System for the production of a radioisotope

A system for the production of a radioisotope comprising:

• a container for a portion of solid target material,
• an irradiation station comprising a cyclotron for emitting a proton beam against the portion of solid target material in the container, and
• a transfer system for transferring the container to the irradiation station;
• the container extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises a cylindrical support body having a first longitudinal end defined by a planar face on which the portion of solid target material is present and has an elliptical shape;
• the irradiation station comprises an annular seat, which is suitable for coaxially receiving the container from the side of the planar face, has an opening communicating with the cyclotron and is oriented according to a first axis oblique to the proton beam in such a way that a section of the proton beam along a virtual plane of the annular seat is elliptical;
• the transfer system comprises an angular orientation station, which comprises a housing cylinder for coaxially housing the container and a rotation assembly for rotating the container within the housing cylinder in order to orient the elliptical shape of the solid target material portion as the elliptical shape of said proton beam section, and a handling assembly for grasping the container from the side opposite the planar face and transferring it from the angular orientation station to the irradiation station, in particular from the housing cylinder to the annular seat.