Compact Proton Neutron Source for Medical Isotope Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional proton and neutron sources are large, costly, and produce significant high-energy radiation, limiting access to medical isotopes, especially for remote or small communities, due to their technical limitations such as short target lifetimes, high radiation output, and the need for extensive shielding.
Innovation Solution
A compact high-energy proton or neutron source that utilizes 2H-3He fusion reactions to generate protons or neutrons, featuring a magnetic target chamber and a synchronized high-speed pump, allowing for efficient isotope production with minimal radiation and reduced facility requirements, and can operate with a combination of high target chamber pressure and low accelerator section pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional proton or neutron sources (cyclotrons, linacs, spallation devices) are used to produce medical isotopes, then sufficient isotope production capability is achieved, but the facilities become massive, costly, and require extensive shielding due to high radiation output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters by using low-energy ion beams (1-100 keV) instead of high-energy beams (MeV range), and by using gas targets at controlled pressures (0.1-1000 Torr) instead of solid targets. This parameter change enables compact facility design while maintaining isotope production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical infrastructure of massive shielding structures and large accelerator facilities with a chemical/spectral approach: using specific gas targets (3He, 10B, 11B, 15N) that produce minimal radiation and can be contained in small vacuum chambers without extensive shielding.
2Productivity
If conventional proton or neutron sources are used, then isotope production is possible, but substantial capital investments and specialized facilities are required, limiting access for small or remote communities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs easily replaceable gas targets that can be introduced into simple vacuum chambers. The gas targets are inexpensive compared to solid targets or fuel elements, and the entire system can be built with off-the-shelf components, dramatically reducing capital investment barriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal platform that can produce multiple different medical isotopes by simply changing the gas target type (3He for 18F, 10B/11B for 11C/15O, etc.) and adjusting beam parameters, rather than requiring separate specialized facilities for each isotope.
3Productivity
If solid targets are used in beam-target accelerator devices, then neutron production is achieved, but the target quickly becomes damaged by helium irradiation or loaded with deuterium, reducing yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses gas targets (3He, 10B, 11B, 15N) at controlled pressures instead of solid targets. The gas phase allows for continuous flow or easy replacement, eliminating the damage accumulation problems that plague solid targets under irradiation.
4Ease of operation
If gas targets are used in IEC devices or linear accelerators, then operation is possible, but the ion beam fails to reach full energy or the thin window separating target and accelerator region has short lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical thin-window separator by using a magnetically confined plasma target or a gas jet target. The magnetic field confines the ion beam to interact with the gas target without requiring physical separation, thereby eliminating the window and its associated reliability problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pulsed beam operation with gas jet targets, where the gas is pulsed into the interaction region in synchronization with the ion beam pulses. This periodic action maintains high target density during beam interaction while keeping the accelerator region vacuum, eliminating the need for continuous thin windows.
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
Enables the production of medical isotopes like 18F, 11C, and 15O with low radiation, facilitating greater access and reducing the need for specialized facilities, while also allowing for the generation of high fluxes of isotropic neutrons for radiopharmaceuticals and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
an ion source to generate ions from fuel (deuterium, helium-3, boron-10, boron-11, or nitrogen-15)
Implementation Method 2
an accelerator to accelerate the ions to an energy sufficient to initiate a nuclear reaction
Implementation Method 3
The magnets may be oriented parallel to the flat faces of the pancake, outside of the vacuum walls or around the outer diameter of the target chamber (see FIG. 11 and FIG. 12). The magnets are suitably made of materials including but not limited to copper and aluminum, or superconductors or NdFeB for electromagnets.
Implementation Method 4
A compact high-energy proton or neutron source that utilizes 2H-3He fusion reactions to generate protons or neutrons
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a compact high energy proton source useful for medical isotope production and for other applications including transmutation of nuclear waste. The invention further provides a device that can be used to generate high fluxes of isotropic neutrons by changing fuel types. The invention further provides an apparatus for the generation of isotopes including but not limited to 18F, 11C, 15O, 63Zn, 124I, 133Xe, 111In, 125I, 131I, 99Mo, and 13N.