Scalable continuous-wave ion linac pet radioisotope system
AssigneePN Labs, Inc.
InventorRobert J. Ylimaki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuous wave ion linear accelerator PET radioisotope system is disclosed. The system includes a high brightness H− ion source, a continuous wave RF quadrupole structure, and continuous wave RF interdigital structures to accelerate the ion beam to about 14 MeV. A high energy beam transport system is also described that includes a photo-detachment beam splitter and a magnet lattice for forming the proton beam into a beam having a Waterbag beam profile. The system also includes one or more targets upon which the proton beam is incident. The targets are either a high power metallic target oriented at about 10 degrees or a low thermal conductivity target oriented at about 35 degrees. The invention includes a method of producing PET isotopes by use of the systems described.
Claims17
A continuous wave ion linear accelerator PET radioisotope system comprising:
- a high brightness H− ion source that produces a multi-milliampere beam of H− ions;
- a continuous wave radio frequency quadrupole structure that accelerates the multi-milliampere H− ion beam to about 1 MeV;
- one or more continuous wave radio frequency interdigital structures that accelerate the multi-milliampere H− ion beam to about 14 MeV;
- a high energy beam transport system that transforms the accelerated H− ion beam to a uniform transverse profile proton beam;
- one or more high power target stations that include a target capsule upon which the uniform transverse profile proton beam is incident to produce PET radioisotopes;
- and
- a target capsule transfer system for recovery of the produced PET radioisotopes.
A method of producing PET radioisotopes comprising:
- introducing a multi-milliampere H− ion beam into a continuous wave linear accelerator via a low energy beam transport to form a low emittance, multi-milliampere H− ion beam;
- focusing the H− ion beam via a continuous wave radio frequency quadrupole to accelerate the low-emittance, multi-milliampere H− ion beam to about 1 MeV;
- accelerating the focused H− ion beam to an energy of about 14 MeV;
- transporting the accelerated H− ion beam to a high energy beam transport system via a beam pipe;
- transforming a portion of the accelerated H− ion beam into a Gaussian profile proton beam;
- forming the Gaussian profile proton beam into a uniform transverse profile proton beam;
- transferring the uniform transverse profile beam to a target station that includes a target capsule, the target capsule contains a target plate that includes a substrate upon which the uniform transverse profile proton beam is incident, thereby producing one or more PET radioisotopes;
- cooling the target plate with a coolant working fluid of either eutectic gallium tin alloy or water;
- transferring one or more of the target capsules from the target station to one or more radiochemical processing hot cells;
- and
- opening the target capsule to remotely remove the target plate within the radiochemical processing hot cell to recover the produced PET radioisotopes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.