Deuteron Bombardment Patents (Class 376/199)
  • Patent number: 10479707
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a deionization chamber having a plurality of electrodes corresponding to a plurality of register levels thereby forming a gradient of electrical amplitudes and frequencies within the deionization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: John B. Tappen
  • Patent number: 9196388
    Abstract: An accelerator based systems are disclosed for the generation of isotopes, such as molybdenum-98 (“99Mo”) and metastable technetium-99 (“99mTc”) from molybdenum-98 (“98Mo”). Multilayer targets are disclosed for use in the system and other systems to generate 99mTc and 98Mo, and other isotopes. In one example a multilayer target comprises a first, inner target of 98Mo surrounded, at least in part, by a separate, second outer layer of 98Mo. In another example, a first target layer of molybdenum-100 is surrounded, at least in part, by a second target layer of 98Mo. In another example, a first inner target comprises a Bremsstrahlung target material surrounded, at least in part, by a second target layer of molybdenum-100, surrounded, at least in part, by a third target layer of 98Mo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Clayton
  • Publication number: 20140119488
    Abstract: The present invention produces nuclide transmutation using a relatively small-scale device. The device 10 that produces nuclide transmutation comprises a structure body 11 that is substantially plate shaped and made of palladium (Pd) or palladium alloy, or another metal that absorbs hydrogen (for example, Ti) or an alloy thereof, and a material 14 that undergoes nuclide transmutation laminated on one surface 11A among the two surfaces of this structure body 11. The one surface 11 A side of the structure body 11, for example, is made a region in which the pressure of the deuterium is high due to pressure or electrolysis and the like, and the other surface 11B side, for example, is a region in which the pressure of the deuterium is low due to vacuum exhausting and the like, arid thereby, a flow of deuterium in the structure body 11 is produced, and nuclide transmutation is carried out by a reaction between the deuterium and the material 14 that undergoes nuclide transmutation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro IWAMURA, Takehiko Itoh, Mitsuru Sakano
  • Patent number: 8709350
    Abstract: An ion source includes a conductive substrate, the substrate including a plurality of conductive nanostructures with free-standing tips formed on the substrate. A conductive catalytic coating is formed on the nanostructures and substrate for dissociation of a molecular species into an atomic species, the molecular species being brought in contact with the catalytic coating. A target electrode placed apart from the substrate, the target electrode being biased relative to the substrate with a first bias voltage to ionize the atomic species in proximity to the free-standing tips and attract the ionized atomic species from the substrate in the direction of the target electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Thomas Schenkel, Arun Persaud, Rehan Kapadia, Ali Javey
  • Publication number: 20140098919
    Abstract: The inventions relate to a group that includes means for directing charged particles, enabling the acceleration and interaction thereof, and producing radiation caused by their movement, namely a method for changing the direction of an accelerated charged particle beam, a device for implementing said method, a source of undulator electromagnetic radiation, a linear and a circular charged particle accelerator, and a collider and means for producing a magnetic field created by a stream of accelerated charged particles. The method and the device for implementing same are based on the use of a curved channel (1) for transporting particles, which is made from a material that is able to be electrically charged, and the formation of the same kind of charge on the inside surface of the channel wall as that of the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Muradin Abubekirovich KUMAKHOV
  • Publication number: 20130266106
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of generating energetic particles, which comprises contacting nanotubes with a source of hydrogen isotopes, such as D2O, and applying activation energy to the nanotubes. In one embodiment, the hydrogen isotopes comprises protium, deuterium, tritium, and combinations thereof. There is also disclosed a method of transmuting matter that is based on the increased likelihood of nuclei interaction for atoms confined in the limited dimensions of a nanotube structure, which generates energetic particles sufficient to transmute matter and exposing matter to be transmuted to these particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: SELDON TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher H. Cooper, James F. Loan, William K. Cooper, Alan G. Cummings
  • Publication number: 20120269309
    Abstract: A nuclide processing method which binds a first nuclide material including at least one of Cs, C, and Sr that undergoes nuclide transmutation to a surface layer of a multilayer structure body. The method heats the multilayer structure body by the heater. The method supplies deuterium gas, at atmospheric pressure supplied from a tank of deuterium, into an absorption chamber holding the multilayer structure body, and evacuates a desorption chamber holding the multilayer structure body to a vacuum level below atmospheric pressure to provide a flow of the deuterium gas that penetrates through the heated multilayer structure body and the first nuclide material bound on the multilayer structure body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro IWAMURA, Takehiko Itoh, Mitsuru Sakano
