AUTOMATED SYNTHESIS OF NITROGEN-13-LABELED OCTYLAMINE

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED SYNTHESIS MODULE (ASM) FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NITROGEN-13-LABELED OCTYLAMINE IS PROPOSED. NITROGEN-13-LA-BELED OCTYLAMINE IS A PROMISING LUNG-IMAGING AGENT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE SHORT HALF-LIFE OF NITROGEN-13 (10 MINUTES), THE SYNTHESIS MUST BEPERFORMED IN A RAPID, AUTOMATED MODULE FOR WIDESPREAD UTILIZATION IN THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT. THE NEW ASM MODULE WILL EFFICIENTLY REMOVE THE NITROGEN ISOTOPE FROM THE TARGET OF THE SMALL MEDICAL CYCLOTRON AND PERFORM THE NECESSARY CHEMISTRY TO PRODUCE THE DESIRED NITROGEN-13-LABELED OCTYLAMINE WITHIN 30 MINUTES. THE COMMERCIAL AVAILABILITY OF SUCH AN EFFECTIVE LUNG-IMAGING AGENT, COMBINED WITH THE MANY OTHER INNOVATIONSPRESENTLY OCCURRING IN POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET), COULD GREATLY ENHANCE PET. COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND IMAGING, INC. IS DEVELOPING AND WILL BEGIN SUPPLYING PET CENTERS WITH SYSTEMS THAT WILL SELL FOR LESS THAN TYPICAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SCANNERS.