Microirradiators and methods of making and using same
Improved radiation devices and their associated fabrication and applications are described herein. The microirradiators generally include a non-radioactive conducting electrode, an insulating sheath, a radioactive source, and, optionally, a contact electrode. The microirradiators generally produce low absolute radiation levels with high radiation flux densities.
1. A microirradiator, comprising:
a non-radioactive conducting electrode;
an insulating sheath disposed about at least a portion of the non-radioactive conducting electrode along a longitudinal axis of the non-radioactive conducting electrode; and
a radioactive source in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein the radioactive source is positioned at a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode via electroplating;
wherein the insulating sheath is disposed about at least a portion of the radioactive source along a longitudinal axis of the radioactive source.
2. The microirradiator of claim 1 , wherein a terminus of the insulating sheath is level with a terminus of the radioactive source.
3. The microirradiator of claim 1 , wherein a terminus of the insulating sheath extends beyond a terminus of the radioactive source to define a channel within the insulating sheath.
4. The microirradiator of claim 1 , further comprising a contact electrode in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode.
5. The microirradiator of claim 4 , wherein the contact electrode is electrically coupled to the non-radioactive conducting electrode within the insulating sheath.
6. The microirradiator of claim 1 , wherein the average thickness of the electroplated radioactive source along the longitudinal axis is less than or equal to about 50 micrometers.
7. The microirradiator of claim 1 , wherein the microirradiator produces an absolute radiation of less than or equal to about 1000 Becquerels and a radiation flux density of greater than or equal to about 10 4 Becquerels per square centimeter.
8. The microirradiator of claim 1 , wherein the non-radioactive conducting electrode is an inert metal, the insulating sheath is a glass capillary tube, and the radioactive source is an elemental radioisotope.
9. The microirradiator of claim 1 , wherein a target of radiation has an average longest cross-sectional dimension of less than or equal to about 30 micrometers.
10. A microirradiator, comprising:
a non-radioactive conducting electrode;
an insulating sheath disposed about at least a portion of the non-radioactive conducting electrode along a longitudinal axis of the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode extends beyond the insulating sheath to define a probe; and
a radioactive source in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein the radioactive source is electroplated on the probe.
11. The microirradiator of claim 10 , further comprising a contact electrode in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode.
12. The microirradiator of claim 11 , wherein the contact electrode is electrically coupled to the non-radioactive conducting electrode within the insulating sheath.
13. The microirradiator of claim 10 , wherein the average thickness of the electroplated radioactive source on the probe is less than or equal to about 50 micrometers.
14. The microirradiator of claim 10 , wherein the microirradiator produces an absolute radiation of less than or equal to about 1000 Becquerels and a radiation flux density of greater than or equal to about 10 4 Becquerels per square centimeter.
15. The microirradiator of claim 10 , wherein the non-radioactive conducting electrode is an inert metal, the insulating sheath is a glass capillary tube, and the radioactive source is an elemental radioisotope.
16. The microirradiator of claim 10 , wherein the microirradiator is configured to be inserted into a target of radiation.
17. The microirradiator of claim 16 , wherein the target of radiation has an average longest cross-sectional dimension of less than or equal to about 30 micrometers.
18. A method for making a microirradiator, the method comprising:
disposing an insulating sheath about at least a portion of a non-radioactive conducting electrode; and
electroplating a radioactive source at or about a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode.
19. The method for making a microirradiator of claim 18 , wherein the disposing comprises inserting the non-radioactive conducting electrode into the insulating sheath.
20. The method for making a microirradiator of claim 18 , further comprising electrically coupling a contact electrode to the non-radioactive conducting electrode.