Abstract:
An automatic synthesis device for fluorine-18-ACETATE ([ 18 F]fluoroacetate) consists of a machinery housing that has multiple reactors and multiple raw material containers, and uses multiple control valves between each reactor and container, and operates the control valves through a control system to charge the raw material from each container to each reactor in an automatic and sequential fashion to execute the six procedures: fluorination, azeotropic dewatering, synthesis (reaction with precursors), purification and separation, hydrolysis and neutralization, purification and collection. The operation simply requires adding raw materials to the containers in advance, turning on power, charging reactive gases. In 50 minutes, the process to produce the product will be completed. The operation is really simple and can effectively improve production efficiency.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention is related to an automatic synthesis device to produce fluorine-18-ACETATE that is suitable for brain tomography in nuclear medicine. Especially it refers to a synthesis device for man-made radioactive isotope with easy operation and good production efficiency. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Fluorine-18 is a man-made radioactive isotope with half life as short as 109.8 minutes. Fluorine-18 labeled ACETATE can be used as tumor imaging drug, especially for the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) that is used in Clinical diagnosis for Prostate cancer tumor. 
         [0005]    Fluorine-18-FET was first synthesized by German scientist Coenen in 1989. Later Wester et al (J. Nucl. Med. 1999; 40:205-212) improved the production method by shortening the process to 80 minutes. However, all their methods needed high efficiency liquid chromatography separation column to purify and separate the product. In this way, not only the operation is difficult but also the design for automation is complicated. Until now, there has not been an automatic synthesis device with easy operation and cost-effectiveness. 
         [0006]    In view of the shortcomings with the traditional production device for fluorine-18-ACETATE, the inventor has sought improvement and finally came up with the invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The main objective for the invention is to provide an automatic synthesis device to produce fluorine-18-ACETATE, and as a result, the automation mechanism can effectively integrate all manufacturing processes, simplify operation, shorten production time and increase production efficiency. 
         [0008]    Another objective for the invention is to provide an automatic synthesis device to produce fluorine-18-ACETATE, and as a result, the product has radioactive chemical purity larger than 85% and assures excellent quality. 
         [0009]    To attain the above objectives and benefits, the technical approaches by the invention include: a machinery housing that has an accommodating space and at least an open display section on one side; multiple raw material containers located in the display section to hold the required TBAHCO3, precursor, dichloromethane, acetone, alcohol, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide etc.; multiple reactors located in the display section and connecting to each raw material container through pipelines; multiple collection containers connecting to each reactor through pipelines; multiple control valves located on the pipelines to control the flow direction for raw material gas and vacuum and facilitate each raw material to undergo synthesis reaction in the reactor; a computer control system that stores control programs and outputs control signals in sequence to control the operation of each component and execute the reaction procedures. 
         [0010]    According to the above-mentioned structure, in the machinery housing there are two reactors and between which there is a silicone column. 
         [0011]    According to the above-mentioned structure, the two reactors connect to a heating apparatus. 
         [0012]    According to the above-mentioned structure, the two reactors connect to an external injection system that injects the reaction intermediate from one reactor into the silicone column for separation and charges it into another reactor, and discharges the finished product from the second reactor to collection containers. 
         [0013]    To further understand the above-mentioned objectives, benefits and characteristics for the invention, the following explanation with attached figures is provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows the block diagram for the entire structure and pipeline configuration for the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is the front view for the assembly of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is the rear view for the assembly of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Please refer to the figures from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . It can be clearly found that the structure for the invention mainly consists of a machinery housing  1  that has an accommodating space  1   a  and at least an open display section  1   b  on one side of the machinery housing  1 ; 
         [0018]    and multiple raw material containers B 1 ˜B 9  located in the display section  1   b  of the machinery housing  1  with the raw material container B 1  holding TBAHCO3, the raw material container B 3  holding precursor, the raw material container B 4  holding dichloromethane, the raw material container B 5  holding acetone, the raw material container B 6  holding alcohol, the raw material container B 7  holding water, the raw material container B 8  holding sodium hydroxide and the raw material container B 9  holding hydrochloric acid; and two reactors G 3 , G 4  in the accommodating space  1   a  of the machinery housing  1  that connect to the above-mentioned raw material containers B 1 ˜B 9  through pipelines and are integrated with heating apparatus  31 ,  41 , and between the two reactors G 3 , G 4 , a silicone column  5  allowing the two reactors G 3 , G 4  to connect to two injectors  3 ,  4 , with the injector  3  being able to inject the reaction intermediate from the reactor G 3  into the silicone column  5  for separation and then introducing it into reactor G 4 , while injector  4  being able to introduce the finished product from reactor  4  into a sterile collection container for finished product G 5 ; and another two collection containers G 1 , G 2  located in the accommodating space la of the machinery housing  1  and being filled in advance with oxygen-18 water containing [18F]HF and connecting to reactor G 3  through pipelines. 
