined portion of the catch 189 can contact and slide against the corresponding inclined and / or hook portion of the latch 172 in order to bias the latch in the direction of arrow 184B. When the inclined portion of the catch slides beyond the inclined portion of the latch, the torsion spring can bias the latch to the engaged position in the direction of arrow 184A. To remove the source module, the camshaft 174 can be rotated in the direction of arrow 184B, for example, by operating the source release lever 178. As the camshaft 174 rotates in direction 184B about its central axis BB, the eccentricity of the cam portion 176, in cooperation with the biasing force of the torsion spring 186, biases the latch, causing it to rotate around the pivot post 182 in the direction of arrow 184B toward the disengaged position. This allows the catch to slide past the latch and return, thereby removing the source module.

[0061] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a container 112 placed in a container receiving section 114 according to one embodiment. As described above, the container receiving section 114 may have a cavity 186 formed in the first end portion 202 of the container receiving section. The cavity 186 may be sized and shaped to receive the container 112. In some embodiments, the cavity 186 may be sized and shaped to receive a container mount 188 which can be configured to receive and / or secure the container 112 in the container receiving section 114 or the cavity. In some embodiments, the container mount 188 may be removable from the container receiving section 114, the container may be loaded into the container mount outside the generator, and the container mount may be loaded into the container receiving section with the container placed inside it. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the container mount may comprise two or more parts. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the container mount 188 may have a first portion 190 and a second portion 192. In some embodiments, the first portion 190 may have a retaining collar 191 configured to hold the container within the container mount. The first portion 190 and the second portion 192 may be configured to engage with each other in a releasably manner such that several pieces are disassembled to allow the container to be inserted into and / or removed from the container mount 188. In various embodiments, the portions of the container mount may be releasably engaged by any suitable couplings, including friction fits, threaded fittings, one or more snaps, one or more magnets, one or more retaining clips, and / or any other suitable couplings. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the container mount 188 may be formed from any suitable material, including any suitable metal, plastic, ceramic, composite material, rubber, or any other suitable material or combination of materials. For example, in some embodiments, the container attachment may include plastics such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), nylon, polyethylene (including high-density polyethylene or low-density polyethylene), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), or any other suitable plastic.Furthermore, in some embodiments, the container attachment may be made of natural or synthetic rubber such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl, nitrile butadiene rubber, silicone, or any other suitable rubber.

[0062] Some container modules or their container receiving sections can optionally be configured to allow, facilitate, and / or enable the movement of a container within the container receiving section. In some embodiments, the container receiving section may have a container actuation assembly configured to allow, facilitate, and / or enable the movement of a container in at least one direction. For example, the container receiving section 114 may have a container actuation assembly 194 configured to move a container 112 in a first drive direction and a second drive direction of arrows 130A and 130B. In some embodiments, the container actuation assembly 194 may have a spring 198 and a piston 200 disposed within a bore 206 of the container receiving section. The bore 206 may be sized and shaped to accommodate the spring 198 and the piston 200 and may be formed in a second end section 204 of the container receiving section opposite a first end section 202 in which a cavity 186 may be formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end 208 of the piston may contact or otherwise operably engage with a container fixture 189. In this regard, the first end 208 of the piston can operably engage with the container mount 189 in any suitable manner, including friction fit, screw, snap fit, magnetic engagement, and / or any other suitable coupling. Furthermore, in embodiments without a container mount, it will be understood that the first end 208 of the piston can contact the container itself or otherwise operably engage (e.g., the piston can simply press against the container, or the piston may have a portion configured to form a friction fit or other engagement with the container). The second end 210 of the piston can contact a spring 198 located within the bore 206. In some embodiments, the spring 198 may be a compression spring configured to bias the piston 200 toward the second end portion 204 of the container receiver 114 (e.g., in a second driving direction 130B), thereby biasing the container mount 188 and / or the container 112 toward the second end portion 204.

