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This section provides an overview for cyclotrons as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 8 cyclotron manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked cyclotron companies as of December, 2024: 1.Best Cyclotron Systems, Inc., 2.Advanced Cyclotron Systems, Inc., 3.GE Healthcare.
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1993~2019: Engaged in pharmaceutical research and development and analysis of various biological samples at the Pharmaceutical Research Institute of Japan Kayaku Co., Ltd. He is also in charge of facility management as a dangerous goods handler and radiation handling chief.
2019: Moved to another company in the same industry and has been in charge of similar work until now.
He also writes, translates, and edits specialized books.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makoto-niwa-25331040/
Researchmap: https://researchmap.jp/0000-0002-2355-1222/
A Cyclotron is an accelerator for charged particles (negatively charged electrons, positively charged protons, ions, etc.) that repeatedly swirls the charged particles to increase their speed.
A cyclotron is a type of accelerator that accelerates particles by applying a potential difference that switches at high speed to the gap between two straight sections of electrodes (dee electrodes), which are shaped like the letter D in the alphabet.
Cyclotrons are used in a variety of fields to take advantage of the effects that occur when accelerated charged particles collide with a target (e.g., to produce isotopes that do not exist naturally, to modify semiconductors, etc.). One example is the production of short-lived radiolabeled compounds for PET (Positron Emission Tomography).
Radiolabeled compounds used in PET have short lifetimes and must be manufactured in cyclotrons as they are used. Recently, medical facilities are increasingly equipped with small cyclotrons for PET.
Another application is to improve the performance of semiconductors by semiconductor irradiation. Semiconductors can be modified by irradiating them with charged particles to improve their electrical properties.
Other applications include the production of radioisotopes for use in SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography), research radioisotopes, radiopharmaceuticals, and nuclear physics research.
Cyclotrons use the force exerted on charged particles as they pass through a magnetic field (Lorentz force). The backbone of a cyclotron is a disk-shaped part consisting of two Dee electrodes in the shape of the letter D. The image of a circular shape is formed by pasting the vertical bars of the D and the flip side D together.
The D electrode is placed in a magnetic field created by an electromagnet. This is to make use of the Lorentz force to move the ions. When a charged particle is introduced into the magnetic field of the cyclotron, the Lorentz force causes the particle to bend and move in a circular orbit. At this time, they will orbit in a circular path along the shape of a disk formed by two dee electrodes.
Halfway around the disk, the particle reaches another dee electrode, at which point a potential difference is created between the electrodes to accelerate the particle. When the particles return to the original electrode after completing half the circumference, the potential difference can be reversed to accelerate them again. This process is repeated to accelerate the charged particles.
As the speed of the charged particle increases, the radius of gyration increases, allowing the particle to be extracted from the periphery of the disk.
As the speed of the charged particle approaches the speed of light, its mass increases due to relativity effects, making it more difficult to bend. Therefore, the radius increases beyond the initial calculation, and acceleration cannot be achieved as originally designed. Therefore, there is a limit to the acceleration using a cyclotron.
Synchrocyclotrons and synchrotrons were therefore considered. Synchrocyclotrons are cyclotrons that enable acceleration up to high speeds by slowing down the switching of the electric field according to the speed of the ions.
Synchrotrons, on the other hand, are constructed with a different concept than cyclotrons. Unlike cyclotrons, which gradually increase the orbit radius, synchrotrons accelerate by changing the strength of the magnetic field and the period of electric field switching while maintaining a constant circular orbit.
Although cyclotrons have limitations in acceleration, one advantage that synchrotrons do not have is the ability to continuously accelerate particles by pouring them into the cyclotron one after another.
They can also produce high intensity particle beams. These features are suitable for the production of isotopes and the modification of semiconductors, and the features are successfully used in applications.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (SHI) was established in 1888. SHI offers complete solutions for industrial machinery production and operations, heavy machinery for infrastructure, logistics, and construction, power generation systems as well as systems to reduce pollution, water purification, and ship construction. In addition, SHI also offers various software services including IT solutions.
Advanced Cyclotron Systems, Inc., founded in 2003 and headquartered in Richmond, Canada, is a designer and manufacturer of cyclotrons. The company’s diverse range of products includes the TR-19 cyclotron, TR-24 cyclotron, TR-flex cyclotron, and TR-30 cyclotron. These products are used for imaging and radiopharmaceutical production, supporting cancer diagnosis and therapy, materials testing, radiography, and neutron activation analysis. The company’s products cater to industries such as nuclear medicine, scientific research, industrial applications, and radiopharmaceutical production.
Best Cyclotron Systems, Inc., founded in 1983 and located in Springfield, Virginia, is a designer and manufacturer of commercial cyclotrons. The company’s broad range of products includes B-100 cyclotrons, BG-95 cyclotrons, 15 MeV cyclotrons, 25 MeV cyclotrons, and 35 MeV cyclotrons. These cyclotrons find general use in nuclear medicine for medical imaging and radiopharmaceutical production, in nuclear physics research, and for industrial applications requiring particle acceleration and the production of radioactive isotopes. The company caters to industries such as medical imaging and diagnosis, radiopharmaceutical production, nuclear physics and research, and industrial applications.
GE Healthcare is a healthcare technology manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in designing, developing and distributing diagnostic imaging and clinical systems. The company’s product portfolio includes imaging solutions, ultrasound technology, patient care solutions, digital solutions and various parts and accessories. Their products cater to different aspects of healthcare, from diagnostics and treatment to operational efficiency and quality enhancement. With offices across the globe, GE Healthcare offers healthcare technology systems and solutions worldwide, backed by expert service teams to ensure equipment uptime and longevity.
IBA Radiopharma Solutions, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Belgium, Europe, is a supplier of PET and SPECT cyclotrons. The company offers a broad range of products that include radiosotopes, integrated radiopahrmacy, cyclotrons, chemistry, and cardiac PET. These products are used for medical imaging and diagnosis, safe and efficient handling of radioactive materials, production of radiopharmaceuticals, nuclear medicine, and assessing blood flow and heart function, allowing healthcare professionals to visualize and understand internal structures and functions. The company caters to industries such as medical and healthcare, pharmaceutical and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, and research and academic institutions.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best Cyclotron Systems, Inc. |
23.8%
|
| 2 | Advanced Cyclotron Systems, Inc. |
14.3%
|
| 3 | GE Healthcare |
12.5%
|
| 4 | Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. |
12.2%
|
| 5 | isoSolution Inc. |
10.4%
|
| 6 | Nuclear Medicine Equipment Engineering |
9.7%
|
| 7 | IBA Radiopharma Solutions |
9.7%
|
| 8 | Siemens Healthineers AG |
7.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the cyclotron page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
Canada
|
2 | 66.7% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 33.3% |
