Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the manufacture of 3?-deoxy-3?-[18F]Fluorothymidine are disclosed. A fluorothymidine precursor, a reaction solvent for the fluorothymidine precursor, a source of [18F] ions, and dilution water are combined to form a reaction mixture including a radiolabeled thymidine product, [18F] ions, and residual reaction impurities. The reaction mixture is passed through a solid phase extraction cartridge. The solid phase extraction cartridge includes a solid sorbent to adsorb the radiolabeled thymidine product on the sorbent, and a portion of the residual reaction impurities pass through solid phase extraction cartridge without adsorbing on the sorbent. Any remaining impurities on the sorbent are washed off with water, and the radiolabeled thymidine product is eluted off the sorbent using an alkanol solvent. The eluted radiolabeled thynidine product is dried and reconstituted in water before any further extraction steps.

Abstract: A new type of heater support structure for YIG sphere support rods used in high frequency YIG oscillators and filters. The heater structure employs a rubber O-ring stretched around the perimeter or one or more rubber rods threaded through holes perpendicular to the rod support holes in the heater block and positioned such that the rods deform the rubber and are thereby pressed against a surface of the rod support hole. In alternative embodiments, V-grooves are formed in the heater block to support the rods. The heater block is brass in some embodiments and barium titanate in others. For brass blocks, the rods are beryllium oxide For barium titanate heater blocks, the rods can be either beryllium oxide or barium titanate.