[0063] In some embodiments, the container receiving portion 114 may further have an end piece 212 that is at least partially located within and / or extends from the bore 206 at a second end portion 204. The end piece 212 may be configured to restrict the movement of the piston 200 in the direction of the second end portion 204 (e.g., a second drive direction 130B) by providing a lip that can cooperate with a corresponding edge at the second end portion 210 of the piston 200 to stop the movement of the piston 200. The end piece 212 may further be configured to receive the drive tip 214 of the container drive assembly 128 (see Figures 1 and 9-11) by providing a bore of a corresponding size and shape that receives the drive tip 214. The drive tip 214 is extendable and retractable through the end piece 212 and engages with the piston 200, biasing the piston 200 toward the first end portion 202 of the container receiving portion 114 (for example, in the first driving direction 130A). In some embodiments, the movement of the drive tip 214 toward the first end portion 202 relative to the piston 200 can bias the container 212 to contact the seal 262 of the source module so that an airtight interface is formed between the container and the source module.

[0064] As shown in Figure 9, the container drive assembly 128 may have a drive tip 214 configured to selectively extend and retract from the drive assembly housing 228 of the container drive assembly. In some embodiments, the container drive assembly 128 may be operably connected to a lever such that the movement of the lever can selectively extend and / or retract the drive tip. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the container drive assembly 128 may have an outer drive cylinder 216 which can be operably connected to a second lever (e.g., the second lever 118 in Figures 1 to 3), and the rotation of the second lever can cause a corresponding rotation of the outer drive cylinder 216.

[0065] As best understood with reference to Figures 10-11, rotation of the outer drive cylinder 216 can cause the corresponding extension or retraction of the drive tip 214. In some embodiments, the outer drive cylinder 216 may be operably coupled to an inner drive cylinder 218, which may be located in the bore 224 of the outer drive cylinder. The bore 224 can be sized and shaped to accommodate the inner drive cylinder. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 10 along line DD of Figure 9, the outer drive cylinder 216 may be operably coupled to the inner drive cylinder 218 by a drive pin 220. The drive pin 220 may extend radially outward from the inner drive cylinder 218. As understood, the drive pin 220 may be formed integrally with the inner drive cylinder or may be formed and assembled separately to the inner drive cylinder by any suitable assembly method including screws, friction fits, snap fits, adhesives, magnets, and / or any other couplings. The drive pin 220 may extend from the inner drive cylinder 218 into a drive slot 222 formed in the outer drive cylinder 216. As shown in Figure 11, the drive slot 222 can be an elongated opening formed in the outer drive cylinder 216. The drive slot 222 may be formed at an angle with respect to the drive direction of the container drive assembly (e.g., the drive direction 130 indicated by the arrow), so that the rotation of the outer drive cylinder 216 can cause linear movement of the inner drive cylinder 218 in the drive direction.

[0066] In some embodiments, it is desirable to limit the range of motion of the drive cylinder. Therefore, the linear movement of the inner drive cylinder 218 may be guided and / or limited by a limiting pin 224 extending radially from the inner drive cylinder 218. The limiting pin 224 may extend into a linear groove 226 formed in the drive assembly housing 228. The linear slot may be an elongated opening in the drive assembly housing that receives the limiting pin 224 and allows the limiting pin 224 to move within the linear slot 226 between a first end and a second end, thereby limiting the linear movement of the inner drive cylinder to a distance corresponding to the length of the linear slot 226.

[0067] A limiting pin 224 can additionally connect the inner drive cylinder 218 to the cylinder cap 230. The cylinder cap 230 can be positioned at the end of the inner drive cylinder 218 and can define an end bore 232 in which the drive piston 234 is at least partially positioned. The limiting pin 224 may extend from the inner drive cylinder 218 through a through hole in the cylinder cap 230 to attach the cylinder cap 230 to the inner drive cylinder 218. The drive piston 234 can be attached to the drive tip 214 by screwing, for example as shown, or by friction fitting, snapping, locking, magnets, or any other suitable engagement. In some embodiments, a flexible member may be positioned between the drive tip 214 and the cylinder cap 230. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a spring 236 can bias the drive tip 214 toward the extended position. The spring 236 may further provide compliance in the engagement between the drive tip 214 and a part of the container or a container receiving part (e.g., the piston 200 or container mounting fixture) to reduce the risk that the container (which may be formed from a fragile material such as glass) may break when the container is biased in the driving direction (e.g., toward the source module).

