METHODS FOR PRODUCING Cu-67 RADIOISOTOPE WITH USE OF A CERAMIC CAPSULE FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
AssigneeUchicago Argonne, LLC
InventorsDavid A. EHST, James L. WILLIT
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Abstract
The present invention provides a target unit and a sublimation apparatus for use in a method for producing Cu67 radioisotope suitable for use in medical applications. The method comprises irradiating a metallic zinc-68 (Zn68) target within a sealed ceramic capsule with a high energy gamma ray beam. After irradiation, the Cu67 is isolated from the Zn68 by any suitable method (e.g. chemical and or physical separation). In a preferred embodiment, the Cu67 is isolated by sublimation of the zinc in a ceramic sublimation tube to afford a copper residue containing Cu67. The Cu67 can be further purified by chemical means.
Claims20
A target unit for producing Cu67 radioisotope comprising:
- a cage body releasably coupled to a screw-on cap;
- and
- a ceramic capsule containing a solid Zn68 target ingot and having one open end and one closed end and defining an interior chamber for the target;
- wherein the ceramic capsule is releasably sealed within the target body between the cage body and the screw-on cap to form a substantially water-tight seal over the open end of the capsule;
- the interior of the ceramic capsule is in intimate physical contact with the solid Zn68 target ingot;
- and the Zn68 of the target is substantially free of traces of residual oxygen that interfere with contact of the Zn68 to the capsule.
A target unit for producing Cu67 radioisotope comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical cage body with a threaded open end;
- a screw-on cap threaded to mate with the treaded open end of the cage body;
- a ceramic capsule having one open end and one closed end, and defining an interior chamber containing a Zn68 target ingot in intimate physical contact with the capsule;
- a removable lid covering the open end of the capsule;
- and
- a gasket disposed between the open end of the capsule and the lid;
- wherein the ceramic capsule, the lid, and the gasket are arranged within the interior cavity of the cage body with the lid in contact with the screw-on cap when the cage body is mated with the screw-on cap, so that the screw-on cap applies a pressure on the lid and gasket sufficient to form a substantially water-tight seal over the open end of the capsule when the unit is fully assembled for use;
- and the Zn68 of the target ingot is substantially free of traces of residual oxygen that interfere with contact of the Zn68 to the capsule.
A device for sublimation of Zn68 from Cu67 comprising:
- a ceramic sublimation tube having one open end and one closed end and defining an interior region;
- a ceramic capsule containing a target ingot that contains Zn68 and Cu67, the capsule having one open end and one closed end and defining an interior chamber housing the target ingot;
- the ceramic capsule being positioned within the sublimation tube with the closed end of the capsule contacting the closed end of the sublimation tube;
- and
- a coupler sized and configured to releasably couple the open end of the sublimation tube with a vacuum source and form a leak-tight vacuum seal when the device is positioned within a heating apparatus and is heated at temperatures in the range of about 500 to about 700° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.