The present disclosure relates in general to nuclear medicine and generators for the production of radiopharmaceuticals for medical use. In particular, present disclosure relates to a generator column that resists high heat such as depyrogenation and sterilization. This allows some steps of the preparation of the column to be performed in a non-sterile environment. This also allows the generator column to be reusable. The present disclosure further describes methods for the preparation of a generator where a parent radioisotope is charged on the column matrix before or after the matrix is loaded in the column.

The present disclosure relates in general to nuclear medicine and generators for the production of radiopharmaceuticals for medical use. In particular, present disclosure relates to a generator column that resists high heat such as depyrogenation and sterilization. This allows some steps of the preparation of the column to be performed in a non-sterile environment. This also allows the generator column to be reusable. The present disclosure further describes methods for the preparation of a generator where a parent radioisotope is charged on the column matrix before or after the matrix is loaded in the column.

A chargeable atomic battery (CAB), such as a fully ceramic encapsulated radioactive heat source, includes a plurality of CAB units and a CAB housing to hold the plurality of CAB units. Each of the CAB units are formed of a precursor compact including precursor material particles embedded inside an encapsulation material. The precursor material particles include a precursor kernel formed of a precursor material that is initially manufactured in a stable state or an unstable state and convertible into an activated material that is an activated state via irradiation by a particle radiation source. The precursor material particles can include one or more encapsulation coatings surrounding the precursor kernel. The precursor material can include Neptunium-237 and the activated material can include Plutonium-238. A radioisotope thermoelectric generator can include thermoelectrics coupled to the CAB units to convert radioactive emissions of the activated material into electrical power.

A chargeable atomic battery (CAB), such as a fully ceramic encapsulated radioactive heat source, includes a plurality of CAB units and a CAB housing to hold the plurality of CAB units. Each of the CAB units are formed of a precursor compact including precursor material particles embedded inside an encapsulation material. The precursor material particles include a precursor kernel formed of a precursor material that is initially manufactured in a stable state or an unstable state and convertible into an activated material that is an activated state via irradiation by a particle radiation source. The precursor material particles can include one or more encapsulation coatings surrounding the precursor kernel. The precursor material can include Neptunium-237 and the activated material can include Plutonium-238. A radioisotope thermoelectric generator can include thermoelectrics coupled to the CAB units to convert radioactive emissions of the activated material into electrical power.

Provided is a fuel design configured to have a thickness that is equal to or less than a mean-free path of electrons emitted by a radioactive energy source to prevent electrons produced thereby from being stopped within the fuel design and thus decreasing the intensity of bremsstrahlung radiation generated within the fuel design. Additionally provided is a two-phase shielding system including a first shield formed of a first material having a thickness exceeding a mean-free path of an electron emitted from a radioactive source material so as to prevent the electron from passing through the first shield, and a second shield formed of a second material configured to prevent bremsstrahlung radiation generated by the electron from passing through the second shield.

Provided is a fuel design configured to have a thickness that is equal to or less than a mean-free path of electrons emitted by a radioactive energy source to prevent electrons produced thereby from being stopped within the fuel design and thus decreasing the intensity of bremsstrahlung radiation generated within the fuel design. Additionally provided is a two-phase shielding system including a first shield formed of a first material having a thickness exceeding a mean-free path of an electron emitted from a radioactive source material so as to prevent the electron from passing through the first shield, and a second shield formed of a second material configured to prevent bremsstrahlung radiation generated by the electron from passing through the second shield.

A gamma radiography system includes a gamma source holder, a shaft handle attached to the source holder, a source container that surrounds the source holder, a source container cover attached to the source container to receive and slidingly support the shaft handle, a shielded housing that detachably receives the source container, and an extension connected to the shielded housing, such that an opening of the extension covers a beam aperture of the shielded housing. The shaft handle is configured to move the gamma source holder between a non-deployed position, in which the gamma source holder is surrounded by the source container, to a deployed position, in which the gamma source holder extends from the source container into the shielded housing.

A gamma radiography system includes a gamma source holder, a shaft handle attached to the source holder, a source container that surrounds the source holder, a source container cover attached to the source container to receive and slidingly support the shaft handle, a shielded housing that detachably receives the source container, and an extension connected to the shielded housing, such that an opening of the extension covers a beam aperture of the shielded housing. The shaft handle is configured to move the gamma source holder between a non-deployed position, in which the gamma source holder is surrounded by the source container, to a deployed position, in which the gamma source holder extends from the source container into the shielded housing.

The present disclosure relates in general to nuclear medicine and generators for the production of radiopharmaceuticals for medical use. In particular, present disclosure relates to a generator column that resists high heat such as depyrogenation and sterilization. This allows some steps of the preparation of the column to be performed in a non-sterile environment. This also allows the generator column to be reusable. The present disclosure further describes methods for the preparation of a generator where a parent radioisotope is charged on the column matrix before or after the matrix is loaded in the column.

The present disclosure relates in general to nuclear medicine and generators for the production of radiopharmaceuticals for medical use. In particular, present disclosure relates to a generator column that resists high heat such as depyrogenation and sterilization. This allows some steps of the preparation of the column to be performed in a non-sterile environment. This also allows the generator column to be reusable. The present disclosure further describes methods for the preparation of a generator where a parent radioisotope is charged on the column matrix before or after the matrix is loaded in the column.