Test and implementation of position sensors on load and unload [18O]H2O control valve of the target used in 18F - production by proton irradiation

The radionuclide 18F used to produce the radiopharmaceutical [18F]FDG has 109.7 min of half-life, becoming your productive chain so peculiar, because since the beginning of [18O]H2O irradiation until the PET-CT exam there is a period about six hours, and any procedure fail in the productive chain will result in a delay to the PET CT exam. The absence of the position signs from [18O]H2O load and unload valve of the target may result in 18F production loss and even area contamination around the target. In this paper, three types of position sensors, into cyclotron radionuclides production environment in Cyclotron Accelerator Center from IPEN-CNEN/SP were tested. The tests were an indicative to discover the fitter sensor to the [18O]H2O load and unload valve from target used in [18F]fluoride production. After finding the fitter sensor, it was implemented in 18F- target, supplying the correct position from [18O]H2O load and unload valve to programmable logic controller, that had the software modified, respecting in this way the valve position. By this way, it was possible to reduce the incidence of fails, increasing the reliability in [18F]FDG productive chain. (author)