         [0019]    A multiple number of control valves V 1 ˜V 27  are located on the pipelines (distribution diagram as shown in  FIG. 1 ). V 1 , V 2 , V 4  and V 14  are three-way solenoid valves. V 3 , V 5 ˜V 13  and V 15 ˜V 26  are normal-close solenoid valves. Flow control valve V 27  is a needle valve to control helium flow. Overall, the valves are to control the flow of raw material gas and vacuum and facilitate each raw material to undergo synthesis reaction in the reactors G 3 , G 4 . Between three-way solenoid valves V 1 , V 2 , there is a QMA ion exchange column  2 . Besides, in the accommodating space  1   a  there is a pressure regulating valve  7  to regulate helium gas pressure and a valve block  8  to distribute compressed air. On the lower side of the two reactors G 3 , G 4  there is a lead shielding  6 ,  61  containing Geiger tube for each one to monitor the radiation strength signal during the reaction process. 
         [0020]    To facilitate connection to various gas raw material supply sources or vacuum source, on the side of the machinery housing  1  there are two exhaust joints  11 ,  14  to connect to cooling air, a helium joint  12  for helium supply, a vacuum connector  13  and a gas inlet connector  15  to introduce compressed air; to connect to external computer control system, the invention also has an electric controller (not shown), which not only control all the solenoids V 1 ˜V 27  but also connect to multiple pressure measuring tubes P 1 ˜P 4  and related detection units to obtain various measurement signals (reaction time, temperature, pressure and radioactivity data) and feedback to the computer control system for synchronous recording, and also control the entire synthesis system through the obtained signals and process conditions in fully automatic or semi-automatic operation. 
         [0021]    The above-mentioned components are operated as follows: first, the [18F] HF containing oxygen-18 water in the collection container G 1  is withdrawn by vacuum into QMA ion exchange column  2 . While [fluorine-18] anion is absorbed, oxygen-18 water is introduced into the collection container G 2 ; the TBAHCO3/CAN solution in raw material container B 1  is then withdrawn by vacuum into QMA ion exchange column  2 , and its reaction with [fluorine-18] anion occurs to form TBA18F that will be introduced into reactor G 3 ; then, vacuum and heating are used for drying. 
         [0022]    Then 1 ml anhydrous CAN (acetonitrile) solution from raw material container B 2  is injected into the dried reactor G 3 ; then heated to 110° C. and subject to depressurization and drying; and reactor G 3  is cooled to 30° C.; while evaporating the organic solvent (ACN), the vapor can be introduced to an external solvent condenser and recycled as liquid through vacuum and condensation by liquid nitrogen. 
         [0023]    5 μL ethylbromoacetate in raw material container B 3  is added into reactor G 3  and dissolved in 1.0 mL anhydrous acetonitrile. The reaction takes place at 110° C. for 10 minutes to form the intermediate  9 G) with protective group. Then, reactor G 3  is cooled to 30° C. 
         [0024]    The solution in reactor G 3  is injected into reactor G 4  through silicone column  5 . The dichloromethane in raw material container B 4  is injected into reactor G 3  with carrier gas through control valve. The dissolved intermediate (G) is introduced into silicone column  5  and then being absorbed, and also injected to reactor G 4 . The effluent is introduced to an external waste liquid container. 
         [0025]    Then, the 1N NaOH in the raw material container B 8  is injected into reactor G 4  with carrier gas through control valve and reactor G 4  is heated to 80° C. to start reaction, and vacuum and drying are applied; ad compressed air is used to cool reactor G 4  to 70° C. 
         [0026]    The hydrochloric acid in raw material container B 9  and the water in raw material container B 7  are injected into reactor G 4  with carrier gas through control valve; after neutralization and dilution for reaction intermediate (N) solution, fluorine-18-FET product solution (Pa) is obtained; at last, the FET initial product in reactor G 4  is introduced to filtration membrane with carrier gas through control valve; after filtration, fluorine-18-FET finished product is charged to the sterile collection container for finished product G 5 . 
         [0027]    The following uses an embodiment to explain the operation for the above-mentioned structure. 
         [0028]    The 18F-ACETATE process (TBAF method) which the invention is applicable to generally consists of six steps: fluorination, azeotropic dewatering, reaction with precursor (synthesis), purification and separation, hydrolysis and neutralization, purification and collection. The following will explain the process step by step. 
