Biomarker generator system

1. A system for producing a radiochemical, said system comprising:

a particle accelerator for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minimum energy greater than, or equal to, five (5) MeV, and for directing the beam of charged particles along a path;

a target positioned in the path of the beam of charged particles, said target serving to receive a target substance having a composition selected for producing a radioactive substance during interaction with the beam of charged particles; and

a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip, said radiochemical synthesis subsystem for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the radiochemical.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radioactive substance includes a positron-emitting radioactive isotope selected from the group consisting of carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15, and fluorine-18.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radioactive substance is a positron-emitting substance selected from the group consisting of [ 11 C]CH 4 , [ 11 C]CO 2 , [ 11 C]CH 3 I, [ 13 N]N 2 , [ 15 O]O 2 , [ 18 F]F − , and [ 18 F]F 2 .

4. A system for producing a radiochemical, said system comprising:

a cyclotron for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, a the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minimum energy greater than, or equal to, five (5) MeV , and for directing the beam of charged particles along a path;

a target positioned in the path of the beam of charged particles, said target serving to receive a target substance having a composition selected for producing a radioactive substance during interaction with the beam of charged particles; and

a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip, said radiochemical synthesis subsystem for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the radiochemical.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said particle accelerator includes an internal target subsystem.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein said cyclotron includes an internal target subsystem.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said particle accelerator includes a permanent magnet for directing the beam as the beam is being accelerated.

8. The system of claim 4 , wherein said particle accelerator includes a permanent magnet for directing the beam as the beam is being accelerated.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beam consists essentially of protons having an energy of approximately seven (7) MeV.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said particle accelerator is a cyclotron.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radioactive substance includes a radioisotope that emits positrons.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the radioisotope that emits positrons is a PET biomarker .

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said radiochemical synthesis subsystem is for synthesizing per run a maximum of approximately one (1) unit dose of the PET biomarker.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the approximately one (1) unit dose of the PET biomarker has a maximum activity of less than, or equal to, approximately twenty (20) mCi.

15. A system for producing a radiochemical, said system comprising:

a particle accelerator for producing per run a radioactive substance having a maximum activity of less than, or equal to, approximately sixty (60) mCi; and

a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip, said radiochemical synthesis subsystem for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the radiochemical.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the radioactive substance includes a positron-emitting radioisotope selected from the group consisting of carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15, and fluorine-18.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the radioactive substance is a positron-emitting substance selected from the group consisting of [ 11 C]CH 4 , [ 11 C]CO 2 , [ 11 C]CH 3 I, [ 13 N]N 2 , [ 15 O]O 2 , [ 18 F]F − , and [ 18 F]F 2 .

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein said particle accelerator is for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minimum energy greater than, or equal to, five (5) MeV.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the beam consists essentially of protons having an energy of approximately seven (7) MeV.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein said particle accelerator is a cyclotron.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein said particle accelerator is a cyclotron.

22. The system of claim 15 , wherein said particle accelerator includes an internal target subsystem.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein said cyclotron includes an internal target subsystem.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein said cyclotron includes an internal target subsystem.

25. The system of claim 15 , wherein said particle accelerator includes a permanent magnet for directing the beam.

26. The system of claim 20 , wherein said particle accelerator includes a permanent magnet for directing the beam.

27. The system of claim 15 , wherein said radiochemical synthesis subsystem is for processing per run a maximum of less than, or equal to, approximately sixty (60) mCi of the radioactive substance.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the radioactive substance includes a radioisotope that emits positrons.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the radioisotope that emits positrons is a PET biomarker.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein said radiochemical synthesis subsystem is for synthesizing per run a maximum of approximately one (1) unit dose of the PET biomarker.

31. The system of claim 30 , wherein the approximately one (1) unit dose of the PET biomarker has a maximum activity of less than, or equal to, approximately twenty (20) mCi.

32. A method for the producing approximately one (1) unit dose of a PET biomarker, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a particle accelerator for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minimum energy greater than, or equal to, five (5) MeV, said particle accelerator being incapable of generating a beam of charged particles having a beam power in excess of approximately fifty (50) watts;

(b) generating a beam of charged particles using said particle accelerator;

(c) bombarding a substance with the beam of charged particles such as to produce a radioactive substance;

(d) providing a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip, said radiochemical synthesis subsystem for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the approximately one (1) unit dose of a PET biomarker;

(e) transferring the radioactive substance to said radiochemical synthesis subsystem;

(f) transferring at least one reagent to said radiochemical synthesis subsystem; and

(g) synthesizing the approximately one (1) unit dose of a PET biomarker, using said radiochemical synthesis subsystem.