CERN-MEDICIS

CERN-MEDICIS robot isotope production for medical research

CERN-MEDical Isotopes Collected from ISOLDE (MEDICIS) is a facility located in the Isotope Separator Online DEvice (ISOLDE) facility at CERN, designed to produce high-purity isotopes for developing the practice of patient diagnosis and treatment. The facility was initiated in 2010, with its first radioisotopes (terbium-155) produced on 12 December 2017.[1]

The target used to produce radioactive nuclei at the ISOLDE facility only absorbs 10% of the proton beam.[2] MEDICIS positions a second target behind the first, which is irradiated by the leftover 90% of the proton beam. The target is then moved to an off-line mass separation system and isotopes are extracted from the target.[3] These isotopes are implanted in metallic foil and can be delivered to research facilities and hospitals.[4]

MEDICIS is a nuclear class A laboratory and takes into account various radioprotection procedures to prevent irradiation and contamination.[5]

  1. ^ "MEDICIS shows its strength". CERN Courier. 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  2. ^ "CERN-MEDICIS produces first medical isotopes". Physics World. 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  3. ^ Duchemin, Charlotte; Ramos, Joao P.; Stora, Thierry; Ahmed, Essraa; Aubert, Elodie; Audouin, Nadia; Barbero, Ermanno; Barozier, Vincent; Bernardes, Ana-Paula; Bertreix, Philippe; Boscher, Aurore; Bruchertseifer, Frank; Catherall, Richard; Chevallay, Eric; Christodoulou, Pinelopi (2021). "CERN-MEDICIS: A Review Since Commissioning in 2017". Frontiers in Medicine. 8: 693682. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.693682. PMC 8319400. PMID 34336898.
  4. ^ Pixels 2, Rockin (2018-01-02). "The new CERN facility can contribute towards cancer research". Foro Nuclear. Retrieved 2023-07-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Bernardes, A P (15 Oct 2014). "Integrating Safety into MEDICIS project" (PDF). Retrieved 24 July 2023.