Apparatus for producing copper-67 radioisotope for medical applications
The present invention provides a target unit and a sublimation apparatus suitable for use in a method for producing Cu67 radioisotope suitable for use in medical applications. The apparatus comprises a sublimation tube with one open end. The sublimation tube contains an ingot comprising Zn68 and Cu67 in a ceramic capsule contacting a closed end the sublimation tube. A removable vacuum dome is sealable over the open end of the sublimation tube so that interior of the apparatus can be placed under vacuum.
1. A device for sublimation of Zn68 from Cu67 comprising:
a ceramic sublimation tube having an open end, a closed end, and defining an interior region;
a ceramic capsule containing a target ingot that contains Zn68 and Cu67, the capsule having an open end and a closed end, and defining an interior chamber housing the target ingot; the ceramic capsule being positioned within the interior region of the sublimation tube with the closed end of the capsule contacting the closed end of the sublimation tube; and
a coupler sized and configured to releasably couple the open end of the sublimation tube with a vacuum source and form a leak-tight vacuum seal over the sublimation tube.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic sublimation tube is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina and boron nitride.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic capsule is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina and aluminum nitride.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein one or more O-rings are disposed between the sublimation tube and the coupler to aid in sealing the open end of the sublimation tube to the vacuum source.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the O-rings are composed of a chemically resistant polymer selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and vinylidene fluoride, and a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP).
6. A device for sublimation of Zn68 from Cu67 comprising: a ceramic sublimation tube having an open end, a closed end, and defining an interior region; a ceramic capsule containing a target ingot that contains Zn68 and Cu67, the capsule having an open end and a closed end, and defining an interior chamber housing the target ingot; the ceramic capsule being positioned within the interior region of the sublimation tube with the closed end of the capsule contacting the closed end of the sublimation tube; and
a coupler positioned over the open end of the sublimation tube; the coupler being sized and configured to releasably couple the open end of the sublimation tube with a vacuum source—and form a leak-tight vacuum seal;
wherein the coupler comprises:
(a) a vacuum dome defining a closed end, an open end, and a vacuum port; the
open end of the vacuum dome being oriented facing the open end of the sublimation tube;
(b) a removable tubular sheath positioned over the open ends of the vacuum dome and the sublimation tube; the sheath defining a first open end and a second open end opposed to the first open end; the tubular sheath and the first and second open ends being sized and configured to surround the open ends of the vacuum dome and the sublimation tube; the sheath comprising a first male-threaded region adjacent each the first open end thereof, and a second male-threaded region adjacent the second open end thereof;
(c) a first threaded ring at the first open end of the tubular sheath; the first threaded ring comprising a female-threaded region sized and configured to engage the first male-threaded region of the tubular sheath, and a first internal washer spaced from the female-threaded region of the first threaded ring;
(d) a second threaded ring at the second open end of the tubular sheath; the second threaded ring comprising a female-threaded region sized and configured to engage the second male-threaded region of the tubular sheath, and a second internal washer spaced from the female-threaded region of the second threaded ring;
(e) a first O-ring disposed within the first threaded ring between the first washer and the female-threaded region of the first threaded ring, the first O-ring contacting an exterior wall of the vacuum dome; and
(f) a second O-ring disposed within the second threaded ring between the second washer and the female-threaded region of the second threaded ring, the second O-ring contacting an exterior wall of the sublimation tube;
wherein the first O-ring is compressed between the adjacent first open end of the tubular sheath, the adjacent first washer, and the adjacent exterior wall of the vacuum dome, and the second O-ring is compressed between the adjacent second open end of the tubular sheath, the adjacent second washer, and the adjacent exterior wall of the sublimation tube, when the female-threaded regions of the first and second threaded rings are engaged with and tightened onto the first and second male-threaded regions of the tubular sheath, respectively; thereby forming a vacuum-tight seal between the vacuum dome and the sublimation tube.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the tubular sheath and the threaded rings are composed of stainless steel.
8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the vacuum dome is composed of glass or a metal.
9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the ceramic sublimation tube is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina and boron nitride.
10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the ceramic capsule is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina and aluminum nitride.
11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the O-rings are composed of a chemically resistant polymer selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and vinylidene fluoride, and a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP).
12. A device for sublimation of Zn68 from Cu67 comprising:
a ceramic sublimation tube having an open end, a closed end, and defining an interior region;
a ceramic capsule containing a target ingot that contains Zn68 and Cu67, the capsule having an open end and a closed end, and defining an interior chamber housing the target ingot; the ceramic capsule being positioned within the interior region of the sublimation tube with the closed end of the capsule contacting the closed end of the sublimation tube; and
a coupler positioned over the open end of the sublimation tube; the coupler being sized and configured to releasably couple the open end of the sublimation tube with a vacuum source and form a leak-tight vacuum seal;
wherein the coupler comprises:
(a) a vacuum dome defining a vacuum port surrounded by a first flange, an opposed open end, and second flange surrounding the open end; the open end of the vacuum dome being oriented facing the open end of the sublimation tube;
(b) a removable tubular sheath comprising two open ends, a third flange surrounding one open end thereof, and a male-threaded region surrounding the other open end thereof, the tubular sheath being sized and configured to surround the open end of the sublimation tube; and the third flange being oriented facing with the second flange of the vacuum dome with a gasket therebetween;
(c) a threaded ring comprising a female-threaded region sized and configured to engage the male-threaded region of the tubular sheath, and an internal washer spaced from the female-threaded region;
(d) an O-ring disposed within the threaded ring, the O-ring contacting an exterior wall of the sublimation tube; and
(e) a removable clamp sized and configured to compress the gasket against the second flange and the third flange to form a vacuum-tight seal when the clamp is engaged around the second flange and the third flange;
wherein the O-ring is compressed between the adjacent open end of the tubular sheath and the adjacent exterior wall of the sublimation tube when the female-threaded region of the threaded ring is engaged with and tightened onto the male-threaded region of the tubular sheath, thereby forming a vacuum-tight seal between the tubular sheath and the sublimation tube.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the tubular sheath and the threaded rings are composed of stainless steel.
14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the vacuum dome is composed of glass or a metal.
15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the ceramic sublimation tube is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina and boron nitride.
16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the ceramic capsule is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina and aluminum nitride.
17. The device of claim 12 , wherein the O-ring is composed of a chemically resistant polymer selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of hexafluoropropylene (HFP) and vinylidene fluoride, and a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP).
18. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first flange has a smaller diameter than the second flange, and the vacuum dome has a conical shape between the first flange and the second flange which increases in diameter in the direction from the first flange to the second flange.