Abstract: A target system for irradiation of molybdenum with charged particles from an accelerator to produce technetium and molybdenum radioisotopes. The target system comprises a molybdenum-100 material brazed with a brazing alloy to a backing material. The backing material preferably comprises a dispersion-strengthened copper composite. The brazing alloy comprises copper and phosphorus.

Abstract: A process for producing technetium-99m from a molybdenum-100 metal powder, comprising the steps of: (i) irradiating in a substantially oxygen-free environment, a hardened sintered target plate coated with a Mo-100 metal, with protons produced by a cyclotron; (ii) dissolving molybdenum ions and technetium ions from the irradiated target plate with an H2O2 solution to form an oxide solution; (iv) raising the pH of the oxide solution to about 14; (v) flowing the pH-adjusted oxide solution through a resin column to immobilize K[TcO4] ions thereon and to elute K2[MoO4] ions therefrom; (vi) eluting the bound K[TcO4] ions from the resin column; (vii) flowing the eluted K[TcO4] ions through an alumina column to immobilize K[TcO4] ions thereon; (viii) washing the immobilized K[TcO4] ions with water; (ix) eluting the immobilized K[TcO4] ions with a saline solution; and (x) recovering the eluted Na[TcO4] ions.

Abstract: Provided are new methods for enhancing the selection of true (T) annihilation events relative to the inclusion of true scattered (TS) and random (R) annihilation events in PET tomographs and thereby improving the sensitivity and/or resolution of PET scanners. The methods include reconstruction of Compton scattering interactions in the ?-ray detectors for determining the angles of incidence of the ?-rays received at the detectors and may utilize ?-ray polarization effects and electron recoil data associated with positron annihilation and Compton scattering. The use of the ?-ray polarization effects provides an improved ability for selecting data corresponding to T events while simultaneously suppressing data corresponding to TS and R events during PET applications.

Abstract: A cryogenic fluid distribution device may include a fluid flow passage for distributing cryogenic fluid to an apparatus, an overflow passage positioned downstream of the apparatus, and a sensor coupled to the overflow passage, the sensor having an active component for determining if fluid is present in the overflow passage.

Abstract: An improved gamma ray detector and method for discriminating between “true” pairs of gamma rays produced by a single positron annihilation event and those randomly occurring “pairs” of gamma rays that may fall within the conventional acceptance criteria for “true” pairs. The gamma ray detector incorporates an additional array of “veto” detectors arranged adjacent or around a primary detector array. The array of “veto” detectors is configured to detect gamma rays that escape detection in the primary detector array. The detection data from both the primary detector array and the veto detector array are used as inputs into a discrimination circuit for “vetoing” those pairs of gamma rays detected by the primary detector array that are likely to be the result of two or more unrelated positron annihilation events.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for manufacturing radiohalogen-labeled steroids, nucleosides, nucleotides and proteins, for example, pyrimidines and proteins. Methods according to the example embodiments specific to pyrimidines includes dissolving a halogenated pyrimidine to obtain an initial solution, adding bis(tributyltin) and triphenylphosphine palladium to produce a catalyzed solution, heating the catalyzed solution under conditions sufficient to induce a reaction that produces an intermediate solution including a stannylated pyrimidine compound, removing substantially all of the first solvent from the intermediate solution to obtain an intermediate composition, purifying the resulting solution to obtain a purified composition including a stannylated pyrimidine, reacting the stannylated pyrimidine compound with a radiohalogen in a buffered reaction mixture to produce the radiohalogenated pyrimidine, adding an antioxidant and extracting the radiohalogenated pyrimidine from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Provided is an example of an improved coupler element that provides both a fluidic connection for transporting cooling fluid into and/or out of, the target and a high capacity electrical conductor suitable for the transmitting electrical current to the target during operation of the accelerator. The improved coupler element includes fasteners, alignment structures and sealing structures that can be arranged on opposing faces of a two-part coupler such as a water connection block assembly used on an accelerator.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for generating and collecting a secondary compound that includes daughter isotope, such as 68Ga, resulting from the decay of a parent isotope, such as 68Ge, present in a precursor compound. The apparatus includes a generator system comprising a collector vessel, a cold trap and a pump, that are operatively connected to sources for introducing a precursor compound and an eluant solution, and optionally purging gases and oxygen scavengers, into the generator system. In a generation mode a substantial portion of the precursor compound is maintained in or flows through the collector vessel while in recovery mode substantially all of the precursor compound is confined in the cold trap while the collector vessel is flushed with an eluant to remove the collected secondary compound.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position of a gamma ray interaction are disclosed. A medium that emits light in response to an interaction between a gamma ray and the medium is provided. A plurality of photodetectors is used to detect the light and determine a first three-dimensional position of the interaction. A field is produced in the medium that directs ionization electrons resulting from the interaction to a collector. A portion of a shutter system that corresponds to the interaction is opened. The shutter selectively blocks and permits the passage of the ionization electrons to the collector. A second three-dimensional position of the interaction is determined by localizing a two-dimensional position of the interaction in the collector and determining a third dimension based on a time of arrival of the ionization electrons relative to when the light is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position of a gamma ray interaction are disclosed. A medium that emits light in response to an interaction between a gamma ray and the medium is provided. A plurality of photodetectors is used to detect the light and determine a first three-dimensional position of the interaction. A field is produced in the medium that directs ionization electrons resulting from the interaction to a collector. A portion of a shutter system that corresponds to the interaction is opened. The shutter selectively blocks and permits the passage of the ionization electrons to the collector. A second three-dimensional position of the interaction is determined by localizing a two-dimensional position of the interaction in the collector and determining a third dimension based on a time of arrival of the ionization electrons relative to when the light is detected.

