Claims for Patent: 7,722,856

Summary for Patent: 7,722,856

Title:	Process for the production of a radioactive aerosol
Abstract:	A method for forming an inhalable isotope compound suitable for use in patient medical diagnosis, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electrolytic loading of a carbon crucible with the isotope; (b) sublimating any isotope carrier in the crucible; (c) ablating the isotope in a carbon crucible, forming an ablation aerosol; (d) directly delivering the aerosol for immediate use by a patient. The isotope can comprise technetium.
Inventor(s):	Rodney James Browitt, William Martin Burch, Timothy John Senden, Ross Wentworth Stephens, David DeForest Shaw
Assignee:	Cyclomedica Australia Pty Ltd
Application Number:	US11/361,602
Patent Claims:	1. A method for forming an inhalable isotope compound suitable for use in patient medical diagnosis, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electrolytically loading a carbon crucible with the isotope via electrolysis from a solvent including the isotope and other contaminants in solution; (b) sublimating remaining solvent in the crucible following step (a); (c) subsequently ablating the isotope in said carbon crucible, forming an ablation aerosol; (d) directly delivering the aerosol for immediate use by a patient. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said isotope comprises technetium. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrolytic flow transitioning the crucible during said electrolytic loading is between 0.1 and 0.7 mL per minute. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the current through the carbon crucible during electrolytic loading is between 1 and 10 milliamps. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the duration of the electrolytic loading is between 10 and 60 minutes. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said isotope solvent contains also a salt. 7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said isotope solvent also contains a salt such as sodium chloride. 8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sublimation occurs in an argon atmosphere. 9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said sublimation occurs in an argon atmosphere purging a chamber for 2 to 10 minutes. 10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature for sublimation occurs at 1200 to 1800 degrees Celsius. 11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the duration of said sublimation is between 5 and 20 seconds. 12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ablation occurs in an argon atmosphere. 13. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature rise time for ablation is 0.3 to 0.7 seconds. 14. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature of said ablation is between 2740 and 2780 degrees Celsius. 15. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ablation occurs for duration of 2.5 to 3.5 seconds. 16. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ablated isotope aerosol is forwarded directly to a patient for medical imaging. 17. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aerosol is periodically subjected to capture in water and analysis to determine the operational efficiency of said method. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said analysis includes analysis of free pertechnetate levels or excess carbon levels. 19. A method for forming an inhalable isotope compound suitable for use in patient medical diagnosis, the method including the following steps: (a) electrolytically loading a carbon crucible with the isotope via electrolysis from a solvent including the isotope and other contaminants in solution; and (b) subsequently sublimating remaining solvent, including dissolved isotope, and salt impurities in the crucible. 20. A method for forming an inhalable isotope compound suitable for use in patient medical diagnosis, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electrolytically loading a carbon crucible with the isotope, said isotope being precipitated from solution in said carbon crucible via electrolysis; and (b) ablating the isotope electrolytically precipitated in said carbon crucible, forming an ablation aerosol. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising sublimating any of said solution and any salt impurities remaining in said carbon crucible following step (a) but prior to step (b).