Radioisotope production device and radioisotope production method

Abstract

To provide a radioisotope manufacturing technology that can manufacture radioisotope according to customer request.SOLUTION: The radioisotope manufacturing apparatus 1 includes an electron gun 2 that generates an electron beam E, an accelerator 3 that accelerates the electron beam E, a bending electromagnet 4 that distributes the electron beam E accelerated by the accelerator 3, and at least two manufacturing ports 5 that are provided on the tip branching off from the bending electromagnet 4 and in which radioisotope is manufactured by the incidence of the electron beam E.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention relate to radioisotope production technology. [Background technology]

[0002] Radioisotopes are in high demand for medical applications, such as diagnostics like SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) and PET (Positron Emission Tomography), and targeted isotope therapy for cancer. Traditionally, radioisotopes have primarily been produced using nuclear reactors. However, the hurdles for obtaining licenses to operate nuclear reactors in Japan are increasing, and overseas, the aging of nuclear reactors used for radioisotope production is becoming a problem. Accelerator-based production methods, such as those for Mo-99 and Ac-225, are therefore being tested. However, while nuclear reactors can simultaneously produce various nuclides, accelerators require a different target for each nuclide produced, making simultaneous production of multiple nuclides impossible. For example, ion beam production methods are available for producing a single nuclide using an accelerator. However, accelerators are difficult to change the energy of the ion beam, making them incompatible with the production of various nuclides. Furthermore, accelerators make it difficult to set the production date and amount to match the date and amount of nuclide used at medical institutions, creating a need to meet these customer demands. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-198236 [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Yasuki Nagai, Medical Isotope Production and Non-Invasive Personalized Medicine, Nuclear Data News, No. 121 (2018) [Non-patent document 2] Taku Ito, Commercial Production of Medical RI Using Accelerators, "Accelerator" Vol.17, No.3, 2020(181-186) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a radioisotope production technology that can produce radioisotopes according to customer needs using an accelerator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A radioisotope production apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electron gun that generates an electron beam, an accelerator that accelerates the electron beam, a bending electromagnet that distributes the electron beam accelerated by the accelerator, and at least two production ports that are provided at the ends branching off from the bending electromagnet and into which radioisotopes are produced by the incidence of the electron beam; a control unit that controls the electron gun, the accelerator, and the bending electromagnet; Equipped with. The control unit controls to change the proportion of the electron beams sent to each of the production ports, thereby changing the proportion of the radioisotopes produced at each of the production ports. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention provide a radioisotope production technology that uses an accelerator to produce radioisotopes on customer demand. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a radioisotope production device. [Figure 2] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of a radioisotope production apparatus and a radioisotope production method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010] 1, the radioisotope production apparatus of this embodiment is designated by reference numeral 1. This radioisotope production apparatus 1 includes an electron gun 2, an accelerator 3, a bending electromagnet 4, a plurality of production ports 5, and a control unit 6.

[0011] The electron gun 2, accelerator 3, bending electromagnet 4, and production port 5 are connected by a vacuum duct 7 through which the electron beam E passes. The vacuum duct 7 branches off at the bending electromagnet 4, and the production port 5 is located at the end of the branch.

[0012] The electron gun 2 is a device that generates a pulsed electron beam E. The accelerator 3 is a device that accelerates the electron beam E. This accelerator 3 may be either a linear accelerator or a circular accelerator.

[0013] The bending electromagnet 4 is a device that changes the traveling direction of the electron beam E. This bending electromagnet 4 quickly switches between excitation and demagnetization to distribute the electron beam E accelerated by the accelerator 3 for each pulse (each electron bunch).

[0014] Each production port 5 is located at the end of a branch branching off from the bending electromagnet 4. Radioactive isotopes are produced by the injection of an electron beam E into each production port 5. Note that although four production ports 5 are shown in FIG. 1, the number of production ports 5 may be two or more, and there is no particular upper limit to the number of production ports 5.

[0015] For example, Mo-99 used in SPECT is produced in the first and second production ports 5. Lu-177 used in SPECT is produced in the third production port 5. Ac-225 used in isotope therapy is produced in the fourth production port 5. Such embodiments are conceivable.

[0016] In this way, the required amount of radioisotope can be produced by distributing the electron beam E to each production port 5 according to the required amount of each radioisotope. Furthermore, when the same radioisotope is produced at multiple production ports 5, such as the first and second production ports 5, even if maintenance work is being performed at one production port 5, production of the radioisotope can continue at the other production port 5.

[0017] The control unit 6 is a device that controls the electron gun 2, the accelerator 3, the bending magnet 4, and the production port 5. This control unit 6 is configured as a computer having hardware resources such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and HDD, and in which software-based information processing is realized using the hardware resources as the CPU executes various programs. Furthermore, the radioisotope production method of this embodiment is realized by having the computer execute various programs.

