An apparatus for the preparation of [{sup 15}O]-H{sub 2}O for rapid repetitive PET studies

The use of [{sup 15}O]-H{sub 2}O to follow changes in cerebral blood flow using PET has become frequent and widespread, requiring an apparatus easily operated by personnel unfamiliar with the physics and chemistry involved. Oxygen-15 is prepared by the {sup 14}N(d,n){sup 15}O nuclear reaction using a target of UHP nitrogen with 1% UHP hydrogen added, contained in a target chamber similar to that reported for the preparation of [{sup 18}F]-F{sub 2}. Nucleogenic {sup 15}O reacts with hydrogen in the target gas to produce [{sup 15}O]-H{sub 2}O. Some of the N target reacts with hydrogen to produce NH{sub 3}, which must be removed. At the end of bombardment (minimum 6 min.) the target gas is released through a small amount of parenteral water which then flows through approximately 50 mg Dowex 50W-X8 resin (100-200 mesh) to remove the NH{sub 3}. Sufficient 23.4% NaCl solution is added to produce an isotonic solution. The isotonic solution is sterilized by filtration through a 0.22 micron filter into an injection syringe which is sent via pneumatic transport to the PET imaging room. The apparatus, which uses a programmable logic controller and four switches to allow the operator to select standby, refill, collect activity, or deliver dose operations of the production process, provides doses of [{sup 15}O]-H{sub 2}O up to 35 mCi/dose at intervals as frequent as seven minutes with minimal radiation exposure to the operators.