{"entity":{"id":"medical-cyclotrons-synthesis-modules","kind":"technology","name":"Medical cyclotrons, hot cells, and synthesis modules","aka":[],"tldr":"The particle accelerators and shielded robotic chemistry boxes that make PET tracers in hospital basements and commercial pharmacies.","summary":"Compact 11-30 MeV cyclotrons from IBA (Cyclone), GE HealthCare (PETtrace, MINItrace), Siemens (Eclipse), ACSI (TR-24), and Sumitomo produce 18F, 68Ga, 64Cu, and 89Zr; shielded hot cells (Comecer, Von Gahlen, Tema Sinergie) house automated synthesis modules (Trasis AllinOne, IBA Synthera, GE FASTlab, Eckert & Ziegler Modular-Lab, Siemens Explora) that run GMP radiochemistry from cassettes. Solid-target 68Ga production is displacing generators at high-volume sites.","status":"standard-of-care","asOf":"2026-09-08","links":[{"label":"21 CFR Part 212: current good manufacturing practice for PET drugs","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-212"}],"tags":["supporting"],"related":[],"cancers":[],"sections":["radiopharma","imaging"],"technologies":["pet","radiopharmacy-network","pet-tracer-manufacturing","radionuclide-generators-kits"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":["iba","ge-healthcare","siemens-healthineers","trasis","comecer"],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"principle":"Proton bombardment of enriched targets produces the isotope; cassette-based automated modules perform labelling, purification, and formulation behind lead shielding with QC before release.","strengths":["On-site supply of short-lived isotopes","Cassette chemistry standardises GMP production"],"limitations":["Capital and shielding cost ($2-5M per site)","Skilled radiochemists scarce","Site licensing takes years"]},"route":"/technologies/medical-cyclotrons-synthesis-modules/","neighbours":{"section":[{"id":"imaging","kind":"section","name":"Imaging","route":"/fronts/imaging/"},{"id":"radiopharma","kind":"section","name":"Radiopharmaceuticals & Theranostics","route":"/fronts/radiopharma/"}],"technology":[{"id":"astatine-211-alpha-therapy","kind":"technology","name":"Astatine-211 alpha therapy","route":"/technologies/astatine-211-alpha-therapy/"},{"id":"medical-imaging-scanner-manufacturing","kind":"technology","name":"CT, MRI and PET scanner manufacturing","route":"/technologies/medical-imaging-scanner-manufacturing/"},{"id":"cyclotron-isotope-production","kind":"technology","name":"Cyclotron isotope production (F-18, Ga-68, Cu-64, Zr-89, At-211)","route":"/technologies/cyclotron-isotope-production/"},{"id":"gamma-probes-dose-calibrators","kind":"technology","name":"Gamma probes, handheld gamma cameras and dose calibrators","route":"/technologies/gamma-probes-dose-calibrators/"},{"id":"pet","kind":"technology","name":"PET (positron emission tomography)","route":"/technologies/pet/"},{"id":"pet-tracer-manufacturing","kind":"technology","name":"PET tracer manufacturing and distribution","route":"/technologies/pet-tracer-manufacturing/"},{"id":"proton-therapy-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Proton therapy machines: cyclotrons, synchrotrons and single-room systems","route":"/technologies/proton-therapy-systems/"},{"id":"radioligand-therapy","kind":"technology","name":"Radioligand therapy (beta emitters)","route":"/technologies/radioligand-therapy/"},{"id":"radionuclide-generators-kits","kind":"technology","name":"Radionuclide generators and cold kits","route":"/technologies/radionuclide-generators-kits/"},{"id":"radiopharmacy-network","kind":"technology","name":"Radiopharmacy and cyclotron networks","route":"/technologies/radiopharmacy-network/"}],"company":[{"id":"comecer","kind":"company","name":"Comecer (ATS)","route":"/companies/comecer/"},{"id":"ge-healthcare","kind":"company","name":"GE HealthCare","route":"/companies/ge-healthcare/"},{"id":"iba","kind":"company","name":"IBA (Ion Beam Applications)","route":"/companies/iba/"},{"id":"siemens-healthineers","kind":"company","name":"Siemens Healthineers","route":"/companies/siemens-healthineers/"},{"id":"sumitomo-heavy-industries","kind":"company","name":"Sumitomo Heavy Industries","route":"/companies/sumitomo-heavy-industries/"},{"id":"trasis","kind":"company","name":"Trasis","route":"/companies/trasis/"}]}}