Automated PET Radiopharmaceutical Production iMiGiNE
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Towards Personalized Molecular Imaging Automated Radiopharmaceutical Production System for PET Imaging Combining an iMiTRACE cyclotron with a robotized iMiLAB radiochemistry room and an automated quality control device, iMiGiNE allows medical centers to free themselves from current limitations in the production and distribution of PET radiopharmaceuticals. Positron-emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear imaging technique used to observe metabolic or molecular activity of an organ, by detecting the gamma-ray emissions produced by the positrons contained in an injected radiopharmaceutical solution. PET systems can be used to make a diagnosis in the fields of oncology, neurology and cardiology and to monitor the progression of the disease while the patient receives treatment. Currently, the radiopharmaceuticals used in PET imaging are generally produced and distributed by major private centers, using a heavy and costly process. These centers produce radioactive atoms with large size cyclotrons, then synthesize those atoms with targeting agents of clinical interest, before testing and injecting them in a patient. Due to financial and technical constraints, the supply of radiopharmaceuticals is limited to a few molecules, even though more than 200 could be of clinical interest. The production facilities are located far from the medical and research centers : in addition to raising logistical issues, this distance eliminates the opportunity to have access to more specific radiopharmaceuticals, whose half-life is often short. This limited access has direct consequences on patient care : health facilities are unable to use specific molecules, which would help better characterize the disease and eventually, provide patients with more efficient treatments and adequate care.

iMiGiNE, a system designed for facilitated in-situ production Production of various radio isotopes (18F, 11C, 68Ga, etc...) in a 12 MeV superconducting cyclotron Radiosynthesis carried out in a robotized radiochemistry room (labelling the targeting agent with a radioisotope) Quality control completed through an automated process to test the synthesized molecule A breakthrough technology compared to current processes By providing solutions to current limitations in radiopharmaceutical production processes, iMiGiNE allows medical centers to break new ground in medical diagnostics and...