[0068] Figures 12 to 14 show alternative configurations of the radionuclide generator 100 embodying the concepts of this disclosure. In the schematic diagram of Figure 12, the generator 100 may have a container feeder 238 configured to store one or more containers (e.g., a first container 112A and a second container 112B) and to move one or more containers to or through one or more positions. In some embodiments, the container feeder 238 may be configured to advance one or more containers through a series of positions. The series of positions may have and / or end with a generation position in which the containers are positioned within the container receiving section 114 and the containers or their openings are aligned with a precursor radionuclide source 132 positioned on or inside the source module 110. The containers may be advanced through at least part of the series of positions by the sequential translational motion of the containers within the container feeder, for example, from within a stack of containers to a generation position as shown. In some embodiments, the generator may have a valve 248 configured to isolate the container receiving section 114 from the radiation source 132. The valve 248 may be configured to open, for example, by operating a valve handle 120E, to allow the radiation source 132 to pass through, or to close to prevent the radiation source 132 from passing through.

[0069] In some embodiments, each container can be loaded in its respective position, and each container can be advanced through a number of positions before proceeding to the generating position. For example, a first container 112A can be loaded in a first feeder position and advanced directly from the first feeder position to the generator, while a second container 112B can be loaded in a second feeder position and advanced from the second feeder position to the first feeder position before proceeding to the generating position. Naturally, it will be understood that a container feeder can be configured to accommodate any appropriate number of containers and to advance each container through any appropriate number of positions, for this disclosure is not limited in this respect. In addition to the above, in some embodiments, the container feeder 238 may have a feeder handle 120F configured to advance one or more containers loaded into the container feeder to one or more consecutive positions, including the generating position. Furthermore, the container feeder may be operated by gravity, either entirely or partially, by gravity, to remove the first container from the generating position, thereby allowing the second container to move from the feeder position to the generating position.

[0070] The generator 100 in Figure 12 may further comprise a release module 240 configured to move the container from a generating position to one or more release positions (for example, after the generating process is completed). In some embodiments, the release module 240 may have a first release handle 120G configured to move the container from a generating position (e.g., the position of the third container 112C) to at least a first release position (e.g., the position of the fourth container 112D). For example, the first release handle 120G may move the container from the generating position to the first release position in parallel, for example, in the direction of arrow 242 directed away from the source 132. In some embodiments, the second handle has or can have a first grabber arm 244A that can be operably attached to a first grabber 246A. The first grabber 246A may be configured to engage with the container in such a way as to form a friction fit with the container and / or otherwise to move the container from the generating position to at least a first release position. In some embodiments, the release module 240 may be additionally configured to move the container from a first release position (e.g., the position of the fourth container 112D) to a second release position (e.g., the position of the fifth container 112E, shown with dashed lines to distinguish it from the fourth container 112D). For example, the first release handle 120G may be further configured to rotate the container from the first release position to the second release position. As can be understood, the release module or its handle may be configured to sequentially or simultaneously translate and rotate the container. For example, in the above description, it is intended that the container be translated from the generating position to the first release position and rotated from the first release position to the second release position, but the disclosure also intends that the container be simultaneously translated and rotated directly from the generating position to the second release position. The release module 240 may be further configured to remove the container from the generator and / or to facilitate the removal of the container from the generator.For example, the generator 100 in Figure 12 may have a second release handle 120H configured to remove a container (e.g., a fifth container 112E) which can be operably attached to the second grabber arm 244B and / or the second grabber 246B, and which may be configured to form a friction fit with and / or engage with the container in order to remove the container from the generator.

