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US 2021/0280334 A1Published application
Gallium-68 generators and methods for making such generators
AssigneeCurium US LLC
InventorLuis Antonio M.M. Barbosa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Gallium-68 generators that are capable of producing gallium-68 from a germanium-68 source material are disclosed. The source material may be a matrix material (e.g., zeolite) in which germanium-68 is isomorphously substituted for central atoms in tetrahedra within the matrix material. Methods for forming gallium-68 generators are also disclosed.
Claims21
A generator for producing gallium-68 by decay of germanium-68, the generator comprising:
- a matrix material having a three-dimensional polyhedral crystal structure, the matrix material comprising:
- a first tetrahedra comprising a central atom, T, and oxygen, the central atom being selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, zirconium and stable germanium, the first tetrahedra having a formula TO4;
- a second tetrahedra, the second tetrahedra being a germanium-68 tetrahedra comprising germanium-68 and oxygen and having a formula 68GeO4, the first tetrahedra and germanium-68 tetrahedra being part of a three-dimensional polyhedral crystal structure.
- a housing for holding the matrix material, the matrix material being within the housing;
- and
- a radiation shield to absorb radiation emitted by the matrix material.
3 more elements
A method for producing a gallium-68 generator that comprises a matrix material with gemanium-68 isomorphously substituted therein, the method comprising:
- forming a crystallization starting mixture, the starting mixture having a source of a first central atom and a source of a second central atom, the first central atom being germanium-68 and the second central atom being selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, zirconium and stable germanium;
- and
- heating the starting mixture to cause the material to crystallize and form germanium-68 tetrahedra and tetrahedra of the second central atom in a crystallized structure;
- and
- encasing the crystallized structure in a generator housing.
2 more elements
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.