[0018] The components of the control unit 6 do not necessarily have to be provided in one computer. For example, one control unit 6 may be realized by multiple computers connected to each other via a network. For example, each control unit 6 may be installed in a separate computer.

[0019] The control unit 6 also serves as a power supply that supplies power to various devices. The radioisotope production apparatus 1 also includes a forcing circuit 8 that is provided in the power supply (control unit 6) that supplies power to the bending electromagnet 4. This shortens the response time of the bending electromagnet 4, allowing the electron beam E to be distributed at high speed.

[0020] The radioisotope production apparatus 1 also includes a plurality of beam stoppers 9 that are moved in and out between the bending electromagnets 4 and the respective production ports 5 to block the electron beam E. These beam stoppers 9 are controlled by the control unit 6.

[0021] For example, when the beam stopper 9 is inserted into the vacuum duct 7, the electron beam E is blocked. When the beam stopper 9 is removed from the vacuum duct 7, the electron beam E is allowed to pass through. When maintenance work is performed at a specific production port 5, the beam stopper 9 is inserted into the vacuum duct 7. In this way, by inserting the beam stopper 9 when maintenance work is performed, the safety of the work can be improved.

[0022] In this embodiment, an electron gun 2 generates an electron beam E, an accelerator 3 accelerates the electron beam E, and a bending electromagnet 4 distributes the electron beam E. Radioisotopes are generated by irradiating the electron beam E into each production port 5. Note that different types of radioisotopes may be generated at each production port 5, or the same type of radioisotope may be generated at each production port 5.

[0023] Furthermore, when maintenance work is performed at a specific one of the multiple production ports 5, the incidence of the electron beam E on this production port 5 is stopped. For example, the control unit 6 controls the electron beam E to be sent to one production port 5 while not being sent to the other production port 5. In this way, radioisotopes can be produced at one production port 5 while maintenance work is performed at the other production port 5.

[0024] At the same time as stopping the incidence of the electron beam E on the production port 5 where the maintenance work is being performed, the electron beam E may be blocked by the beam stopper 9. Alternatively, the incidence of the electron beam E may be stopped without blocking the electron beam E by the beam stopper 9.

[0025] 2, the production port 5 includes a radiator 20 and a target 21. The production port 5 produces radioisotopes through a nuclear reaction caused by irradiating the target 21 with radiation. The radiation in this embodiment is bremsstrahlung radiation R generated by irradiating the radiator 20 with an electron beam E.

[0026] The radiator 20 is, for example, a metal foil made of a heavy element. When an electron beam E is irradiated onto one surface of the radiator 20, bremsstrahlung radiation R is emitted from the other surface. This bremsstrahlung radiation R is irradiated onto a target 21, and radioisotopes are produced in the target 21. For example, irradiation with the bremsstrahlung radiation R excites atomic nuclei in the target 21, causing giant resonance, which in turn releases protons or neutrons from the atomic nuclei, producing radioisotopes. Note that by appropriately changing the nuclide of the target 21, it is possible to produce various types (nuclides) of radioisotopes even with an electron beam E of the same energy.

[0027] Additionally or alternatively, a neutron generating member may be used in place of the radiator 20 in a predetermined production port 5. In addition, a neutron beam may be generated instead of the bremsstrahlung radiation R. For example, an electron beam E may be irradiated onto the neutron generating member, and the generated neutron beam may be irradiated onto the target 21. In this way, a predetermined type of radioisotope can be produced in the target 21 by the neutron beam.

[0028] At the production port 5, maintenance work such as replacing the target 21 is performed manually or remotely. Although not specifically shown, the production port 5 is equipped with a maintenance device. This maintenance device is, for example, a robot arm or other mechanism for remotely replacing the target 21.

[0029] 1, the control unit 6 controls the simultaneous production of multiple types of radioisotopes based on preset setting information. Here, the control unit 6 controls the adjustment of the production date and time and production amount of the radioisotopes produced at each production port 5 based on the preset setting information. In this way, it is possible to secure the required production amount of radioisotopes at the required production date and time in accordance with customer requests.

[0030] For example, when a client medical institution plans to use a specific nuclide, the user of the radioisotope production apparatus 1 acquires the date and time of use and the amount to be used. Then, based on the acquired information, the nuclide to be produced by the radioisotope production apparatus 1, the production date and time, and the production amount are set. The control unit 6 produces the radioisotope based on this setting information. In this way, the efficiency of radioisotope production can be improved. Furthermore, even if different nuclides are requested by different clients, each nuclide can be produced simultaneously.

