Transmutable radiotherapy device

摘要

A general purpose radiotherapy device can be fabricated to net or near-net shape and then made radioactive in a single activation step. The device is made at least partially of a transmutable material which is transformable to a radioisotope-containing material upon activation by an accelerated beam of charged particles, such as protons, deuterons or alpha particles. The transmutable material is preferably rhodium and the radioisotope preferably comprises palladium-103. The beam energy and device dimensions are selected so that energy from the beam in the range which is most likely to produce a desired transmutation reaction in the device is absorbed, while at least a portion of the energy which is insufficient to effect the desired transmutation reaction is not retained in the device.