[0071] According to the embodiment of Figure 13, the generator 100 may have a moving stage 250 configured to receive a container 112. The moving stage can be movably mounted on one or more moving tracks 252 to facilitate the selective movement of the container in and out of the generator. The moving stage can be made movable on the moving tracks in any suitable way. For example, the moving tracks can be any suitable track or rail, including sliding rails, roller rails, flow rails, guide rails, telescopic rails, pneumatic rails, or any other suitable type of rail and / or track. Furthermore, the moving stage can be movably mounted on the moving tracks in any suitable way, including roller wheels, track rollers, carriages, trolleys, roller carriages, roller bearings, frictionless bearings, pneumatic bearings, ball bearings, or any other suitable movable attachments. Furthermore, the motion stage may be driven by any other suitable drive, motor, or actuator, including a ball screw drive, linear motor, linear actuator, servo motor, motor coupled to a transmission, pneumatic drive or motor, and / or a manual drive (e.g., a lever attached to the motion stage).

[0072] In some embodiments, the motion trajectory can form a motion path that can be configured such that the motion stage 250 can move along it. The motion path can be any suitable shape, including any suitable straight or curved shape. For example, the motion path indicated by arrow 266 can be a linear motion path along motion trajectory 252. The motion trajectory and motion stage can cooperate to enable the vessel to be moved from a first position to a second position, for example, by moving the vessel along the motion path. In some embodiments, the vessel 112 can be located outside the generator housing 102 when the vessel is in the first position, and / or the vessel can be located at least partially inside the housing when the vessel is in the second position. Furthermore, the vessel can be oriented such that, when the vessel is in the second position, the vessel and / or its openings are aligned with the source module 110 or the precursor radionuclide source 132.

[0073] According to the embodiment of Figure 14, the generator 100 may have a turntable 254. In some embodiments, the container module 108, the source module 110, the housing 102, and / or any other suitable part of the generator may be placed on the turntable 254. The turntable 254 may be configured to rotate the generator or part thereof in one or more directions, for example, in the direction of arrow 256. In some embodiments, the turntable may be operably connected to one or more handles to facilitate the rotation of the turntable and / or the generator. For example, the turntable 254 may have a lock handle 120J configured to selectively allow or resist the rotation of the turntable 254. Furthermore, or alternatively, the turntable 254 may have one or more turn handles 120K configured to facilitate the rotation of the turntable. In some embodiments, the turntable 254 can facilitate the rotation of the generator to control the orientation of the source 132. For example, the generator can be rotated from a first direction facing the operator to a second direction where the radiation source is facing away from the operator. Depending on the application, this configuration may reduce the risk of the operator being exposed to nuclear radiation emitted from the radiation source 132.

[0074] In some embodiments, a radionuclide generator may be configured to receive two or more vessels and / or two or more sources. For example, in the embodiments shown in Figures 15A to 15C, the vessel module 108 of the generator 100 may be configured to receive a plurality of vessels 112. Furthermore, or alternatively, the source module 110 may be configured to receive a plurality of sources 132. The vessel module 108 may have a plurality of vessel receiving sections 114, each of which is configured to receive a respective vessel as described herein. The source module 110 may have a plurality of shafts 134, each of which is configured to receive a respective source 132 as described herein.

[0075] A container module having multiple container receiving sections can be configured such that each container receiving section can be moved between two or more positions, and each container can be moved between two or more positions within its respective container receiving section. In some embodiments, each container and / or container receiving section may be configured to move individually between multiple positions. In some such systems, each container and / or container receiving section can be associated with a respective actuator, as described herein. Alternatively, two or more containers and / or container receiving sections can be associated with a shared container actuator, so that the operation of the shared container actuator can move the containers and / or container receiving sections together between various positions. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a shared container lever 116A can be actuated to move several containers 112 together between a first position (as shown in Figure 15A) and a second position (as shown in, for example, the generating positions in Figures 15B-15C). As in other embodiments, the shared actuator may have a handle 120 to facilitate the automation, partial automation, and / or mechanized operation of the generator 100, as described herein.

