University of Missouri

John Michel Gahl

Jae Wan Kwon

John Brockman

William C Nunnally

Charles Maitz

David A Volgas

Michael A Flagg

Bradley Ryan Nullmeyer

James Stannard

Michael Flagg

Gregory E Dale

Timothy Renkoski

The present invention provides an implant comprising an isotope capable of producing a dose of ionizing radiation upon exposure to a flux of low energy neutrons, and a method in which, after implantation, the implant is exposed to a flux of low energy neutrons to control or treat infections.

Neutron capture therapy for infection control of surgical implants

Doped nitride-based semiconductor materials and methods of producing these materials are described herein.

Low defect nuclear transmutation doping in nitride-based semiconductor materials

A method of producing an integrated circuit-type active radioisotope battery, the method comprising exposing at least a portion of an electronically functional, unactivated integrated circuit-type battery to radiation to convert transmutable material in the unactivated battery to a radioisotope thereby producing an active cell and thus the integrated circuit-type active radioisotope battery.

Mass production method of loading radioisotopes into radiovoltaics

Apparatus for generating thermal neutrons includes an electron accelerator for generating an electron beam and a converter for converting the electron beam into photons. A receiving device is provided for receiving the photons and includes a material which provides a photoneutron target for the photons, for producing high energy neutrons in a photonuclear reaction between the photons and the photoneutron target, and for moderating the high energy neutrons to generate the thermal neutrons. The electron beam has an energy level high enough to produce photons of sufficient energy to exceed the photodissociation threshold of the selected target material, but that is sufficiently low as to enable the material to moderate the high energy neutrons resulting from the photonuclear reaction.

Method and apparatus for generating thermal neutrons using an electron accelerator

The invention provides methods for the production of radioisotopes or for the treatment of nuclear waste. In methods of the invention, a solution of heavy water and target material including fissile material present in subcritical amounts is provided in a shielded irradiation vessel. Bremsstrahlung photons are introduced into the solution, and have an energy sufficient to generate photoneutrons by interacting with the nucleus of the deuterons present in the heavy water and the resulting photoneutrons in turn cause fission of the fissile material. The bremsstrahlung photons can be generated with an electron beam and an x-ray converter. Devices of the invention can be small and generate radioisotopes on site, such as at medical facilities and industrial facilities. Solution can be recycled for continued use after recovery of products.

Radioisotope production and treatment of solution of target material

A microwave frequency deflection cell analog to digital converter is provided. The phase velocity of an optical wave is effectively reduced to that of a microwave frequency electro-magnetic signal in an optical deflector. The electro-optic effect is used for a controlled deflection of an optical beam. The angle of beam deflection varies in accordance with an applied voltage, which may be a signal in the microwave frequency range. A device of the invention includes a birefringent crystal having transmission line conductors arranged to create an electric field in the crystal in response to an applied voltage, and mirrors arranged to create a multi-bounce path through the crystal for a light beam directed into the crystal on an entrance path that is non parallel to the mirrors. The multi-bounce path effectively slows the velocity of the optical wave to that of the voltage wave, permitting deflection or modulation of the beam by microwave frequency electrical signals.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MO, United States of America

John Michel Gahl