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Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare

Technology Transfer

PRODUCTION METHOD AND TARGET FOR Cu-67

Radionuclides | Diagnostic Imaging | Radiotherapy | Cyclotron | Targets

INTRODUCTION

Design of a target for the production of Cu-67, one of the most attractive radionuclides for medical applications both diagnostic and therapeutic. By using 70 MeV proton beams and exploiting the nuclear reactions on Zn-68 and Zn-70 targets, this invention allows to maximize the production of Cu-67 and minimize the one of the main contaminant Cu-64.



  Cu67 Cu64

TECHNICAL FEATURES

The β- decay and γ emission of Cu-67, represent a great advantage in SPECT diagnostic procedures to keep under control both the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical and the induced therapeutic effect. Nowadays Cu-67 is mainly produced by using Zn-68 targets and high energy proton beams (200 MeV): in this way, high quantity of Cu-64 are co-produced.

This invention is aimed to the maximization of the production ratio Cu67/Cu64 exploiting 45-70 MeV proton beams on Zn-70 and Zn-68 target of fixed thickness and in a estabilished configuration. Using the two isotopes of Zn, both in metal and oxide forms, make possible the exploitation of the same radiochemical procedure for target processing.



POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS
  • Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy;
  • Industrial production of radionuclides for medical applications;
  • Development of high-power targets and ad hoc cooling systems;
  • Development of automatic module for radiochemical separation and purification.
ADVANTAGES
  • Maximum Cu-67 production;
  • Minimum Cu-64 production;
  • Only one radiochemical procedure for target processing.

PATENT INFORMATION


PATENT OWNER
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare

PATENT STATUS
Deposited

PRIORITY NUMBER

102018000005379


PRIORITY DATE
15/05/2018

LICENSE
World

COMMERCIAL RIGHTS
Exclusive

AVAILABILITY
Available


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