AEC, Bern, Switzerland
Naples University Federico II, Napoli, Italy
A research program aimed at the production of novel radioisotopes for theranostics is ongoing at the 18 MeV cyclotron laboratory in operation at the Bern University Hospital (Inselspital). A method based on the bombardment of isotope enriched materials in form of compressed 6 mm diameter pellets was developed. To accomplish this challenging goal, accurate knowledge of beam energy, positioning and focusing as well as production cross sections are crucial. Investigations are carried on to assess all these items. In particular, an automatic compact focalization system was conceived and constructed to optimize the irradiation procedure. It is based on a 0.5 m long magnetic system, embedding two quadrupoles and two steering magnets, and a non-destructive beam monitoring detector located in front of the target. The profiles measured by a fiber detector are elaborated by a feedback optimization algorithm that acts on the magnets and keeps the beam focused on target to enhance the production yield. Following the first successful functional tests, the preliminary results on the production of medical radioisotopes are presented.
P. D. Häffner et al., "An Active Irradiation System with Automatic Beam Positioning and Focusing for a Medical Cyclotron", Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(6), 2452. doi:10.3390/app11062452
