Alpha-Emitting Isotope Generator and Method for Producing Alpha-Emitting Isotope

An isotope generator for producing a 212Pb daughter isotope by emanation of 220Rn isotope from a parent isotope, the isotope generator comprising:

• a parent-isotope chamber loaded with the parent isotope, the parent-isotope chamber having a gas outlet port;
• a daughter-isotope chamber for collecting the 212Pb daughter isotope, the daughter-isotope chamber having a gas inlet port;
• a gas duct connected between the gas outlet port and the gas inlet port;
• and
• a gas duct selector in communication with the gas duct, wherein the gas duct selector is configurable between an open configuration fluidly connecting the gas outlet port of the parent-isotope chamber to the gas inlet port of the daughter-isotope chamber to enable the parent isotope in the parent-isotope chamber to flow into the daughter isotope chamber, and a closed configuration fluidly isolating the gas outlet port of the parent-isotope chamber from the gas inlet port of the daughter-isotope chamber to prevent flow of 212Pb daughter isotope from the daughter-isotope chamber to the parent-isotope chamber.

A method for producing an alpha-emitting daughter isotope, comprising:

• providing a parent-isotope chamber loaded with a parent isotope for initiating a 220Rn emanation process by natural decay of the parent isotope in the parent-isotope chamber;
• transferring the 220Rn isotope in a gaseous form into a daughter-isotope chamber, through a gas duct connecting the parent-isotope chamber to the daughter-isotope chamber, wherein a gas duct selector in communication with the gas duct is configured in an open configuration enabling the 220Rn isotope in gaseous form to pass therethrough;
• sealing off the parent-isotope chamber from the daughter-isotope chamber by configuring the gas duct selector in a closed configuration preventing communication between the parent-isotope chamber from the daughter-isotope chamber;
• and
• generating a 212Pb daughter isotope in gaseous form by natural decay of 220Rn isotope in the daughter-isotope chamber.