Method and apparatus for producing radioactive materials for medical treatment using x-rays produced by an electron accelerator

Apparatus for irradiating a target object comprising:

• an electron beam source providing a beam of electrons;
• a positioning assembly including a rotatable carousel having an axis of rotation and a radial edge, the electron beam source directing said beam of electrons to impinge upon and be received by the radial edge of said rotatable carousel, said rotatable carousel including:
• an x-ray conversion target in the rotatable carousel activated by said beam of electrons to emit x-rays;
• a mounting station receiving at least one target object, said mounting station receiving x-rays emitted by said x-ray conversion target.

A target irradiation system comprising:

• an electron beam source providing a beam of electrons;
• a positioning assembly including a linearly movable translation armature, said translation armature mounted to said positioning assembly at least for linear motion in an axial direction substantially transverse to the direction of the provided beam of electrons, and said translation armature including a mounting apparatus mounting at least one target object;
• an x-ray conversion target mounted on said translation armature between said translation armature and said electron beam source, wherein said x-ray conversion target defines a radial access region providing access to said at least one target object and said x-ray conversion target includes an x-ray generating material activated by said beam of electrons to emit x-rays;
• and
• wherein said at least one target object is capable of becoming radioactive upon receiving the emitted x-rays.

A target irradiation system comprising:

• an electron beam source providing a beam of electrons on a path;
• a rotatable carousel including:
• a plurality of x-ray conversion targets circumferentially positioned on said carousel, each of said plurality of x-ray conversion targets including an x-ray generating material activated by said beam of electrons to emit x-rays when positioned in the path of the electron beam;
• a plurality of mounting stations to receive at least one of said target objects, each of said mounting stations associated with one of said x-ray conversion targets and located on said carousel downstream its associated x-ray conversion target in the path of x-rays emitted from the associated x-ray conversion target when the x-ray generaing material of the associated x-ray conversion target is activated by said beam of electrons to emit x-rays;
• and
• a target object capable of becoming radioactive upon receiving the emitted x-rays.

A target irradiation system comprising:

• an electron beam source comprising a medical linear accelerator and providing a beam of electrons;
• an x-ray conversion target in fixed relation to the electron beam source in the path of the beam of electrons from the electron beam source, the x-ray conversion target including an x-ray generating material activated by the bean of electrons to emit x-rays;
• a target object capable of becoming radioactive upon receiving the emitted x-rays;
• an electron beam directing apparatus between the electron beam source and the x-ray conversion target;
• and
• a retaining apparatus retaining the target object in relation to said electron beam source in a position to receive the emitted x-rays along a longitudinal surface thereof positioned in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the emitted x-rays.

A target irradiation system comprising:

• an x-ray source means for generating x-rays;
• and
• a positioning means for positioning at least one target object in the path of x-rays generated by said x-ray source means, including means for moving the at least one target object in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the generated x-rays generated by said x-ray source means;
• and
• wherein the at least one target object is capable of becoming radioactive upon receiving the generated x-rays.

A target irradiation system comprising:

• an electron beam source providing a beam of electrons;
• a positioning means including a means for linearly translating a translation armature for linear motion in an axial direction substantially transverse to the direction of the provided beam of electrons, and said translation armature including a mounting means for retaining at least one target object;
• an x-ray conversion target means mounted on said translation armature between said translation armature and said electron beam source, wherein said x-ray conversion target means defines a radial access region providing access to said at least one target object and said x-ray conversion target includes an x-ray generating material activated by said beam of electrons to emit x-rays;
• and
• wherein the at least one target object is capable of becoming radioactive upon receiving the emitted x-rays.

A method of irradiating a target object comprising:

• providing abeam of electrons;
• positioning an x-ray conversion target in fixed relation to said beam of electrons and impinging upon and receiving said beam of electrons;
• emitting x-rays from the x-ray conversion target when activated by said beam of electrons;
• selecting a target object capable of becoming radioactive upon receiving the emitted x-rays;
• moving said target object in relation to said x-ray conversion target in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the emitted x-rays and in the path of the x-rays emitted by said x-ray conversion target.

A method of irradiating a target object in a rotatable carousel having an axis of rotation comprising:

• selecting a target object capable of becoming radioactive upon receiving x-rays;
• placing the target object in an aperture in the rotatable carousel;
• providing a beam of electrons substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of the carousel;
• activating an x-ray generating material in the rotatable carousel with said beam of electrons to emit x-rays;
• and
• impinging at least a portion of said x-rays upon the target object placed in the aperture.

An irradiated medical stent produced using a process comprising the steps of:

• providing a beam of electrons;
• providing an x-ray conversion target in fixed relation to the beam of electrons;
• emitting x-rays from the x-ray conversion target when activated by said beam of electrons;
• and
• moving at least one medical stent in the path of said x-rays emitted by the x-ray conversion target and in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the emitted x-rays, said at least one medical stent becoming irradiated when receiving the emitted x-rays.