[0031] Furthermore, the control unit 6 controls the ratio of the electron beams E sent to each production port 5 to change the ratio of the radioisotopes produced at each production port 5. In this way, it is possible to adjust the ratio of the radioisotopes produced at each production port 5. For example, even if different customers each request different production quantities of radioisotopes, it is possible to simultaneously produce the respective production quantities of radioisotopes.

[0032] The control unit 6 controls the timing of distribution of the electron beam E so as to suppress heating of the radiator 20 and the target 21 (FIG. 2). In this way, it is possible to suppress heating of the radiator 20 and the target 21 while increasing the production efficiency of the radioisotope.

[0033] For example, when the radiator 20 (or neutron generating member) is irradiated with the electron beam E, the temperature of the radiator 20 rises. The target 21 is also heated in the same manner. Here, when the radiator 20 reaches a predetermined temperature, the irradiation of the electron beam E must be stopped and the radiator 20 must be cooled. Therefore, in addition to the heating period during which the electron beam E is incident, a cooling period during which the electron beam E is not incident is provided. For example, when the electron beam E is incident on one production port 5, the heating period and the cooling period are repeated alternately. Note that the heating period and the cooling period may be the same period or may be any period determined arbitrarily. Furthermore, the heating period and the cooling period may be repeated periodically.

[0034] Furthermore, when there are two production ports 5, the electron beam E is alternately incident on each production port 5. In this way, the heating period of one production port 5 becomes the cooling period of the other production port 5, and the cooling period of one production port 5 becomes the heating period of the other production port 5.

[0035] The control unit 6 of this embodiment includes a control device that is a highly integrated processor such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated chip, a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive), a display device such as a monitor, input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard, and a communication interface. The control unit 6 can be realized with a hardware configuration that uses a normal computer.

[0036] The program executed by the control unit 6 is provided in advance in a ROM or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the program is provided by being stored in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, memory card, DVD, or flexible disk (FD).

[0037] The program executed by the control unit 6 may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. The control unit 6 may also be configured by combining separate modules that independently perform the functions of the components and interconnect them via a network or dedicated lines.

[0038] According to the embodiment described above, by providing the electron gun 2 that generates the electron beam E, it is possible to use the accelerator 3 to produce radioisotopes that meet customer needs.

[0039] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...radioisotope production device, 2...electron gun, 3...accelerator, 4...bending electromagnet, 5...production port, 6...control unit, 7...vacuum duct, 8...forcing circuit, 9...beam stopper, 20...radiator, 21...target, E...electron beam, R...bremsstrahlung.

Claims

1. an electron gun that generates an electron beam; an accelerator for accelerating the electron beam; a bending electromagnet that distributes the electron beam accelerated by the accelerator; at least two production ports provided at ends branching from the bending electromagnet, into which radioisotopes are produced by the incidence of the electron beam; a control unit that controls the electron gun, the accelerator, and the bending electromagnet; Equipped with the control unit performs control to change the proportion of the electron beams sent to each of the production ports, thereby changing the proportion of the radioisotopes generated at each of the production ports. Radioisotope production equipment.

2. a forcing circuit provided in a power supply that supplies power to the bending electromagnet; The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. the production port produces the radioisotope through a nuclear reaction caused by irradiating a target with radiation; 3. The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The radiation is bremsstrahlung radiation generated by irradiating the electron beam onto a radiator. The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 3 .

5. The radiation is a neutron beam generated by irradiating the electron beam onto a neutron generating member. The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 3 .

6. The control unit controls simultaneous production of multiple types of radioisotopes based on preset setting information.

3. The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The manufacturing port produces the radioisotope by a nuclear reaction caused by irradiating a target with bremsstrahlung radiation generated by irradiating a radiator with the electron beam, the control unit controls the timing of distribution of the electron beam so as to suppress heating of the radiator and the target.

3. The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The control unit controls so that the electron beam is sent to one of the manufacturing ports while not being sent to the other manufacturing port.

3. The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The control unit performs control to adjust the production date and time and production amount of the radioisotope produced at each of the production ports based on preset setting information.

3. The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

10. a beam stopper that is moved in and out between the bending electromagnet and the production port and blocks the electron beam; 3. The radioisotope production apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The electron gun generates an electron beam, an accelerator for accelerating the electron beam; a bending electromagnet that distributes the electron beam accelerated by the accelerator; a radioisotope is generated by irradiating the electron beam into at least two production ports provided at the ends branching from the bending electromagnet; a control unit controls the electron gun, the accelerator, and the bending electromagnet to change the proportion of the electron beam sent to each of the production ports, thereby changing the proportion of the radioisotopes generated at each of the production ports; Radioisotope production method.

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