  • Publication number: 20120263265
    Abstract: A nuclide processing method which binds a first nuclide material including at least one of Cs, C, and Sr that undergoes nuclide transmutation to a surface layer of a multilayer structure body. The method heats the multilayer structure body by the heater. The method supplies deuterium gas, at atmospheric pressure supplied from a tank of deuterium, into an absorption chamber holding the multilayer structure body, and evacuates a desorption chamber holding the multilayer structure body to a vacuum level below atmospheric pressure to provide a flow of the deuterium gas that penetrates through the heated multilayer structure body and the first nuclide material bound on the multilayer structure body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Iwamura, Takehiko Itoh, Mitsuru Sakano
  • Publication number: 20120213319
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fast pulsing of a neutron generator is described in which a series of electrodes are used to first extract deuterium or tritium ions from a plasma contained within an ion source, and then either accelerate or stop the flow of ions to the source, depending upon the voltage potential applied to the downstream electrodes. In one embodiment, the extraction/gating system comprises 3 electrodes, a first extraction electrode which is maintained at the same positive potential as the ion sources, a second electrode maintained at a lower potential to extract ions from the source, and a third electrode which depending on the operational mode is maintained either at the same potential as the second electrode (for beam passage) or at a potential higher than that of the first electrode (for beam blockage).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Joe Kwan, Qing Ji, Ka-Ngo Leung
  • Patent number: 7978805
    Abstract: A neutron source includes a low atomic number element target that is bombarded by incident energetic particles to provide a neutron flux. The source receives a controlled flow of liquid gallium that cools the target. The energetic particles may be for example protons or deuterons and the target is housed in a moderator/reflector assembly. Advantageously, the liquid gallium provides improved heat transfer, smaller flow rates and reduced stress on the target in comparison to prior art liquid coolants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Brandon W. Blackburn
  • Publication number: 20090316850
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method of providing accurate control of a nuclear reactor containing fuel and designed to be subcritical in the static case that has a vessel, the vessel defining a shell, and an internal volume containing the fuel. A fusion target is located in the internal volume and contains a reactive material. A pulsed source of a hydrogen isotope directs the hydrogen isotope into, but stopping within the fusion target. Each pulse of a hydrogen isotope produces a pulse of neutrons from the reactive material in the fusion target that scatter into and burn the fuel, and thereafter the reactor returns to the static case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: James R. Langenbrunner
  • Publication number: 20090290674
    Abstract: The present invention produces nuclide transmutation using a relatively small-scale device. The device 10 that produces nuclide transmutation comprises a structure body 11 that is substantially plate shaped and made of palladium (Pd) or palladium alloy, or another metal that absorbs hydrogen (for example, Ti) or an alloy thereof, and a material 14 that undergoes nuclide transmutation laminated on one surface 11A among the two surfaces of this structure body 11. The one surface 11A side of the structure body 11, for example, is made a region in which the pressure of the deuterium is high due to pressure or electrolysis and the like, and the other surface 11B side, for example, is a region in which the pressure of the deuterium is low due to vacuum exhausting and the like, and thereby, a flow of deuterium in the structure body 11 is produced, and nuclide transmutation is carried out by a reaction between the deuterium and the material 14 that undergoes nuclide transmutation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro IWAMURA, Takehiko Itoh, Mitsuru Sakano
  • Publication number: 20090213978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to targets, systems and methods for the cyclotron production of 124I from aluminum telluride (Al2Te3) targets. The systems and methods utilize low energy proton cyclotrons to produce 124I by the 124Te(p, n) reaction from enriched Al2Te3 glassy melts. The 124I is recovered in high yield from the glassy melt by adapted methods of common thermal distillation techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathon Andrew Nye, Robert Jerome Nickles
  • Patent number: 6909764
    Abstract: A system is provided for generating high-energy particles and for inducing nuclear reactions. The system includes a laser and for emitting a laser beam, an irradiation target for receiving the laser beam and producing high-energy particles, and a secondary target for receiving the high-energy particles, thereby inducing a nuclear reaction. A method is also provided including producing a laser beam of high-intensity with an ultra-short pulse duration, irradiating the laser beam onto an irradiation target in order to ionize the irradiation target and produce a collimated beam of high-energy particles, and colliding the collimated beam of high-energy particles onto a secondary target containing a nuclei, thereby inducing a nuclear reaction on the secondary target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Anatoly Maksimchuk, Koshichi Nemoto, Kirk Flippo, Shaoting Gu, Sudeep Banerjee, Donald Umstadter, Gerard Mourou, Valery Bychenkov
  • Patent number: 6895064
