RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 New solid state target construction on a PETtrace cyclotron
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 1010
OP 1010
VO 54
IS supplement 2
A1 Solbach, Christoph
A1 Deiters, Joerg
A1 Machulla, Hans
A1 Bertram, Jens
A1 Baur, Benjamin
A1 Scheel, Wolfgang
A1 Reske, Sven
YR 2013
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/54/supplement_2/1010.abstract
AB 1010 Objectives The PET application of particular isotopes (e.g. I-124, Cu-64/62, Y-86, Zr-89) which can be obtained by irradiation of a solid state target (sst) is mainly and mostly limited by the (under irradiation protection aspects) highly problematic manual installation and removal phase at the “hot” target area. Our goal was the development of a fully automated sst system for angulated irradiation of plane sst materials (foils etc.) avoiding manipulations in the highly irradiation intense target area of the cyclotron. Methods The developed sst system comprises three aspects: 1. a chain-drive transport system with mini lead container for the automated transport of the target foil; 2. an automated picker (underpressure sucker) for installation and removal of the target foil; 3. a sst body with He- and water-cooling. The new aspects of this construction are: a) the automated user-defined positioning of the target foil in a selectable angle (to beam axis) and b) the automated height adjustability of the target foil in relation to the particle beam for readjustability purposes due to beam axis drift problems. Results The construction enables the automated chain driven transport of the target foil from the cyclotron bunker entrance door along the bunker wall to the cyclotron target area where the target foil is removed and adjusted into the target body by an automated underpressure picker. After irradiation the target foil can be removed automatically and transported back by the same process in reversed sequence. The system allows the efficient and irradiation-protected realization of irradiation breaks for sst irradiations e.g. between conventional productions and an efficient target-foil-positioning by short irradiation of Al-foils combined with an automated readjusting if necessary. Conclusions The new solid state target construction enables the automated and irradiation protected positioning, readjusting and removal of the target foil for a reliable radionuclide production in completion of the daily routine production.