# US 11,443,868 B2 · Triple containment targets for particle irradiation

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- Number: US 11,443,868 B2
- Document ID: US11443868B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/704,259
- Filed: 2017-09-14
- Published: 2019-03-14
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-14
- Assignees: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
- Applicants: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
- Inventors: Nicholas A. Smith; David A. Rotsch; Sergey D. Chemerisov; Jerry A. Nolen, Jr.; James L. Bailey
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443868B2

## CPC

- G21K 5/08: Holders for targets or for other objects to be irradiated
- G01T 7/02: Collecting means for receiving or storing samples to be investigated {and possibly directly transporting the samples to the measuring arrangement; particularly for investigating radioactive fluids (sampling, preparing specimens for investigation in general G01N1/00, G01N1/02; shielded cells or rooms structurally combined with manipulatin devices G21F; measuring of chromatographically separated samples G01N30/00 - G01N30/96)}
- G21G 1/00: Arrangements for converting chemical elements by electromagnetic radiation, corpuscular radiation or particle bombardment, e.g. producing radioactive isotopes (separation of different isotopes of the same element B01D59/00)
- G21G 1/12: by electromagnetic irradiation, e.g. with gamma or X-rays (applications of radiation G21H5/00; irradiation devices G21K5/00)
- G01N 2001/1037: {from an enclosure (hazardous waste, radioactive)}
- G21K: HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
- G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00)
- G21G: CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES (applications of radiation in general G21H5/00; handling particles, e.g. neutrons, or electromagnetic radiation not otherwise provided for G21K)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

The invention provides a system for containing irradiated particles, the system having a housing having a closed upstream end and an open downstream end; an axially disposed tunnel extending from the downstream end to the upstream end, wherein longitudinally extending regions of the tunnel define a plurality of threaded surfaces; a sample cup positioned within the tunnel and proximal to the closed upstream end; threaded plugs matingly received by the threaded surfaces so as to provide at least one seal between the sample cup and the atmosphere external of the housing; and a plurality of deformable substrates disposed between the plugs.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for containing hazardous materials for irradiation, the system comprising:
a) a housing having a closed upstream end and an open downstream end;
b) an axially disposed tunnel extending from the downstream end to the upstream end, wherein longitudinally extending regions of the tunnel define a plurality of axially disposed threaded surfaces and medially directed shoulders;
c) a sample capsule containing the hazardous materials, wherein the sample capsule is encased within a container positioned within the tunnel and proximal to the closed upstream end;
d) threaded plugs matingly received by the threaded surfaces; and
e) reversibly deformable disks disposed between the plugs and the medially directed shoulders to provide seals between the container and the atmosphere external of the housing;
f) a deformable graphite substrate disposed downstream from the container and upstream of the plugs, wherein the deformable graphite substrate is adapted to press the container against the closed upstream end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the deformable disks comprise a thermally conductive material selected from the group consisting of graphite, aluminum, gold, steel, brass, iron, copper, their alloys, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system is resistant up to 250° C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1 wherein two reversible hermetic seals are established by two reversibly deformable disks and a third reversible seal is established by the sample capsule encasing the hazardous materials.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the closed upstream end is integrally molded to the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system can withstand up to 200 MeV of energy from a radiation beam.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system as recited in claim 6 wherein the radiation comprises particles selected from the group consisting of photons, electrons, protons, neutrons, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a coolant contacting exterior surfaces of the housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system as recited in claim 8 wherein the coolant maintains the system at below the boiling point of water.

### Claim 10

A method for isolating irradiated samples, the method comprising:
a) placing a non-irradiated sample in a capsule;
b) encasing the capsule in a container;
c) reversibly sealing the container proximal to an upstream end of a target containment housing, wherein the upstream end is integrally molded to the housing;
d) imposing a plurality of reversible hermetic seals within the housing and downstream from the capsule;
e) irradiating the non-irradiated sample for a time and at a power density to obtain desired isotope;
f) removing the hermetic seals; and
g) removing the capsule.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the reversible hermetic seals comprise deformable thermally conductive disks disposed between thermally conductive components of the hermetic seals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the components of the hermetic seals comprise a male-female threaded configuration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising contacting exterior surfaces of the housing with a coolant for a time and at a temperature sufficient to maintain the housing at a temperature below approximately 50° C.

### Claim 14

A method for preventing irradiated materials from contaminating the environment, the method comprising:
a) placing a non-irradiated sample in a capsule;
b) encasing the capsule in a container;
c) positioning the container between an upstream closed end of a target containment housing, wherein the upstream closed end is integrally molded to the housing;
d) contacting sheets of graphite to a downstream end of the capsule;
e) placing a first deformable disk between the sheets of graphite and an open downstream end of the housing, whereby the first deformable disk and the sheets of graphite are axially compressed by a first male-female threaded coupling positioned downstream of the first deformable disk;
f) reversibly sealing the first male-female threaded coupling between the upstream closed end of the target containment housing and a second deformable disk whereby the second deformable disk is axially compressed by a second male-female threaded coupling disposed downstream of the first male-female threaded coupling;
g) irradiating the non-irradiated sample for a time and at a power density to obtain a desired isotope;
h) removing the first and second deformable substrates; and
i) removing the capsule.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the deformable disks comprise a thermally conductive material selected from the group consisting of graphite, aluminum, gold, steel, brass, iron, copper, their alloys, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the sheets of graphite are configured as a roll and coaxially disposed with the housing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the graphite sheets impart an axial force on the capsule to ensure thermal conductance between the container and the atmosphere external of the housing.