    Abstract: A spallation device for production of neutrons includes a spallation target that produces neutrons by interaction with a hollow particle beam propagating within a first chamber, a second chamber containing the spallation target, and a leak tight partition separating the first and second chambers. The spallation device is particularly applicable to basic physics, medicine, and transmutation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Guillaume Ritter
  • Patent number: 6858187
    Abstract: A device for preparing a radioactive water solution to be infused in a patient includes a reaction chamber (13) in which radioactive water vapour is formed by the catalysed reaction of oxygen gas containing oxygen-15 and hydrogen gas. A diffusion chamber (14) is provided which allows the radioactive water to penetrate, but which prevents the penetration of gasses. Tubes (26) and valves (16, 18) direct a sterile saline solution to the diffusion chamber (14), and then direct the saline solution containing radioactive water out from the diffusion chamber to a patient, or to a decay coil (22) being a part of the device. A measuring instrument is provided for measuring the radioactivity of the radioactive solution. The device is characterized in that the diffusion chamber (14), the tubes (26) the valves (16, 18), the radioactivity measuring instrument (17), and preferably also the reaction chamber 913), are mounted in the same frame 50, whereby they form a separate unit i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignees: Hidex Oy, Oy Fluorplast AB
    Inventors: Hannu Sipila, John Clark, Tom Wickstrom, Henri Tochon-Danguy
  • Patent number: 6477217
    Abstract: Flow of mercury from a liquid-heavy-metal inflow port toward an inner forward end of a container body is rectified by a plurality of incoming-passage guide vanes in a liquid-heavy-metal incoming passage. Flow of the mercury from the forward end of the container body toward a liquid-heavy-metal outflow port is rectified by a plurality of return-passage guide vanes in a liquid-heavy-metal return passage. As a result, occurrence of stagnation and/or recirculation flows of the mercury in the container body is suppressed and a steady and highly uniform stream of the mercury is formed throughout in the container body. The container body is covered with a container outer shell to prevent any leakage of the mercury to outside due to a damage of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignees: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryutaro Hino, Masanori Kaminaga, Hidetaka Kinoshita, Noriaki Anbo, Atsuhiko Terada, Hiroyuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 6359952
    Abstract: A target grid assembly for employment in a target assembly used to produce radioisotopes by bombarding a target material contained in the target assembly with a particle beam. The target assembly includes the target grid assembly, the target window and a target body enclosed in a target housing. The target body defines a target reservoir for receiving the target material and the target window serves to seal the target reservoir. The target grid assembly includes a vacuum window and a target grid. The target grid defines a target grid portion, a helium input and a helium output. The target grid portion defines a plurality of target grid supports which are configured to form a plurality of target grid oblong openings. The vacuum window is supported against the upstream side of the target grid portion and the target window is supported between the downstream side and the target body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: CTI, Inc.
    Inventor: C. William Alvord
  • Patent number: 5854531
    Abstract: A storage ring system and method for high-yield nuclear production of neutrons, isotopes and photons, include a particle supply for generating a beam of projectile or reaction particles, a closed storage ring for containing and recycling the projectile particles, an electron cooling system for stabilizing the projectile particles, and a target for initiating nuclear reactions with the projectile particles so as to generate the desired end-products, with improved efficiency and safety. The invention also provides a plurality of dipoles and/or trim magnets selectively situated around the ring to guide the projectile particles as they circulate within the system. Substantially trapped in the closed storage ring, the particle beam is recirculated inside the storage ring for repeated exposure to the target, until the particles either favorably react with the target or are lost through scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip E. Young, Delbert J. Larson
  • Patent number: 5737376
    Abstract: In a slow positron beam generating device having a cyclotron for irradiating protons or deuterons during an irradiating time interval, a target member receives the protons or the deuterons to generate radioisotopes which emit positrons by causing .beta..sup.+ decay. Ejecting electrodes receive the positrons moderated by a moderator to eject a slow positron beam. The irradiating time interval is longer than a half life of the radioisotope. Preferably, the irradiating time interval is longer than a six multiplied by the half life of the radioisotope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masafumi Hirose
  • Patent number: 5586153
    Abstract: A process for producing radionuclides using a porous carbon target. The process includes the steps of inserting a porous carbon target with tailored solid and void dimensions in the path of a bombarding beam; introducing fluid into the porous carbon target; bombarding the porous carbon target to produce at least one type of radionuclide; collecting the fluid and separating the resulting radionuclides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: CTI, Inc.
