The present invention relates generally to the field of cyclotron design for radiopharmacy and more particularly to a method and apparatus that can improve ion source lifetime and performance.
Hospitals and other health care providers rely extensively on positron emission tomography (PET) for diagnostic purposes. PET scanners can produce images which illustrate various biological process and functions. In a PET scan, the patient is initially injected with a radioactive substance known as a PET isotope (or radiopharmaceutical). The PET isotope may be 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG), for example, a type of sugar which includes radioactive fluorine. The PET isotope becomes involved in certain bodily processes and functions, and its radioactive nature enables the PET scanner to produce an image which illuminates those functions and processes. For example, when FDG is injected, it may be metabolized by cancer cells, allowing the PET scanner to create an image illuminating the cancerous region.
PET isotopes are mainly produced with cyclotrons, a type of particle accelerators. A cyclotron usually operates at high vacuum (e.g., 10−7 Torr). In operation, charged particles (i.e., ions) are initially extracted from an ion source. Then, the ions are accelerated while being confined by a magnetic field to a circular path. A radio frequency (RF) high voltage source rapidly alternates the polarity of an electrical field inside the cyclotron chamber, causing the ions to follow a spiral course as they acquire more kinetic energy. Once the ions have gained their final energy, they are directed to a target material to transform it into one or more desired PET isotopes. Since a cyclotron typically involves a substantial investment, its isotope-producing capacity is very important. Theoretically, the production rate of isotopes in a given target material is directly proportional to the flux of the charged particles (i.e., ion beam current) that bombard the target. Therefore, it would be desirable to extract a high output of ion current from the ion source.
Apart from the ion output, the lifetime of an ion source is also important. An ion source typically has a limited lifetime and therefore requires periodic replacement. During a scheduled service, the cyclotron needs to be opened up to allow access to the ion source. However, since the cyclotron usually becomes radioactive during isotope production, it is necessary to wait for the radiation to decay to a safe level before starting the service. In one cyclotron, for example, the wait for the radiation decay can last ten hours. Replacement of the ion source takes some time depending on the complexity of the ion source assembly as well as its accessibility. After the ion source has been replaced, it takes additional time for a high vacuum to be restored inside the cyclotron. As a result, every scheduled service for ion source replacement causes extended down time in isotope production. Therefore, it would be desirable to improve the lifetime of the ion source so that the isotope production time will be longer between scheduled services.
Some drawbacks may exist in the design of the prior art ion source tube 200. For example, the use of the restrictor rings 210 may require some amount of time for assembly and adjustment during manufacturing. And the prior art design of the restrictor rings may impose a stringent manufacturing tolerance. Furthermore, the slit opening 214 can degrade relatively quickly due to bombardment of the ions generated in the plasma column 216, leading to a short lifetime of the ion source tube 200.
These and other drawbacks may exist in known systems and methods.
The present invention is directed to method and apparatus for improving ion source lifetime and performance that overcomes these and other drawbacks of known systems and methods.
According to one embodiment, the invention relates to an ion source tube for sustaining a plasma discharge therein, the ion source tube comprising: a slit opening along a side of the ion source tube, wherein the slit opening has a width less than 0.29 mm; an end opening in at least one end of the ion source tube, wherein the end opening is smaller than an inner diameter of the ion source tube and is displaced by 0-1.5 mm from a central axis of the ion source tube toward the slit opening; and a cavity that accommodates the plasma discharge.
According to another embodiment, the invention relates to a method for making an ion source tube, the method comprising: forming an ion source tube, the ion source tube comprising a slit opening along a side of the ion source tube, wherein the slit opening has a width of less than 0.29 mm; an end opening in at least one end of the ion source tube, wherein the end opening is smaller than an inner diameter of the ion source tube and is displaced by 0-1.5 mm from a central axis of the ion source tube toward the slit opening; and a cavity in which the plasma discharge is located.
In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the appended drawings. These drawings should not be construed as limiting the present invention, but are intended to be exemplary only.
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Referring to
It should be noted that the ion source tube 300 is typically manufactured in one piece. That is, the geometrical parameters that affect the ion beam currents, such as the width of the slit opening 310 and the shape of the cavity 312, may be predetermined based on, for example, experiments or theoretical calculations (e.g., computer simulation). Then, the desired set of parameters may be incorporated into the ion source tube 300 to form one integral structure that requires little or no assembly or adjustment. This design methodology can reduce the need for time-consuming adjustment of the ion source tube 300 and can increase the machining tolerances.
The overall length of the ion source tube 300 shown in
According to embodiments of the invention, one or more restrictor rings, such as the one shown in
According to embodiments of the invention, although it may be desirable to manufacture an ion source tube in a single piece incorporating all the key parameters for ion extraction, sometimes it may be too difficult or too expensive to machine the tube to fit all the requirements. For example, referring again to
In summary, embodiments of the present invention can offer a number of advantageous features to improving the lifetime and performance of an ion source. For example, a one-piece design may incorporate all the key parameters that may affect the output ion current, such as the width of the slit opening, the distance between the slit opening and the edge of the plasma column, and the shape of the plasma column. With almost no discrete parts, the one-piece ion source tube may be easy to install and adjust. The geometry of the cavity inside the ion source tube may be designed to achieve efficient ion generation and extraction. For example, an off-center end opening in one end of the cavity may position the plasma column closer to the slit opening. The shape of the plasma column may be configured based on geometrical parameters of the off-center opening and the cavity. The size of the off-center opening and the cavity may be reduced to increase the density of the plasma column, for example. With the optional restrictor ring(s), embodiments of the present invention also offer flexibility in design and manufacturing of the ion source tube. When the one-piece design is difficult to realize, one or more restrictor rings of appropriate shapes and dimensions may be inserted into the ion source tube to achieve a desired geometry.
While the foregoing description includes many details, it is to be understood that these have been included for purposes of explanation only, and are not to be interpreted as limitations of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications to the embodiments described above can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, such modifications are considered within the scope of the invention as intended to be encompassed by the following claims and their legal equivalents.