         [0029]    1. First, before the above-mentioned process is started, a preparatory process is conducted and it consists of the following steps: 
         [0030]    (1) Condition QMA ion exchange column: pass 10 mL K 2 CO 3  (6.19 g/100 mL) through QMA ion exchange column  2  and then pass 10 mL H 2 O, and blow it dry. 
         [0031]    (2) Condition silicone column (light silica sep-pak; Waters, WAT023537): pass 5 mL ACN through silicone column  5 . 
         [0032]    (3) Start vacuum. 
         [0033]    (4) Start helium and compressed air. 
         [0034]    (5) Light silica is Sep-Pak cartridge (Waters, WAT023537) and the other one is plus C18 Sep-Pak cartridge (Waters, WAT020515). 
         [0035]    2. Fluorination Process 
         [0036]    (1) Open three-way solenoid valves V 1 , V 2  to pass [ 18 F]HF containing oxygen-18 water from collection container G 1  through QMA ion exchange column  2  (1 mL/min) into collection container G 2  (pay attention to activity variation in the recycle bottle). 
         [0037]    (2) After 30 seconds, shut off three-way solenoid valves V 1 , V 2 . 
         [0038]    (3) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 25 , V 15 , V 13  to pass external helium through flow control valve V 27  to fill reactor G 3 . 
         [0039]    (4) After 10 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 13 ; open three-way solenoid valve V 2  and normal-close solenoid valve V 6 . 
         [0040]    (5) Open three-way solenoid valve V 1  to allow 1.0 mL TBAHCO 3  solution to flow from raw material container B 1  through QMA ion exchange column  2  (1 mL/min) into reactor G 3 . 
         [0041]    (6) After 5 seconds, open three-way solenoid valve V 4  first and then normal-close solenoid valve V 7 . 
         [0042]    (7) After 10 seconds, switch on three-way solenoid valve V 4  (applying vacuum); after 5 seconds, shut off three-way solenoid valves V 1 , V 2  and normal-close solenoid valve V 6 . 
         [0043]    (8) Heat reactor G 3  to 110° C.; charge helium (by using flow control valve V 27  to adjust flow rate to 60 mL/min and prevent eruptive boiling) and apply vacuum until liquid barely remains. 
         [0044]    (9) Stop heating and shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 13 . 
         [0045]    3. Azeotropic Dewatering Process 
         [0046]    (1) Open three-way solenoid valves V 1 , V 2  and normal-close solenoid valves V 5 , V 6 ; charge 1 mL anhydrous acetonitrile from raw material container B 2  into reactor G 3 . 
         [0047]    (2) Shut off three-way solenoid valves V 1 , V 2  and normal-close solenoid valves V 5 , V 6 . 
         [0048]    (3) Open normal-close solenoid valve V 13  and heat reactor G 3  to 110° C., and apply vacuum until liquid barely remains. 
         [0049]    (4) Repeat the above-mentioned (1)˜(3) steps twice; allow steam and acetonitrile to undergo azeotropic distillation until no liquid remains. 
         [0050]    (5) Stop heating. 
         [0051]    (6) Cool reactor G 3  to 60° C. 
         [0052]    (7) Stop cooling and shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 7 . 
         [0053]    4. Precursor Reaction Process 
         [0054]    (1) After 5 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 13  (fill reactor G 3  with helium); open three-way solenoid valve V 4  and normal-close solenoid valves V 7 , V 8  in sequence; add 5 mL ethylbromoacetate from raw material container B 3  into reactor G 3  and dissolve it into 1.0 mL anhydrous acetonitrile. 
         [0055]    (2) After 20 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 8  and three-way solenoid valve V 4  in sequence; after 5 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 7 ; heat up reactor G 3  to 110° C. and run reaction for 10 minutes. 
         [0056]    (3) Stop heating; cool reactor G 3  to 30° C.; then stop cooling. 
         [0057]    5. Purification and Separation Process 
         [0058]    (1) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 23 , V 25 , V 10 , V 13 , V 15  and three-way solenoid valves V 4 , V 14  to allow the solution to flow from reactor G 3  through silicone column  5  into reactor G 4 . 
         [0059]    (2) After 1 second, shut off, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10  and three-way solenoid valve V 14 . 
         [0060]    (3) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 9 , V 12 , V 7  and three-way solenoid valve V 4  to allow 0.5 mL acetonitrile to flow from raw material container B 4  into reactor G 3 . 
         [0061]    (4) After 10 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 9 , V 12 , V 7  and three-way solenoid valve V 4 . 