[0076] Similarly, in a source module having multiple shafts, each shaft can be extended and retracted via its respective sheath to move its respective precursor radionuclide and / or source between extended and retracted configurations as described herein, thereby allowing each precursor radionuclide and / or source to be selectively exposed and isolated in a corresponding container. In some embodiments, each shaft may be configured to extend and retract independently so that each source can be individually exposed or isolated. In some such systems, each shaft and / or source may be associated with its own actuator as described herein. Alternatively, two or more shafts may be associated with a shared source actuator, so that the operation of the shared actuator can extend and retract the shafts together to selectively expose and isolate multiple sources together. For example, in the specific example shown, the shared source lever 116B can be operated to extend and retract several shafts 134 together, moving the sources 132 together between a retracted configuration in which each source 132 is isolated from its respective container 112 (as shown in Figure 15A) and an extended configuration in which each source 132 is exposed to its respective container 112 (Figures 15B-15C).

[0077] As can be understood, embodiments housing multiple sources and / or multiple containers may be carried out using any suitable arrangement, including any and / or any combination thereof of the various means described throughout this disclosure. For example, such a multiple source / multiple container generator may include any form of a generator as described herein, including any form of a container module, source module, container drive assembly, source mounting fixture, source holder, container mounting fixture, sheath, source shield, and / or any other components or assemblies described herein.

[0078] According to the embodiment of Figure 16, the method for generating a radionuclide comprises receiving a container in the generator in step 100. Receiving a container in the generator may involve removing a loading cover from the loading port and inserting the container through the loading port. Furthermore, or alternatively, receiving a container in the generator may involve receiving a container in the container receiving section of the generator, as described herein. In some embodiments, receiving a container in the generator may involve removing a container mount, as described herein, from the generator or its container receiving section, receiving the container in the container mount, and receiving the container mount in the generator or container receiving section. In some such embodiments, receiving a container in the container mount may involve removing the first part of the container mount from the second part of the container mount, receiving the container in the second part, and attaching the first part to the second part to fix the container in the container mount.

[0079] In some methods, step 1600 may include a step of receiving multiple containers in the generator. Receiving multiple containers in the generator may include receiving multiple containers in multiple container receiving sections. Each container receiving section may be configured to receive a corresponding container. Furthermore, each container receiving section may have its own container mounting fixture, and receiving a corresponding container in each container receiving section may include removing the respective container mounting fixture, receiving the container in the container mounting fixture, and receiving the container in the container mounting fixture.

[0080] In step 1602, the container (or a group of containers) may be moved from a first position to a second position. In some embodiments, the container may be moved from a first position to a second position within the container receiving section. Moving the container from a first position to a second position may involve rotating the container to change its orientation, translating the container to change its position, or both rotating and translating the container to change both its orientation and position. In some embodiments, this method may further comprise advancing the container through a series of positions including any suitable number of positions described herein. In some embodiments, moving the container from one position to another (e.g., from a first position to a second position) may involve moving the container or its opening to a generating position in which the internal volume of the container can be selectively exposed to the source, by appropriately aligning the container or its opening with a source, source module, or part of a source module (e.g., a shaft, sheath, source holder, seal, etc.). Similarly, in embodiments having multiple containers, each container may be moved to a generation position in which the opening of each container is aligned with its respective source or source module. Furthermore, with respect to embodiments having multiple containers, step 1602 may include the step of moving the multiple containers from a first position to a second position using a single actuator, for example, a shared container actuator or a shared container lever.

[0081] In step 1604, the inner surface of the container may be exposed to a precursor radionuclide source. In embodiments with multiple containers, the inner surface of each container may be exposed to its respective precursor radionuclide source. According to some embodiments, exposing the inner surface of a container to the source involves moving the source from a recessed configuration in which the source is isolated from the container to an extended configuration in which the inner surface of the container is exposed to the precursor radionuclide source. In some such embodiments, moving the source from a recessed configuration to an extended configuration may involve exposing the inner surface of the container to the source by moving the shaft of the source module of the generator through the opening of the container from inside the sheath of the source module, since the source may be configured on a shaft. In the multiple-source embodiment, each source may be associated with its respective shaft and / or its respective sheath of the source module, so that each shaft may extend out of the corresponding sheath through the opening of its respective container. Extending the shaft from the sheath through the opening of the container may involve forming an airtight seal at the interface between the sheath and the container (or each interface), and maintaining the airtight seal at the interface while extending the shaft through the opening. In some embodiments, exposing the inner surface of the container to the source may further involve connecting the source module to the housing, source mount or source mount, or another part of the generator. In a multiple source embodiment, step 1604 may have the step of moving the multiple sources from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration using a single actuator, such as a shared source actuator or shared source lever.

