Processes, systems, and apparatus for cyclotron production of technetium-99m

A system for producing technetium-99m from molybdenum-100, comprising:

• a target capsule apparatus comprising a target plate holder and a cover plate housing therein a Mo-100-coated target plate secured between the target plate holder and the cover plate, wherein the Mo-100-coated target plate comprises a transition metal target plate coated with Mo-100 particles having a grain size of less than 10 microns;
• a target station apparatus comprising a housing configured to receive and mount therein the target capsule apparatus, wherein the target station apparatus is operatively coupled to a cyclotron for irradiating the Mo-100-coated target plate with protons;
• a target capsule pickup apparatus comprising an engagement device configured to engage with the target capsule apparatus and the target capsule apparatus into the target station apparatus;
• a receiving cell apparatus comprising a docking station configured to receive the target capsule apparatus after proton irradiation in the target station apparatus and a transfer tube interconnecting the docking station and the target station apparatus, wherein the transfer tube is configured to convey the target capsule apparatus from the target station to the docking station;
• a dissolution/purification module operatively coupled to the docking station and configured to receive therein the proton-irradiated Mo-100-coated target plate for dissolution, recovery and purification of molybdate ions and pertechnetate ions from the proton-irradiated Mo-100-coated target plate;
• and
• a supply of oxygen-free atmosphere to the target station apparatus.