The design and performance of a portable handheld 11CO2 delivery system

We constructed a hand-held device to efficiently trap [11C]CO2 from the cyclotron target, safely transport up to 3.7 GBq (100 mCi) doses to remote sites and release it without the need for a liquid cryogen. The system consists of a 180 W furnace and a miniature molecular sieve trap (80-100 mg; 80-100 mesh 13×) placed inside a lead pig weighing 11.1 kg. The overall [11C]CO2 delivery efficiency of the device is ~82% (> 99% trapping efficiency). Radiation dose rates measured at 30 cm from the surface of the pig are <43.5 µSv/h (5 mR/h) up to 2.59 GBq (70 mCi).