Radioisotope Target Assembly with Permeable Window

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cyclotron systems for producing positron-emitting radioisotopes face inefficiencies due to beam energy loss and attenuation when using external targets, leading to the need for more powerful cyclotrons and increased radiation exposure.

Innovation Solution

A target assembly with a particle-permeable window that wraps around the target chamber, eliminating the need for a beam post and reducing beam attenuation, allows for higher beam current operation and production of radioisotopes like F-18 using a smaller, less powerful cyclotron, with a cooling system to manage heat and a gas supply for pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional external targets are used in cyclotron systems, then the target can be positioned outside the cyclotron structure, but beam energy loss and attenuation occur leading to reduced production efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradioisotope production yieldVSAvoidbeam energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The target chamber is nested within the cyclotron structure itself, with the target positioned inside the magnet assembly. This nested configuration allows the target to be placed directly in the particle beam path without external positioning, eliminating beam energy loss through external target positioning and maximizing production efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If conventional targets with beam posts are used, then the target structure can be simplified, but beam attenuation increases reducing beam current

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam currentVSAvoidtarget structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beam post component is completely removed from the target design. Instead of using a traditional target with a beam post that attenuates the beam, the invention uses a target chamber where particles enter through the side and strike the target material directly, eliminating the attenuating beam post structure and maximizing beam current

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having particles enter the target from the front through a beam post (conventional design), the invention inverts the approach by having particles enter through the side of the target chamber and strike the target material at a perpendicular angle, eliminating beam attenuation and improving beam current

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If higher beam current is used to compensate for energy loss, then production yield can be maintained, but radiation exposure and heat generation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradioisotope production yieldVSAvoidradiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of beam energy loss into a benefit by using a smaller, lower-power cyclotron. By positioning the target inside the cyclotron structure, the system achieves high production yield without requiring high beam current, thereby converting what would be a disadvantage (need for powerful cyclotron) into an advantage (smaller, safer system with reduced radiation exposure)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This design enhances radioisotope production yield, reduces radiation exposure, and allows for a lower energy cyclotron operation, improving the efficiency and safety of radioisotope synthesis for medical applications like PET imaging.

Implementation Method 1

When the bombarding particles interact in the target, a nuclear reaction occurs at a sub-atomic level, resulting in the production of a radioisotope

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNuclear reaction: Nuclear Fission

Implementation Method 2

a cooling system to keep the target vessel from overheating while a particle beam from a cyclotron strikes the target material within the target chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9686851B2Radioisotope target assembly

Publication Date: 2017.06.20 BEST ABT INC

AI summary

A target assembly to produce radioisotopes for the synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals. The target assembly includes a target vessel with a target chamber adapted to receive a target material. A thin cover sheet of particle-permeable material covers the target chamber. In a bombardment process, a high-energy particle beam generated by a cyclotron or particle accelerator strikes the thin cover sheet, whereby at least some of the particles from the particle beam penetrate to the target chamber so as to interact with the target material, altering the nuclear makeup of some of the atoms in the target material to produce radioisotopes.