[0082] In step 1606, sufficient time can be provided to allow the precursor radionuclide source to decay into at least one progressive radionuclide and to allow at least one progressive radionuclide to be released from the source into the internal volume of the container. In some embodiments, this may further include the emission of a gaseous progressive radionuclide that can further decay into a solid or liquid target radionuclide placed on the inner surface of the container after a suitable time. In various embodiments, any suitable timing can be provided for the source to decay and / or for the source to release therefrom, including 5 hours or more, 10 hours or more, 12 hours or more, 20 hours or more, 24 hours or more, 36 hours or more, or other suitable timings. Furthermore, the time provided may be 120 hours or less, 96 hours or less, 72 hours or less, 48 ​​hours or less, 36 hours or less, 24 hours or less, 12 hours or less, or other suitable timings. For example, the aforementioned combinations are also possible, including 5 hours or more and 120 hours or less, 36 hours or more and 72 hours or less, or any other appropriate combination thereof. Naturally, while specific ranges of time are provided above, this disclosure is not limited thereto, and it will be understood that other ranges greater and less than those provided above are also intended.

[0083] In step 1608, the precursor radionuclide sources(s) may be isolated from the inner surface of the container(s). In some embodiments, isolating the sources from the container may involve moving the sources from an extended configuration to a retracted configuration, for example, by retracting the shaft(s) of the source holder(s) through the opening of the container(s) (or each opening of each container), into the sheath(s) of the source holder(s), and / or by forming at least one airtight seal between the shaft(s) and the sheath(s) to isolate the sources. In some embodiments, the step of forming at least one airtight seal may include the steps of forming a first airtight seal between the shaft and the sheath (or between each shaft and each sheath) on the proximal side of the precursor radionuclide source to isolate the precursor radionuclide source from the container, and forming a second airtight seal between the shaft and the sheath on the distal side of the precursor radionuclide source opposite to the proximal side to isolate the precursor radionuclide source from the surrounding environment. In a multiple-source embodiment, step 160 may include moving the multiple sources from an extended configuration to a retracted configuration using a single actuator, such as a shared source actuator or a shared source lever.

[0084] In step 1610, the container(s) may be optionally removed from the generator. In some embodiments, the container may be moved from a second position to a first position. In other embodiments, the container may be moved from a second position to a third position different from the first position. Furthermore, or otherwise, removing the container from the generator may involve removing one or more loading covers from one or more loading ports of the generator to open the loading ports and removing the container through the loading ports.

[0085] As should be understood, any or all of the methods and / or steps of the method described herein may be carried out in any suitable manner, including the use of any suitable automated, semi-automated, or otherwise mechanized system. Naturally, it will also be understood that any or all of the methods and / or steps of the method described herein may also be carried out manually, as the disclosure is not limited to this respect.

[0086] While this instruction has been described with reference to various embodiments and examples, it is not intended to be limited to such embodiments or examples. On the contrary, this instruction includes various substitutions, modifications, and equivalents, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are for illustrative purposes only.

Claims

1. In a method for generating radionuclides, The aforementioned method, The container receiving section of the radionuclide generator receives the container, Moving the container in the container receiving section from a first position to a second position, The container is exposed to a precursor radionuclide source while it is in the second position, Allowing sufficient time for the precursor radionuclide source to decay into one or more progressive radionuclides and to release the one or more progressive radionuclides into the container, A method comprising isolating the precursor radionuclide source from the container while the container is in the first position.

2. Exposing the inner surface of the container to a precursor radionuclide source is, The method according to claim 1, comprising moving the precursor radionuclide source from a recessed configuration in which the precursor radionuclide source is isolated from the container to an extended configuration in which the inner surface of the container is exposed to the precursor radionuclide source.

