Particle accelerator assembly with liquid-target holder

A particle accelerator assembly usable to produce a radioisotope from a liquid target, comprising:

• a cyclotron having an output portion positioned to allow a particle beam to move therethrough along a beam axis;
• a liquid-target retaining assembly attached to the cyclotron, the liquid-target retaining assembly having:
• a mounting portion connected to the particle accelerator's output portion, the mounting portion having a beam channel therethrough positioned in alignment with the beam axis and to receive the particle beam therethrough, the mounting portion having a mounting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to the beam axis;
• and
• a liquid-target holder mounted to the mounting surface of the mounting portion, the liquid-target holder having a holder body with an elongated target cavity therein sized to contain the liquid target, the target cavity having a longitudinal axis oriented at the acute angle relative to the particle beam, the target cavity having a first depth along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and having a projected depth along the beam axis greater than the first depth, the holder body being a chemically inert material unreactive with the liquid target, the radioisotope, or a reaction byproduct from the irradiation of the liquid target.

A particle accelerator assembly usable to produce a radioisotope from a liquid target, comprising:

• a particle accelerator configured to produce a particle beam along a beam axis;
• a liquid-target retaining assembly connected to the particle accelerator, the liquid-target retaining assembly having:
• a mounting portion coupled to the particle accelerator, the mounting portion having a portion configured to receive the particle beam therethrough;
• and
• a liquid-target holder connected to the mounting portion, the liquid-target holder having a holder body with a target cavity therein sized to contain the liquid target therein, the target cavity having a longitudinal axis oriented at an acute angle relative to the particle beam, the target cavity having a first depth along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and having a projected depth along the beam axis greater than the first depth, the holder body being a chemically inert material unreactive with the liquid target, the radioisotope, or a reaction byproduct from the irradiation of the liquid target.

A particle accelerator assembly usable to produce a radioisotope from a liquid target, comprising:

• a particle accelerator having an output portion positioned to allow a particle beam to move therethrough along beam axis;
• and
• a liquid target retaining assembly having:
• a connector flange removably connected to the particle accelerator's output portion, the connector flange having a first beam channel therethrough positioned in alignment with the beam axis and positioned to receive the particle beam therethrough;
• an intermediate flange securely fastened to the connector flange, the intermediate flange having a second beam channel substantially in axial alignment with the first beam channel and in alignment with the beam axis, the intermediate flange having vacuum window positioned between the first and second beam apertures, the intermediate flange having an inlet port connectable to a cooling-fluid source and having an outlet nozzle in fluid communication with the inlet port and positioned to direct a flow of cooling fluid against the vacuum window;
• an adapter flange connected to the intermediate flange and having third beam channel therein in substantial axial alignment with the second beam channel and in alignment with the beam axis, the adapter flange having a mounting surface defining a plane oriented at an acute angle relative to the beam axis, the third beam channel forming a beam aperture in the mounting surface through which the particle beam can pass, the adapter flange having a vacuum port and a second inlet port in communication with the third beam aperture, the vacuum port being connectable to a vacuum source to cause a partial vacuum within the second and third beam apertures, and the second inlet port being connectable to a cooling fluid source, the second inlet port having a second outlet port in fluid communication with the third beam aperture and positioned to direct a second flow of cooling fluid toward the mounting surface;
• a liquid-target holder releasably mounted to the mounting surface of the adapter flange, the liquid-target holder having a holder body with a target cavity therein sized to contain the liquid target therein to be irradiated by the particle beam, the liquid-target holder having spaced apart first and second windows connected to the holder body substantially parallel to each other and defining opposing sides of the target cavity, the first window extending across the beam aperture in the adapter flange, the target cavity having a longitudinal axis oriented at the acute angle relative to the particle beam, the first and second windows being separated by selected distance to provide a projected thickness of the liquid target in the target cavity along the beam axis is sufficient to prevent the particle beam from passing fully therethrough, the holder body being a chemically inert material relative to the liquid target, the radioisotope, or a reaction byproduct from the irradiation of the liquid target, the liquid-target holder having a target inlet port and a target outlet port in fluid connection with the target cavity for filling or emptying the target cavity, the liquid-target holder having a receiving aperture formed therein adjacent to the second window;
• and
• a cooling block mounted to the liquid-target holder, the cooling block have a support portion positioned in the receiving aperture in the target holder, and the support portion having a plurality of support ribs engaging the second window, the support ribs being spaced apart from each other to form at least one cooling channel adjacent to the second window, the cooling block having cooling fluid inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the cooling channel and coupleable to a cooling fluid source to provide a flow of cooling fluid into the cooling block and through the cooling channel to draw heat away from the second window during the irradiation process.