Making Special Materials Inside Commercial Nuclear Power Plants
This patent describes a method for using the neutron radiation inside large commercial nuclear power reactors, specifically in their existing instrumentation tubes, to create useful isotopes like those used in medicine or industry.
Original patent title: “Method of producing isotopes in power nuclear reactors”
This patent describes a method for using the neutron radiation inside large commercial nuclear power reactors, specifically in their existing instrumentation tubes, to create useful isotopes like those used in medicine or industry. Granted to General Electric in 2016 with 13 claims and 5 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2030.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent outlines a method for producing isotopes in a "light water commercial power reactor" that generates at least "100 mega-watts thermal" power (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). The process involves placing a "non-fissile" material, called an "irradiation target," into an "instrumentation tube" within the reactor (Claim 1). This target is then exposed to the "neutron flux" generated by the reactor, causing it to transform into a desired isotope (Claim 1). The placement of the target is carefully chosen based on factors like the half-life of the desired isotope and the neutron absorption rate (Claim 1). For example, a cobalt target could be inserted to produce Cobalt-60, a radioisotope used for medical sterilization.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover producing isotopes using materials that are fissile, meaning they can split and release energy, as the target must be "non-fissile" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover isotope production in reactors that are not "light water commercial power reactors" or those generating less than "100 mega-watts thermal" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover placing irradiation targets directly within the reactor's fuel bundles; it specifically uses an "instrumentation tube" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover methods where the containment structure holding the target significantly changes its nuclear properties during the irradiation process (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 4).
- Does not cover producing isotopes in dedicated research reactors, as it specifies a "commercial power reactor" for electrical power production.
- Does not cover methods where the target is not positioned based on factors like half-life, irradiation duration, or neutron absorption rate (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever aspect is using the existing "instrumentation tube" of a commercial power reactor, typically meant for monitoring, as an accessible and convenient location to irradiate "non-fissile" targets. This avoids complex and costly modifications to the reactor's core or fuel bundles.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Production of Cobalt-60 for sterilizing medical equipment and treating cancer.
Production of Iridium-192 for industrial radiography to inspect materials.
Production of Thulium-170 for portable gamma sources in medical applications.
Production of stable isotopes for various industrial and research uses.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Many critical isotopes, especially radioisotopes used for medical imaging and treatment, are currently produced in a limited number of dedicated research reactors. This patent offers a way to leverage existing commercial power reactors, which are more common, for isotope production. This could help diversify the global supply chain for important isotopes, potentially making them more accessible and affordable for healthcare and industrial applications.
Filed
September 27, 2010
Granted
January 19, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
General Electric (GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy), the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major player in nuclear reactor technology and services. Other companies in the nuclear and isotope production space, such as Nordion and Curium, are continually exploring new methods for isotope generation to meet global demand. This patent suggests a pathway for commercial power utilities to potentially participate in isotope production.
Market impact
This patent provides a method that could expand the global capacity for isotope production, particularly for medical radioisotopes, by utilizing existing commercial nuclear power infrastructure. If widely adopted, it could help stabilize supply chains, reduce reliance on a few dedicated research reactors, and potentially lower the cost of isotopes, impacting the pharmaceutical, medical device, and industrial sectors that depend on these materials.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent outlines a method for producing isotopes in a "light water commercial power reactor" that generates at least "100 mega-watts thermal" power (Claim 1). The process involves placing a "non-fissile" material, called an "irradiation target," into an "instrumentation tube" within the reactor (Claim 1). This target is then exposed to the "neutron flux" generated by the reactor, causing it to transform into a desired isotope (Claim 1). The placement of the target is carefully chosen based on factors like the half-life of the desired isotope and the neutron absorption rate (Claim 1). For example, a cobalt target could be inserted to produce Cobalt-60, a radioisotope used for medical sterilization.
The clever bit
The clever aspect is using the existing "instrumentation tube" of a commercial power reactor, typically meant for monitoring, as an accessible and convenient location to irradiate "non-fissile" targets. This avoids complex and costly modifications to the reactor's core or fuel bundles.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover producing isotopes using materials that are fissile, meaning they can split and release energy, as the target must be "non-fissile" (Claim 1).
- Does not cover isotope production in reactors that are not "light water commercial power reactors" or those generating less than "100 mega-watts thermal" (Claim 1).
- Does not cover placing irradiation targets directly within the reactor's fuel bundles; it specifically uses an "instrumentation tube" (Claim 1).
- Does not cover methods where the containment structure holding the target significantly changes its nuclear properties during the irradiation process (Claim 4).
- Does not cover producing isotopes in dedicated research reactors, as it specifies a "commercial power reactor" for electrical power production.
- Does not cover methods where the target is not positioned based on factors like half-life, irradiation duration, or neutron absorption rate (Claim 1).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$39K – $126K
Midpoint $79K · 4.0 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
13 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Shelton, S. B., James, R. B., Higgins, R. P., Trosman, L., Stachowski, R. E., Gonzales, R. P., Fawcett, R. M., Kiernan, M. T., Russell, I. W. E., & Smith, D. G. (2016). Making Special Materials Inside Commercial Nuclear Power Plants (U.S. Patent No. 9,239,385). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9239385/method-of-producing-isotopes-in-power-nuclear-reactors
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Making Special Materials Inside Commercial Nuclear Power Plants cover?
This patent describes a method for using the neutron radiation inside large commercial nuclear power reactors, specifically in their existing instrumentation tubes, to create useful isotopes like those used in medicine or industry.
Who owns patent US 9239385?
General Electric owns this patent, granted in 2016.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 27, 2030, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9239385 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Many critical isotopes, especially radioisotopes used for medical imaging and treatment, are currently produced in a limited number of dedicated research reactors. This patent offers a way to leverage existing commercial power reactors, which are more common, for isotope production. This could help diversify the global supply chain for important isotopes, potentially making them more accessible and affordable for healthcare and industrial applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover producing isotopes using materials that are fissile, meaning they can split and release energy, as the target must be "non-fissile" (Claim 1).
Same assignee
More from General Electric
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