3. Moving the precursor radionuclide source from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration is, The method according to claim 2, further comprising extending the shaft of the source module of the radioactive nuclide generator through the opening of the container from within the sheath of the source module, and exposing the inner surface of the container to the precursor radioactive nuclide source arranged on the shaft.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein extending the shaft from the sheath through the opening of the container comprises extending the source holder of the shaft from the sheath through the opening of the container, and exposing the inner surface of the container to the precursor radionuclide source placed on the source holder.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein extending the source holder from the sheath through the opening of the container comprises extending the precursor radionuclide source, which is located in a source slot of the source holder and is formed as a cavity within the source holder having dimensions and shape to receive the precursor radionuclide source.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the precursor radionuclide source is formed as at least one of a disk, an elongated disk, a tablet, a lump, a piece of debris, a sphere, a sheet, a plate, or a ball.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein extending the source holder from the sheath through the opening of the container extends the precursor radionuclide source positioned on a source post extending from the shaft.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the precursor radionuclide source is formed as a cylinder, and at least a portion of the cylinder is an annular cylinder.

9. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the shaft comprises a shielding element positioned distal to the precursor radionuclide source, the shielding element being configured to at least partially block nuclear radiation from the precursor radionuclide source from leaking out of the radionuclide generator.

10. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 9, further comprising connecting the source module to the housing of the radionuclide generator, wherein exposing the inner surface of the container to the precursor radionuclide source.

11. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein extending the shaft from the sheath through the opening of the container comprises forming an airtight seal at the interface between the sheath and the container, and maintaining the airtight seal at the interface while extending the shaft through the opening.

12. Isolating the precursor radionuclide source from the container is The precursor radionuclide source is moved from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration by retracting the shaft into the sheath through the opening of the container, The method according to any one of claims 3 to 11, further comprising forming at least one airtight seal between the shaft and the sheath to isolate the precursor radionuclide source.

13. Forming the aforementioned at least one airtight seal is In order to isolate the precursor radionuclide source from the container, a first airtight seal is formed between the shaft and the sheath on the proximal side of the precursor radionuclide source, The method according to claim 12, further comprising forming a second airtight seal between the shaft and the sheath on the distal side of the precursor radionuclide source opposite to the proximal side of the precursor radionuclide source in order to isolate the precursor radionuclide source from the surrounding environment.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein moving the container in the container receiving section from the first position to the second position comprises translating and / or rotating the container receiving section in the radionuclide generator in order to move the container from the first position to the second position.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein moving the container in the container receiving portion from the first position to the second position comprises translating and / or rotating the container in the container receiving portion in order to move the container from the first position to the second position.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising moving the container in the container receiving section from the second position to the first position, and removing the container from the container receiving section.

17. The container is the first container, The method according to claim 16, further comprising receiving a second container in the container receiving portion.

18. The aforementioned precursor radionuclide source is the radionuclide thorium-228 ( ２２８ Th) The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, comprising a radionuclide and / or a radium-224 radionuclide.

19. The one or more progressive radionuclides mentioned above are radon-220 radionuclides ( ２２０ Ra) and / or lead-212 radionuclide ( ２１２ The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising Pb.

20. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein a precursor radionuclide source is disposed on a substrate material, and the substrate material comprises at least one selected from the list consisting of ceramics, plastics, polymers, metals, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, glass, minerals, paper, and quartz.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the substrate material comprises quartz wool.

22. In a radionuclide generator, The aforementioned radioactive nuclide generator is A container module comprising a container receiving portion configured to receive a container, wherein the container module is configured to move the container within the container receiving portion between a first position and a second position, A radionuclide generator comprising a source module configured to receive a precursor radionuclide source, wherein the source module is configured to selectively expose the inner surface of the container to the precursor radionuclide source in an exposure configuration, and to isolate the inner surface of the container from the precursor radionuclide source in an isolation configuration.

23. The radionuclide generator according to claim 22, wherein the source module is configured to move the precursor radionuclide source between the isolated configuration and the exposure configuration.