Abstract: A system and method for producing 18F-Fluoride by using a proton beam to irradiate 18Oxygen in gaseous form. The irradiated 18Oxygen is contained in a chamber that includes at least one component to which the produced 18F-Fluoride adheres. A solvent dissolves the produced 18F-Fluoride off of the at least one component while it is in the chamber. The solvent is then processed to obtain the 18F-Fluoride.

Abstract: The present invention is a complex of a polynucleotide having a property of specifically binding to a target protein together with a protein that stabilizes the polynucleotide from degradation and from clearance from the circulation in vivo. Methods for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic uses of the complex are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position of a gamma ray interaction are disclosed. A medium that emits light in response to an interaction between a gamma ray and the medium is provided. A plurality of photodetectors is used to detect the light and determine a first three-dimensional position of the interaction. A field is produced in the medium that dire ionization electrons resulting from the interaction to a collector. A portion of a shutter system that corresponds to the interaction is opened. The shutter selectively blocks and permits the passage of the ionization electrons to the collector. A second three-dimensional position of the interaction is determined by localizing a two-dimensional position of the interaction in the collector and determining a third dimension based on a time of arrival of the ionization electrons relative to when the light is detected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using &agr;-particle energy loss to measure the thickness and stoichiometry of films grown by molecular beam epitaxy and other methods. The apparatus for measuring the thickness of films grown on a substrate in a growth chamber, comprises a protective housing having an aperture opening into the growth chamber, a solid state detector disposed in the protective housing, a shutter for opening and closing the aperture, a shield disposed in the housing between the aperture and the solid state detector for shielding the detector, and a calibration source disposed between the shield and the detector for calibrating the measurements made by the detector. A second calibration source disposed between the shutter and the shield, for measuring deposition on the shield.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using &agr;-particle energy loss to measure the thickness and stoichiometry of films grown by molecular beam epitaxy and other methods. The apparatus for measuring the thickness of films grown on a substrate in a growth chamber, comprises a protective housing having an aperture opening into the growth chamber, a solid state detector disposed in the protective housing, a shutter for opening and closing the aperture, a shield disposed in the housing between the aperture and the solid state detector for shielding the detector, and a calibration source disposed between the shield and the detector for calibrating the measurements made by the detector. A second calibration source disposed between the shutter and the shield, for measuring deposition on the shield.

Abstract: A gamma ray detector for determining the position of gamma ray interactions has at least one module. Each module has a converter for converting gamma rays to charged particles, a scintillator for emitting light in response to charged particles produced by the converter, a photodetector to determine when light has been emitted from the scintillator, a two-coordinate position detector for determining the X and Y coordinates of charged particles interacting with the position detector, and a signal device for signaling the presence of emitted light in the photodetector and for activating the position detector.

Abstract: Light guides (1) capable of encoding the transverse and longitudinal coordinates of light emission induced by the interaction of photons in an array of a plurality of the light guides. Each light guide has at least two discrete crystal segments (4) adjacently disposed along a common longitudinal axis of the light guide (1). Between adjacent segments is a boundary layer (7) having less light transmission than the light transmission of the crystal segments (4). A light absorbing mask (8) increases light adsorption in a segment (4). Photons enter the light guide (1) and cause the emission of scintillation light which is delivered in different and resolvable quantities to light sensing devices. The differences in quantity of delivered light is caused by successive decreases in light in part by the boundary layers (7). The differences in quantity of light establish the segment from which the light emission took place.

Abstract: A composition comprising no-carrier-added 1-(B-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-(E)-(2-halogenovinyl)uracil wherein the halogen is radioactive iodine or bromine. This composition can be used to diagnose or treat herpes viral infections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for determining the X, Y and Z positions of a point of gamma ray induced light emission in a pattern of a plurality of scintillating light guides. A plurality of spatially separated, scintillating, crystal, light guides are arrayed in a pattern having known X and Y positions with each of the light guides having a gamma ray receiving end, a light transmitting end, and walls therebetween. A light reflective surface is disposed on at least a portion of the walls having light reflectivity such that a total fraction of light passing through a transmitting end is substantially greater for gamma ray induced light emissions closer to the transmitting end and substantially less for emissions closer to the receiving end.

Abstract: Reacting [.sup.* X]X- with YVaraU in the presence of a cuprous ion catalyst under anaerobic and reducing conditions produces [.sup.* X]XVaraU, where .sup.* X is a radioactive halogen, Y is a second halogen, X and Y are different halogens, and XVaraU is 1-(.beta.-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5(E)-(2-halogenovinyl) uracil, the halogen of which is X. The reaction produces an effective administrable form of [.sup.* X]XVaraU for use in diagnosis and treatment of herpes virus infections.