    Inventor: C. William Alvord
  • Patent number: 5482865
    Abstract: A handling and processing apparatus for preparing Oxygen-15 labeled water (H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O]) in injectable form for use in Positron Emission Tomography from preferably H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] produced by irradiating a flowing gas target of nitrogen and hydrogen. The apparatus includes a collector for receiving and directing a gas containing H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] gas and impurities, mainly ammonia (NH.sub.3) gas into sterile water to trap the H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] and form ammonium (NH.sub.4.sup.+) in the sterile water. A device for displacing the sterile water containing H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] and NH.sub.4.sup.+ through a cation resin removes NH.sub.4.sup.+ from the sterile water. A device for combining the sterile water containing H.sub.2 [.sup.15 O] with a saline solution produces an injectable solution. Preferably, the apparatus includes a device for delivering the solution to a syringe for injection into a patient. Also, disclosed is a method for preparing H.sub.2 [.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Ferrieri, David J. Schlyer, David Alexoff
  • Patent number: 5223434
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing and automatically injecting H.sub.2.sup.15 O, having: a target box adapted to be irradiated with a deuteron beam, a gas supplying device for supplying a hydrogen gas and a nitrogen gas as raw-material gases to the target box a radioactive-isotope conveying pipe connecting the target box and a vacuum pump for maintaining the interior of the target box and the interior of the radioactive-isotope conveying pipe in a vacuum state. In addition, the apparatus has an injection-fluid producing device and an automatic injection device, wherein the target box, the injection-fluid producing device and the automatic injection device are fluidly communicated with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignees: Kazuo Uemura, The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Kanno, Matsutaro Murakami, Yohjiro Toda, Tadasu Sugawara, Masahiko Handa, Akira Mizuno
  • Patent number: 5019323
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for synthesizing Iodine-124 and also a class of radiopharmaceutical which, by virtue of an Iodine-124 label, can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The method comprises an innovative technique for preparing an irradiation target, irradiating the prepared target, and finally collecting Iodine-124 created by the irradiation. The method of this invention provides Iodine-124 in sufficient yields and radionuclidic purity that can be used with positron emission tomography. The invention further relates to the use of Iodine-124 in a chemical form incorporated into organic and inorganic radiopharmaceuticals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre
    Inventors: Richard M. Lambrecht, Muhammad A. Qureshi, Munawwar Sajjad
  • Patent number: 4800060
    Abstract: There are provided container vessels for the production and transportation of short-lived isotopes by irradiation from an accelerator, comprising a hermetically sealed container with a window in one of its walls which fits the exit window of such accelerator, and through which a suitable material contained in the said container vessel can be irradiated. There is also provided a method for the production of such short-lived positron sources for use in tomography, which comprises attaching a container vessel defined above adjacent to the exit window of an acceletator, irradiating a suitable material in said container, detaching the said container and working up the positron source in a radiochemistry laboratory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Yeda Research & Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gvirol Goldring
  • Patent number: 4432929
    Abstract: For use in providing control of a pulsed neutron generator tube and its associated power supplies, the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the control circuit senses the operative condition of the pulsed neutron generator tube by observing external insulating gas pressure of the sealed tube to monitor for a loss of pressure, target current magnitude, pulsing of the ion source, current flow for the replenisher and operation of the high voltage power supply. This system functions as an interlock, thereby enabling operation of the tube if nominal operative conditions are achieved. Conversely, the absence of nominal operative conditions switches the equipment off to protect the tube from damage resulting from malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventor: James R. Bridges
  • Patent number: 4310765
    Abstract: A neutron accelerator tube having a target section, an ionization section, and a replenisher section for supplying accelerator gas to the ionization section. The ionization section is located between the target and the replenisher section and includes an ionization chamber adapted to receive accelerator gas from the replenisher section. The ionization section further includes spaced cathodes having opposed active surfaces exposed to the interior of the ionization chamber. An anode is located intermediate the cathodes whereby in response to an applied positive voltage, electrons created by field emission are transmitted between the opposed active surfaces of the cathodes and produce the emission of secondary electrons. The active surface of at least one of the cathodes is formulated of a material having a secondary electron emission factor of at least 2. One cathode member located in the tube adjacent to the replenisher section may have a protuberant portion extending axially into the ionization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Wyatt W. Givens