Annular Target Holder for Contained Multi-Target Irradiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handling, housing, and transporting radioactive iridium targets for radiation delivery is costly and requires specialized facilities and equipment, posing contamination risks and inefficiencies in processing loose radioactive material.
Innovation Solution
A system for housing radioactive targets includes an annular core with recesses to support targets, a cylindrical sleeve, and a central rod with cooling channels, allowing for efficient irradiation and transportation of targets without handling loose material, with enhanced cooling and containment features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If loose radioactive targets are handled and transported individually, then flexibility in processing is maintained, but handling costs increase and contamination risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual radioactive targets are merged into a single annular target assembly with multiple recesses that hold multiple targets in a fixed configuration. This combining approach reduces the number of separate handling operations needed while maintaining the ability to process multiple targets efficiently, thereby reducing contamination risks associated with repeated handling of loose individual targets.
2Measurement precision
If multiple targets are irradiated separately, then irradiation precision is maintained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annular target assembly combines multiple individual targets into a single integrated unit that can be irradiated simultaneously. The fixed geometric arrangement of recesses ensures each target receives precise irradiation while the entire assembly is processed in one operation, thereby maintaining irradiation precision while significantly improving processing speed and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from processing targets in a linear sequence (one at a time) to a radial arrangement where multiple targets are positioned around the annular core. This dimensional change allows simultaneous irradiation of multiple targets from the center, maintaining precision through fixed geometric positioning while dramatically increasing throughput.
3Reliability
If specialized containment equipment is used for transportation, then safety is improved, but equipment complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple radioactive targets that would individually require separate containment units are merged into a single annular assembly that can be contained and transported as one unit. This reduces the number of containment interfaces and handling points, thereby maintaining safety while reducing equipment complexity and transportation costs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient irradiation of multiple targets in a single operation, reduces handling risks, and facilitates straightforward packaging, handling, and transportation of radioactive material, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a central rod with cooling channels, allowing for efficient irradiation and transportation of targets without handling loose material, with enhanced cooling and containment features
Data Source
AI summary
Example systems and devices for housing radioactive targets are provided. The systems and methods support and arrange radioactive targets for radiation delivery process in a radiation delivery system. In some examples, a system for housing radioactive targets includes an annular core configured to support one or more targets in one or more recesses arranged on an external surface of the annular core; and a cylindrical sleeve configured to enclose the annular core, wherein an inner diameter of the cylindrical sleeve is greater than an outer diameter of the annular core.