Applications of Tungsten Alloys in Radiation Protection and Isotope Equipment for Medical Use

In modern nuclear medicine, every stage from the production of radioactive isotopes to their final application requires precise control and safety measures for high-energy radiation. Traditional lead shielding materials are facing challenges in terms of environmental impact, performance, and mechanical strength. High-density tungsten alloys, with their excellent radiation absorption capabilities, superior mechanical properties, and eco-friendliness, have become a critical upgrade material throughout the entire process of isotope pharmaceuticals.

Applications of Tungsten Alloys in Radioactive Isotope Production

In cyclotrons or reactors used to produce high-energy radioactive isotopes, the radiation intensity is extremely high, demanding stringent requirements for shielding materials.

Accelerator Target System Shielding

Tungsten alloys are utilized to manufacture collimators and shielding structures around the target base of cyclotrons. With a density approximately 60% higher than lead, tungsten alloys provide equivalent or superior shielding performance while significantly reducing the size and weight of shielding systems, enabling more compact equipment designs.

Isotope Transport Containers

Containers for transporting high-activity radioactive isotopes must balance portability and safety. Tungsten alloy transport cans not only offer exceptional shielding performance but also have much higher strength and durability compared to soft lead, effectively resisting accidental impacts and drops during transportation to ensure the absolute safety of the radiation sources.

Applications of Tungsten Alloys in the Transportation and Administration of Radioactive Pharmaceuticals

When radioactive pharmaceuticals arrive at hospital pharmacies or hot labs in nuclear medicine departments, radiochemists must perform a series of precise operations under protective conditions, including receiving, aliquoting, storing, and preparing drugs for administration. Tungsten alloys extend their application from transportation protection to operating surfaces, providing multi-layered立体protection for staff.

Shielding Cans for Transportation

Tungsten alloy shielding cans provide a transport barrier for high-activity radioactive pharmaceuticals during the transition from production to use, ensuring safe movement from vehicle to hot lab. These cans not only offer excellent radiation attenuation but also have robust structures that protect vials during transit, minimizing risks of breakage due to vibrations or accidents.

Vial Protective Sleeves

Used in hot labs for safely storing and handling radioactive pharmaceuticals (e.g., FDG), tungsten alloy sleeves ensure stable and reliable shielding during storage or transfer, allowing operators to perform tasks securely.

Manual Aliquot Inversion Protection Devices

This is a core protective device for manual aliquoting operations in hot labs. The main shielding body is typically made of high-density tungsten alloys, enabling operators to safely invert the entire protection装置 (including vials and syringes) to any required angle during radioactive pharmaceutical aliquoting, dilution, or transfer. This significantly reduces hand exposure time near radiation sources, lowering unnecessary dose exposure.

Syringe Protection

This stage involves two core protective tools:

Syringe Protective Sleeves

Used to protect operators’ hands during the extraction and aliquoting of radioactive pharmaceuticals. Made from high-density tungsten alloys with smooth surfaces for easy cleaning and disinfection, these sleeves are available in multiple sizes to accommodate common syringes (1cc, 2cc, 5cc, 10cc). With a wall thickness of approximately 5mm, they provide maximum gamma-ray attenuation while maintaining lightness and ease of use. Their robust construction and precise manufacturing ensure accurate drug manipulation, with designs that also offer good visibility for operators.

Multi-Purpose Syringe Protective Triple-Section Cans

This innovative design enhances flexibility and safety during injection. Made from high-density tungsten alloys, it is divided into three sections: head, body, and tail. Its core advantage lies in its versatility—through carefully designed internal structures, a single triple-section can safely accommodate and compatibly use multiple syringe models (e.g., 2cc, 5cc). During patient administration of radioactive pharmaceuticals (e.g., FDG), simply opening the head and tail sections allows for operations. This design significantly reduces radiation exposure time during injections due to incomplete shielding or frequent protective sleeve changes, while also providing effective shielding throughout the process from aliquoting storage to injection. It simplifies procedures, improves efficiency, and enhances safety.

Performance Assurance of Tungsten Alloys in Cancer Treatment Equipment

In radiation therapy (e.g., gamma knives, linear accelerators), tungsten alloys have evolved from mere protective materials to critical components ensuring treatment precision.

Collimators and Multi-Leaf Collimators

These are among the most crucial components in radiotherapy equipment. Their role is to precisely shape radiation beams to match the three-dimensional contours of tumor targets, enabling high-dose radiation to be accurately delivered to lesions while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

The choice of tungsten alloys for manufacturing these precision components in cancer treatment equipment is driven by the following performance advantages:

• High Density: Produces sharp radiation field edges (minimal penumbra), achieving better cutting effects and precise differentiation between tumors and normal tissues.
• High Strength: Wear-resistant properties ensure that thin blades (typically a few millimeters thick) maintain shape stability and durability during long-term, high-speed, and precise movements.
• Excellent Machinability: Allows for the production of high-precision, relatively thin, and durable blades, facilitating dynamic and complex intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Tungsten alloys, with their superior physical properties, outstanding mechanical strength, long-term stability, and environmental characteristics, are integral to the entire process of isotope pharmaceutical treatment. Shenglai New Materials specializes in providing a full range of tungsten alloy products, from standardized components to highly customized solutions, ensuring robust safety and performance support for the production, safe transportation, storage, clinical precise aliquoting, and radiation therapy equipment of radioactive pharmaceuticals.

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