System for X-ray irradiation of blood

• US 6,212,255 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rad Source Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Randol E. Kirk
• Inventors: Kirk, Randol E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIKNADZE, IRAKLI
• Application Number:
  US09/383,226
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 378/66, 378/65, 378/9, 378/10, 378/15, 128/214, 250/455.1
• US Class Current: 378/66
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/04 with beam-forming means
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/08 Holders for targets or for other objects to be irradiated

Abstract

A blood irradiator for providing a uniform dose of X-ray beam irradiation for blood contained within a transfusion bag. A first X-ray tube is positioned to irradiate said bag from one side of the bag, and a second X-ray tube is positioned to irradiate said bag from the opposite side of said bag concurrently with said first bag whereby a uniform dose of X-rays is provided to the blood.

Claims

1. An X-ray irradiator for providing a uniform dose of X-ray beam irradiation to blood in a transfusion bag, said irradiator comprising in combination,

a) a chamber for mounting said transfusion bag;

b) X-ray tubes mounted on opposed sides of said chamber;

said tubes providing X-ray beams of radiation to said bag from opposite sides of said bag; and

c) said tubes each providing radiation at a same selected energy level to said bag to thereby provide a total radiation energy to said bag which is substantially uniform throughout said bag.

2. An X-ray irradiator as in claim 1 wherein said tubes each provide a beam of radiation to fully cover the area of said transfusion bag transverse to said beams.

3. An X-ray irradiator as in claim 1 further including

a) a cannister for confining said bag to have a uniform maximum thickness measured transverse to the beam radiation from said tubes.

4. An irradiator as in claim 3 wherein the cannister maintains the maximum thickness of said bag at 4 cm.

5. An irradiator as in claim 1 wherein said X-ray tubes each provide radiation at 160 kV, and are positioned 23 cm from said bag to irradiate said bag with a surface dose of 2500 rads and an exit dose of 1500 rads.

9. An X-ray irradiator as in claim 1 further including n ion pump to provide a vacuum in said X-ray tubes.

10. An X-ray irradiator as in claim 1 wherein

a) the same power supply supplies power to both tubes.

6. An X-ray irradiator for providing a uniform dose of X-ray beam irradiation to a transfusion bag blood, said bag being in the form of a rectangular box-like container, said irradiator comprising in combination,

a) source of X-ray radiation providing a beam of X-ray to cover a defined vertical area;

and,

b) means for positioning said bag with its thickness dimension perpendicular to said beam to permit said beam to irradiate a first surface of said bag;

c) a support for said bag; and

d) means for rotating said support to cause said beam to irradiate the surface of said bag opposite said first surface.

7. An X-ray irradiator for providing a uniform dose of X-ray beam irradiation to blood in a transfusion bag which bag is pliable and is contained in a cannister said irradiator comprising in combination,

a) a chamber for receiving said cannister containing mounting said transfusion bag;

b) first has X-ray tubes mounted to provide irradiation to opposite surfaces of said bag;

c) the irradiation of said tubes effectively combining to provide uniform irradiation to the blood in said bag.

8. An X-ray irradiator as in claim 7 wherein said tubes each provide a beam of radiation to fully cover the area of said cannister transverse to said beams.