Irradiator apparatus and system and method for irradiating a sample using x-rays

An irradiator apparatus for radiation delivery, comprising:

• a single radiation source for generating radiation in a radiation beam to irradiate a product sample;
• a filter to filter the radiation generated by the single radiation source prior to delivery of the generated radiation in the radiation beam to the product sample;
• a reflector assembly to reflect radiation delivered by the single radiation source to the product sample back to the product sample;
• and
• a rotation device associated with a sample holder configured to support the product sample and configured to rotate, flip or orient the product sample to a plurality of positions or orientations for delivery of radiation from the single radiation source to the product sample at each of the plurality of positions or orientations to facilitate a substantially uniform irradiation of the product sample and a substantially uniform radiation exposure delivered to the product sample providing a substantial dose profile uniformity in the irradiated product sample.

A method for irradiating a product sample, comprising:

• positioning a product sample to be irradiated in a product sample container or canister;
• positioning the product sample container or canister in a sample holder at an initial position or orientation in an irradiator apparatus;
• irradiating the product sample positioned in the product sample container or canister by generating radiation from a single radiation source in the irradiator apparatus and delivering the generated radiation to the product sample positioned at the initial position or orientation;
• reflecting the radiation delivered to the product sample at the initial position or orientation back to the product sample by a reflector assembly in the irradiator apparatus;
• selectively positioning the product sample and the product sample container or canister positioned in the sample holder at one or more other positions or orientations;
• generating radiation by the single radiation source and delivering the generated radiation to the product sample at the one or more other positions or orientations;
• and
• reflecting back to the product sample by the reflector assembly the generated radiation delivered to the product sample positioned at a corresponding position or orientation of the one or more other positions or orientations.

A method for controlling irradiation of a product sample in an irradiator system, comprising:

• providing a controlled workflow to control a radiation amount to be delivered to a product sample at each of a plurality of radiation deliveries by a single radiation source in a radiation apparatus to provide a total radiation amount delivered to the product sample for the plurality of radiation deliveries having a substantial dose profile uniformity in the irradiated product sample, the radiation apparatus being configured to position the product sample in the radiation apparatus for radiation delivery to the product sample;
• determining a beam on-time in the controlled workflow for each of the plurality of radiation deliveries corresponding to a radiation amount to be delivered to the product sample at each of the plurality of radiation deliveries by the single radiation source;
• determining in the controlled workflow a position or orientation of the product sample for each of the plurality of radiation deliveries;
• synchronizing in the controlled workflow movements of a sample holder configured to hold the product sample to be irradiated, movements of at least a portion of a reflector assembly, the reflector assembly being positioned in the radiation apparatus and configured to reflect back to the product sample the radiation delivered from the single radiation source, and the determined beam on-time for each of the plurality of radiation deliveries to deliver radiation to the product sample at each corresponding one of the plurality of radiation deliveries;
• and
• controlling the single radiation source in the controlled workflow to deliver radiation to the product sample for each corresponding determined beam on-time for each of the plurality of radiation deliveries at each corresponding determined position or orientation of the product sample to provide a substantially uniform irradiation of the product sample and a substantially uniform radiation exposure delivered to the product sample to provide a substantial dose profile uniformity in the irradiated product sample.