         [0062]    (5) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10  and three-way solenoid valve V 14  to allow the solution to flow from reactor G 3  through silicone column  5  into reactor G 4 . 
         [0063]    (6) After 1 minute, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 15 , V 23 , V 25  and three-way solenoid valves V 4 , V 14 . 
         [0064]    6. Hydrolysis Process 
         [0065]    (1) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 18 , V 21  to allow 0.5 mL 1N NaOH to flow from raw material container B 8  into reactor G 4 ; after 10 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 18 , V 21 . 
         [0066]    (2) Heat reactor G 4  to 80° C. to start hydrolysis reaction. 
         [0067]    (3) After 5 minutes, open normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 23 , V 25  to vacuum dry reactor G 4 . 
         [0068]    (4) Shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 23 , V 25  and stop heating; start cooling reactor G 4  to 70° C.; then stop cooling. 
         [0069]    7. Neutralization Collection Process (1) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 19 , V 21 , V 24  to allow 0.5 mL 1N HCl to flow from raw material container B 9  into reactor G 4  to neutralize the product; after 10 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 19 , V 21 . 
         [0070]    (2) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 17 , V 20  to charge 100 mL PBS and 3.5 mL aqueous solution from raw material container B 7 ; after 10 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 17 , V 20 . 
         [0071]    (3) Cool reactor G 4  to room temperature; then stop cooling. 
         [0072]    (4) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 24 , V 22  to allow the product to pass through 0.22 μm filter into the sterile collection container for finished product G 5 ; final product is obtained there. 
         [0073]    The invention also has cleaning function, which process is as follows: 
         [0074]    1. Clean reactor G 3  (with acetone) 
         [0075]    (1) Remove QMA ion exchange column  2  and silicone column  5 , and put back the two terminal connectors. 
         [0076]    (2) Add 1 mL acetone to the cleaned raw material container B 1 ; heat reactor G 3  to 40° C. and at the same time open three-way solenoid valve V 2  and normal-close solenoid valves V 6 , V 7  to apply vacuum. 
         [0077]    (3) Open three-way solenoid valve V 1  to allow acetone to fill reactor G 3 , and apply mixing. 
         [0078]    (4) After 30 seconds, shut off three-way solenoid valves V 1 , V 2  and normal-close solenoid valves V 6 , V 7 . 
         [0079]    (5) Charge raw material container B 3  with 1 mL acetone and open normal-close solenoid valves V 8 , V 7  and three-way solenoid valve V 4 ; use pressurized helium to fill acetone into reactor G 3  and start mixing; release pressure through normal-close solenoid valve V 7  and three-way solenoid valve V 4 ; after 30 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 7 , V 8 . 
         [0080]    (6) Insert the needle into reactor G 3  and open normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 15 ; use pressurized helium to discharge acetone from reactor G 3  into the external waste solution bottle; after 25 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 . 
         [0081]    (7) Fill 3 mL acetone into raw material container B 4  and open normal-close solenoid valves V 9 , V 12  to allow acetone to fill into reactor G 3  and start mixing; pressure is released by normal-close solenoid valve V 7  and three-way solenoid valve V 4 ; after 25 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 9 . 
         [0082]    (8) Insert the needle into reactor G 3  and open normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 15  and use pressurized helium to discharge acetone from reactor G 3  into the waste solution bottle; after 25 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 . 
         [0083]    2. Blow dry reactor G 3   
         [0084]    (1) Fill 3 mL acetone into raw material container B 5 ; open normal-close solenoid valves V 11  and V 12 ; fill acetone into reactor G 3  and start mixing; pressure is released through normal-close solenoid valve V 23  and three-way solenoid valve V 4 ; after 30 seconds, shut off three-way solenoid valve V 4  and normal-close solenoid valves V 11 , V 12 , V 7 . 
         [0085]    (2) Heat reactor G 3  in a closed state to 85° C. and maintain constant temperature for 5 minutes. 
         [0086]    (3) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 15 , V 24 , V 25  and three-way solenoid valve V 14 ; use pressurized to discharge acetone from reactor G 3  into reactor G 4  and start mixing; after 30 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 15 . 
         [0087]    (4) Heat reactor G 3  to 120° C. 
         [0088]    (5) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 15 , V 23 , V 25  and three-way solenoid valves V 14 , V 4 ; use helium to continue to blow dry. 
         [0089]    (6) After 1 minute, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 15 , V 23 , V 25  and three-way solenoid valves V 14 , V 4 . 