24. A radionuclide generator according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the precursor radionuclide source is arranged on the shaft of the source module, and the source module further comprises a sheath that at least partially surrounds at least a portion of the shaft, and the shaft is configured to selectively extend from the sheath through an opening in the container to expose the inner surface of the container, and to retract into the sheath to isolate the inner surface of the container from the precursor radionuclide source.

25. The radionuclide generator according to claim 24, wherein the shaft comprises a source holder configured to receive the precursor radionuclide source.

26. The radionuclide generator according to claim 25, wherein the source holder comprises a source slot formed as a cavity within the source holder, having dimensions and shape suitable for receiving the precursor radionuclide source.

27. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein the precursor radionuclide source is formed as at least one of a disk, an elongated disk, a tablet, a lump, a piece of debris, a sphere, a sheet, a plate, or a ball.

28. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the source holder comprises a source post extending from the shaft.

29. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 22 to 26 or 28, wherein the precursor radionuclide source is formed as a cylinder, and at least a portion of the cylinder is an annular cylinder.

30. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein the shaft has a shielding element positioned distal to the precursor radionuclide source, and the shielding element is configured to at least partially block nuclear radiation from leaking from the precursor radionuclide source out of the radionuclide generator.

31. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 24 to 30, further comprising at least one seal configured to form at least one airtight interface between the shaft and the sheath when the shaft retracts into the sheath so as to isolate the inner surface of the container from the precursor radionuclide source.

32. The radionuclide generator according to claim 31, wherein the at least one seal comprises a first seal and a second seal disposed on the shaft, the first seal being located proximal to the precursor radionuclide source and configured to isolate the precursor radionuclide source from the container, and the second seal being located distal to the precursor radionuclide source, opposite to the proximal side, and configured to isolate the precursor radionuclide source from the surrounding environment.

33. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 24 to 32, further comprising a housing that at least partially encloses the container module, the housing being configured to removably receive the source module, and the shaft being configured to align with the opening of the container when the container is in the second position.

34. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 24 to 33, further comprising a housing that at least partially encloses the container module, the housing being configured to removably receive the source module.

35. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 24 to 34, wherein the source module includes a seal configured to form an airtight interface between the source module and the container when the inner surface of the container is exposed to the precursor radionuclide source.

36. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 22 to 35, wherein the container module is configured to move the container within the container receiving portion between the first and second positions by translating and / or rotating the container receiving portion within the radionuclide generator.

37. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 22 to 36, wherein the container module comprises a first lever operably connected to the container receiving portion so as to rotate the container receiving portion about a lever axis between the first and second positions.

38. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 22 to 37, wherein the container module comprises a container drive assembly that can selectively engage with the container receiving portion, and the container drive assembly is configured to selectively move the container receiving portion in parallel in at least one linear direction.

39. The radionuclide generator according to claim 38, wherein the container module comprises a second lever operably connected to a linear actuator for selectively engaging or disengaging the container drive assembly and the container receiving portion.

40. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 22 to 39, wherein the container module has a removable container attachment configured to be selectively inserted into and removed from the container receiving portion, the container attachment being of a size and shape that accommodates the container, and the container receiving portion being of a size and shape that selectively accommodates the container attachment.

41. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 22 to 40, wherein the radionuclide generator further comprises the precursor radionuclide source.

42. The aforementioned precursor radionuclide source is the radionuclide thorium-228 ( ２２８ The radionuclide generator according to claim 41, comprising the radionuclide of Th) and / or the radionuclide of radium-224.

43. The aforementioned precursor radionuclide source is the radon-220 radionuclide ( ２２０ Ra) and / or lead-212 radionuclide ( ２１２ A radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 41 to 42, configured to emit one or more progressive radionuclides comprising Pb.

44. The radionuclide generator according to any one of claims 41 to 43, wherein the precursor radionuclide source is disposed on a substrate material, and the substrate material comprises at least one of ceramic, plastic, polymer, metal, natural fiber, synthetic fiber, glass, mineral, paper, and quartz.

45. The radionuclide generator according to claim 44, wherein the substrate material comprises quartz wool.

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