System, emanation generator, and process for production of high-purity therapeutic radioisotopes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11348702-B2
Application number	US-201715675529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2017
Priority date	Aug 11, 2016
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

An isotope production system, emanation generator, and process are disclosed for production of high-purity radioisotopes. In one implementation example, high-purity Pb-212 and/or Bi-212 isotopes are produced suitable for therapeutic applications. In one embodiment the process includes transporting gaseous radon-220 from a radium-224 bearing generator which provides gas-phase separation of the Rn-220 from the Ra-224 in the generator. Subsequent decay of the captured Rn-220 accumulates high-purity Pb-212 and/or Bi-212 isotopes suitable for direct therapeutic applications. Other high-purity product isotopes may also be prepared.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing radioisotopes, the method comprising:
preparing a composition comprising an Ra source isotope and sorbent particles;
loading the composition onto a solid support material to form a mixture comprising the Ra source isotope, the sorbent particles, and the solid sorbent material;
while within the mixture, decaying at least some of the Ra source isotope to yield one or more radioactive Rn daughter isotopes in a gaseous state;
separating the gaseous Rn daughter isotopes from the mixture; and
collecting the separated Rn daughter isotopes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the source isotope comprises one or more of Radium-224, Radium-223, and/or Radium-226.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the radioactive gas comprises one or more of Radon-220, Radon-219, and/or Radon-222.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming decay products of the collected Rn daughter isotopes.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the decay products comprise one or more of Pb-212, Bi-212; Pb-211, Bi-211, Pb-214, and/or Bi-214.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the sorbent particles comprise magnetic and/or paramagnetic metal oxide particles.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the solid sorbent material is gas-permeable.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the collecting the separated Rn daughter isotopes further comprises cooling the daughter isotopes.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the collecting the separated Rn daughter isotopes further comprises binding the daughter isotopes to a support having an affinity for the daughter isotope in gaseous form.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the support comprises a soluble salt configured as a thin film or a packed salt.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the support comprises a lipophilic liquid configured as a thin film.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the support comprises a thin film coating on a solid support.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the collecting the separated Rn daughter isotopes comprises collecting the daughter isotopes in a liquid solution.

Assignees

• Battelle Memorial Institute

Inventors

• O'Hara Matthew J

Classifications

• B01J20/06 Primary

  comprising oxides or hydroxides of metals not provided for in group B01J20/04 · CPC title

• G21G1/0005

  Isotope delivery systems (use of radioisotopes as tracers G21H5/02) · CPC title

• G21G4/08 Primary

  specially adapted for medical application (radiation therapy using radioactive sources A61N5/10) · CPC title

• G21G2001/0084

  Bismuth · CPC title

• C01G21/00

  Compounds of lead · CPC title