PROCESSES, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUS FOR CYCLOTRON PRODUCTION OF TECHNETIUM-99M
A system for producing technetium-99m from molybdate-100. The system comprises: a target capsule apparatus for housing a Mo-100-coated target plate; a target capsule pickup apparatus for engaging and delivering the target cell apparatus into a target station apparatus; a target station apparatus for receiving and mounting therein the target capsule apparatus. The target station apparatus is engaged with a cyclotron for irradiating the Mo-100-coated target plate with protons. The irradiated target capsule apparatus is transferred to a receiving cell apparatus comprising a dissolution/purification module for receiving therein a proton-irradiated Mo-100-coated target plate. A conveyance conduit infrastructure interconnects: (i) the target capsule pickup apparatus with the target station apparatus, (ii) the target station apparatus and the receiving cell apparatus; and (iii) the receiving cell apparatus and the dissolution/purification module.
1 . A system for producing technetium-99m from molybdate-100, comprising:
a target capsule apparatus for housing therein a Mo-100-coated target plate;
a target capsule pickup apparatus for engaging the target capsule apparatus and delivering the target cell apparatus into a target station apparatus;
a target station apparatus for receiving and mounting therein the target capsule apparatus, said target station apparatus engaged with a cyclotron and communicable with said cyclotron for irradiating the Mo-100-coated target plate with protons;
a receiving cell apparatus for receiving and mounting therein the irradiated target capsule apparatus;
a transfer tube interconnecting the receiving cell apparatus and the target station apparatus;
a dissolution/purification module for receiving therein a proton-irradiated Mo-100-coated target plate;
a conveyance conduit infrastructure interconnecting: (i) the target capsule pickup apparatus with the target station apparatus, (ii) the target station apparatus and the receiving cell apparatus; and (iii) the receiving cell apparatus and the dissolution/purification module; and
a supply of oxygen-free atmosphere to the target station apparatus.
2 . The system of claim 1 , additionally comprising a booster station apparatus engaged with the transfer tube.
3 . A target capsule apparatus according to claim 1 .
4 . A target capsule pickup apparatus according to claim 1 .
5 . A target station apparatus according to claim 1 .
6 . A target station receiving cell apparatus according to claim 1 .
7 . A dissolution/purification module according to claim 1 .
8 . A booster station apparatus according to claim 2 .