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US 11,238,999 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for generating medical isotopes
AssigneesWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Shine Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGregory Richard Piefer, Thad Alexander Heltemes, Eric Nicholas Van Abel, Ross Francis Radel
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Abstract
An apparatus for generating medical isotopes provides an annular fissile solution vessel surrounding a neutron generator. The annular fissile solution vessel provides for good capture of the emitted neutrons and a geometry that provides enhanced stability in an aqueous reactor. A neutron multiplier and/or a neutron moderator may be used to improve the efficiency and control the criticality of the reaction in the annular fissile solution vessel.
Claims20
A method of generating a medical isotope comprising:
- providing an annular reaction vessel holding an aqueous fissile solution, the annular reaction vessel having an inner cylindrical wall and an outer cylindrical wall, and a particle emitter positioned inside a cylindrical space defined by the inner cylindrical wall;
- directing a beam of charged particles along a central axis of the annular reaction vessel into the particle emitter positioned concentrically along the central axis within the annular reaction vessel to produce a beam of neutrons passing radially outward from the particle emitter through the annular reaction vessel into the aqueous fissile solution to produce a nuclear fission reaction dominated by neutrons bombarding the aqueous fissile solution and producing with the neutrons a fission reaction in the aqueous fissile solution to produce additional neutrons in the annular reaction vessel;
- and
- cooling the inner and outer cylindrical walls of the annular reaction vessel to provide cooling of the aqueous fissile solution during the nuclear fission reaction within the annular reaction vessel by a cooling fluid.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.