         [0090]    (7) After two minutes, open normal-close solenoid valves V 6 , V 8 , V 7  and vacuum reactor G 3  and raw material container B 3 ; after 3 minutes, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 8  and then open normal-close solenoid valves V 9  and V 12 . 
         [0091]    (8) After raw material container B 4  is vacuumed for 3 minutes, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 9  and open normal-close solenoid valve V 11 . 
         [0092]    (9) After raw material container B 5  is vacuumed for 3 minutes, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 11 , V 6 , V 7 , V 12 . 
         [0093]    (10) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 15 , V 25  and pass helium. 
         [0094]    (11) Through solenoid V 14 , pass helium every 10 seconds to blow dry (three times in 60 seconds). 
         [0095]    (12) Through solenoid V 14 , continue to pass helium for 2 minutes; and then shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 13 , V 10 , V 24  and three-way solenoid valve V 14 . 
         [0096]    (13) Cool reactor G 3  to 60° C. and at the same time open normal-close solenoid valve V 7  to vacuum reactor G 3  (for 7 minutes). 
         [0097]    3. Clean reactor G 4  (with alcohol) 
         [0098]    (1) Remove the filtration membrane that connects to normal-close solenoid valve V 24 ; put back the pipeline; connect outlet to waste solution bottle. 
         [0099]    (2) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 24 , V 25  and use pressurized helium to discharge acetone from reactor G 4  to the waste solution bottle (for 30 seconds). 
         [0100]    (3) Fill 1 mL alcohol into raw material container B 9 ; open normal-close solenoid valves V 19 , V 21 , V 24 ; fill alcohol into reactor G 4  and start mixing; after 30 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 19 . 
         [0101]    (4) Fill 1 mL alcohol into raw material container B; open normal-close solenoid valve V 18 ; fill alcohol into reactor G 4  and start mixing; after 30 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 18 , V 21 , V 24 . 
         [0102]    (5) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 24 , V 25  and use pressurized helium to discharge alcohol from reactor G 4  into the waste solution bottle (for 30 seconds). 
         [0103]    (6) Fill 3 mL alcohol into raw material container B 7 ; open normal-close solenoid valves V 17 , V 20 , V 21 , V 23 , V 25 ; fill alcohol into reactor G 4  and start mixing; after 30 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 17 , V 20 , V 21 , V 23 . 
         [0104]    (7) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 24  and use pressurized helium to discharge alcohol from reactor G 4  into the waste solution bottle (for 30 seconds). 
         [0105]    (8) Fill 1 mL alcohol into raw material container B 6 ; open normal-close solenoid valves V 16 , V 20 , V 23 ; fill alcohol into reactor G 4  and start mixing; after 30 seconds, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 16 , V 20 , V 23 . 
         [0106]    4. Blow dry reactor G 4   
         [0107]    (1) Heat reactor G 4  in a closed state to 100° C. and start mixing; maintain constant temperature for 5 minutes. 
         [0108]    (2) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 24 , V 25  and use pressurized helium to discharge alcohol from reactor G 4  into the waste solution bottle; after 1 minute, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 24 , V 25 . 
         [0109]    (3) Open normal-close solenoid valve V 23  and vacuum reactor G 4 ; at the same time heat to 120° C. 
         [0110]    (4) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 18 , V 21  and vacuum dry raw material container B 8 ; after 2 minutes, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 18 . 
         [0111]    (5) Open normal-close solenoid valve V 19  and vacuum dry raw material container B 9 ; after 2 minutes, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 19 , V 21 . 
         [0112]    (6) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 17 , V 20  and vacuum dry raw material container B 7 ; after 2 minutes, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 17 . 
         [0113]    (7) Open normal-close solenoid valve V 16  and vacuum dry raw material container B 6 ; after 2 minutes, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 16 , V 20  and V 23 , V 21 , and stop heating. 
         [0114]    (8) Open normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 24 , V 25  and use helium to blow dry normal-close solenoid valve V 24 ; after 2 minutes, shut off normal-close solenoid valves V 22 , V 24  and V 25 . 
         [0115]    (9) Open normal-close solenoid valve V 23  and vacuum dry reactor G 4 . 
         [0116]    (10) Cool reactor G 4  to 60° C.; at the same time, shut off normal-close solenoid valve V 23  and stop vacuum. 
         [0117]    In summary, the automatic synthesis device for fluorine-18-ACETATE in the invention has simplified process and improved production efficiency. It is an invention of innovation and progressiveness. The patent application is filed accordingly. However, the above description is only the preferred embodiment for the invention, any alteration, modification, change or equivalent replacement extended from the technical approach and scope shall be all fall into the scope of the patent application.