Cyclotech - contribution to solve the Technetium shortage by using low energy medical cyclotrons

This paper presents work in progress, to develop an efficient and economic way to directly produce Technetium 99metastable (99mTc) using low-energy cyclotrons. Its importance is well established and relates with the increased global trouble in delivering 99mTc to Nuclear Medicine Departments relying on this radioisotope. Since the present delivery strategy has clearly demonstrated its intrinsic limits, our group decided to follow a distinct approach that uses the broad distribution of the low energy cyclotrons and the accessibility of Molybdenum 100 (100Mo) as the Target material. This is indeed an important issue to consider, since the system here presented, named CYCLOTECH, it is not based on the use of Highly Enriched (or even Low Enriched) Uranium 235 (235U), so entirely complying with the actual international trends and directives concerning the use of this potential highly critical material. The production technique is based on the nuclear reaction 100Mo (p,2n) 99mTc whose production yields have already been documented. Until this moment two Patent requests have already been submitted (the first at the INPI, in Portugal, and the second at the USPTO, in the USA); others are being prepared for submission on a near future. The object of the CYCLOTECH system is to present 99mTc to Nuclear Medicine radiopharmacists in a routine, reliable and efficient manner that, remaining always flexible, entirely blends with established protocols. To facilitate workflow and Radiation Protection measures, it has been developed a Target Station that can be installed on most of the existing PET cyclotrons and that will tolerate up to 400 μA of beam by allowing the beam to strike the Target material at an adequately oblique angle. The Target Station permits the remote and automatic loading and discharge of the Targets from a carriage of 10 Target bodies. On other hand, several methods of Target material deposition and Target substrates are presented. The object was to create a cost effective means of depositing and intermediate the target material thickness (25 - 100μm) with a minimum of loss on a substrate that is able to easily transport the heat associated with high beam currents. Finally, the separation techniques presented are a combination of both physical and column chemistry. The object was to extract and deliver 99mTc in the identical form now in use in radiopharmacies worldwide. In addition, the Target material is recovered and can be recycled.

SSC新高频腔设计与分析

Beam matching relationship between the two cyclotrons(SFC and SSC) of HIRFL is briefly discussed, and the frequency band of the new RF cavity is obtained. The new cavity is simulated with the three-dimensional electromagnetic calculation code MAFIA, and the parameters of it such as frequency, Q value, shunt impedance and voltage distribution are worked out and discussed. The simulation results show that the new RF cavity can fully meet the requirements of physics design and space configuration.中文摘要：简要分析了HIRFL SFC与SSC之间的束流匹配关系,给出了新高频腔的频率范围。利用经典三维电磁场数值模拟软件MAFIA对SSC新高频腔体进行了模拟计算,得出了SSC新高频腔体的相关物理参数,并对频率范围、Q值、并联阻抗和电压分布等参数进行了分析。高频腔体的模拟计算结果完全符合SSC回旋加速器改造的物理设计及空间结构要求。

Research for HIRFL new improvement project

According to the newest matching mode between the two cyclotrons at HIRFL, the beam obit properties were researched, especially for the harm of existing ‘over-magnetic shim’ in SSC as well as the trajectory in the new mode. The results obtained are encouraging.

Beam matching between SFC and SSC

The beam matching status between the two isochronous cyclotrons in the Heavy Ion Research Facility at the Lanzhou-Cooling Storage Ring (HIRFL-CSR) is described. Several methods which can be used to accomplish 100% matching are proposed. By comparing of them, the best method is determined. The advantage due to this method is discussed.

OVERVIEW ON THE HIRFL-CSR FACILITY

The status of the HIRFL (Heavy Ion Facility in Lanzhou) - Cooler Storage Ring (CSR) at the IMP is reported. The main physics goals at the HIRFL-CSR are the researches on nuclear structure and decay property, EOS of nuclear matter, hadron physics, highly charged atomic physics, high energy density physics, nuclear astrophysics, and applications for cancer therapy, space industries, materials and biology sciences. The HIRFL-CSR is the first ion cooler-storage-ring system in China, which consists of a main ring (CSRm), an experimental ring (CSRe) and a radioactive beamline (RIBLL2). The two existing cyclotrons SFC (K=70) and SSC (K=450) are used as its injectors. The 7MeV/u12C6+ ions were stored successfully in CSRm with the stripping injection in January 2006. After that, realized were the accelerations of C-12(6+), Ar-36(18+), Kr-78(28+) and Xe-129(27+) ions with energies of 1GeV/u, 1GeV/u, 450 MeV/u and 235 MeV/u, respectively, including accumulation, electron cooling and acceleration. In 2008, the first two isochronous mass measurement experiments with the primary beams of Ar-36(18+) and Kr-78(28+) were performed at CSRe with the Delta p/p similar to 10(-5).

High power laser production of short-lived isotopes for positron emission tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful diagnostic/imaging technique requiring the production of the short-lived positron emitting isotopes C-11, N-13, O-15 and F-18 by proton irradiation of natural/enriched targets using cyclotrons. The development of PET has been hampered due to the size and shielding requirements of nuclear installations. Recent results show that when an intense laser beam interacts with solid targets, megaelectronvolt (MeV) protons capable of producing PET isotopes are generated. This report describes how to generate intense PET sources of C-11 and F-18 using a petawatt laser beam. The work describing the laser production of F-18 through a (p,n) O-18 reaction, and the subsequent synthesis of 2-[F-18] is reported for the first time. The potential for developing compact laser technology for this purpose is discussed.

Low current performance of the Bern medical cyclotron down to the pA range

A medical cyclotron accelerating H- ions to 18 MeV is in operation at the Bern University Hospital (Inselspital). It is the commercial IBA 18/18 cyclotron equipped with a specifically conceived 6 m long external beam line ending in a separate bunker. This feature is unique for a hospital-based facility and makes it possible to conduct routine radioisotope production for PET diagnostics in parallel with multidisciplinary research activities, among which are novel particle detectors, radiation biophysics, radioprotection, radiochemistry and radiopharmacy developments. Several of these activities, such as radiobiology experiments for example, require low current beams down to the pA range, while medical cyclotrons are designed for high current operation above 10 μA. In this paper, we present the first results on the low current performance of a PET medical cyclotron obtained by ion source, radio-frequency and main coil tuning. With this method, stable beam currents down to (1.5+/- 0.5 ) pA were obtained and measured with a high-sensitivity Faraday cup located at the end of the beam transport line.

A report on the three-dee, three-phase 20-inch cyclotron /

Unclassified Physics Distribution.

Magnetic deflector for mesons produced in the 184-inch cyclotron /

Work performed at the University of California Radiation Laboratory.

Magnet report /

Work performed by the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

A proposal for the Mc2 Isochronous Cyclotron; a general purpose high-intensity 810-MeV proton accelerator.

Mode of access: Internet.

700 Mev negative hydrogen ion cyclotron facility.

"Contract AEC at (11-1) 34 Project 93, April 1963."