Generator and Method for Production of Technetium-99m
AssigneeMcMaster University
InventorsRichard Tomlison, Bruce Collier, Alan Guest
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A generator that allows for a non-fission based method of producing and recovering 99mTc from neutron-irradiated molybdenum. This generator system is based on the isolation of 99mTc, as the decay product from a source of 99Mo labelled molybdenum carbonyl Mo(CO)6 through a distillation process. The 99mTc obtained from this distillation is produced with high efficiency and purity in a solvent-free form, which can then be dissolved in water or other solvents to produce a solution at the required specific activity and concentration, as reasonably determined by the operator.
Claims18
A method of generating a technetium-99m isotope from a source of labelled molybdenum carbonyl Mo(CO)6 having a predetermined amount of molybdenum-99 isotope in which:
- the labelled molybdenum carbonyl is introduced into a first vessel for containing labelled molybdenum carbonyl and allowed to decay for a pre-determined period of time;
- the first vessel is heated after said pre-determined period of time to distil labelled molybdenum carbonyl into a second vessel for containing labelled molybdenum carbonyl;
- and
- the technetium-99m isotope remaining in the first vessel after distillation is recovered from the first vessel.
Generator for producing a technetium-99m isotope from a source of labelled molybdenum carbonyl Mo(CO)6 having
- a first containment vessel in fluid communication with a second containment vessel having first valve means for controlling flow therebetween;
- second valve means for coupling the first and second containment vessels to a vacuum pump;
- inlet means for introducing labelled molybdenum carbonyl into said first and second containment vessels;
- outlet means for recovering technetium-99m from said first and second containment vessels;
- and
- heating and cooling means for controlling the temperature of said first and second containment vessels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.