# 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. - **Patent:** US 9239385 - **Original title:** Method of producing isotopes in power nuclear reactors - **Owner:** General Electric - **Granted:** 2016 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 5 - **Field:** nuclear_energy, materials, biotech, pharmaceutical ## What it does 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. ## 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). ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Production of Cobalt-60 for sterilizing medical equipment and treating cancer. 2. Production of Iridium-192 for industrial radiography to inspect materials. 3. Production of Thulium-170 for portable gamma sources in medical applications. 4. Production of stable isotopes for various industrial and research uses. ## Why it matters 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. ## 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). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9239385/method-of-producing-isotopes-in-power-nuclear-reactors **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US9239385 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Nuclear Power Plants Reuse Fuel Between Multiple Reactors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10818403/inter-module-fuel-shuffling) — This patent describes a method for nuclear power plants with several reactors to efficiently reuse partially used fuel by moving it between different reactor cores across multiple operating cycles. - [How a Molten Metal Buffer Improves Heat Transfer in Nuclear Reactors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11942229/molten-metal-fuel-buffer-in-fission-reactor-and-method-of-manufacture) — This patent describes a nuclear fission reactor design that uses a liquid molten metal to fill gaps between the nuclear fuel and its protective casing, improving heat transfer and reactor safety. - [How to Make Meltdown-Proof Nuclear Fuel Pellets](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10475543/dispersion-ceramic-micro-encapsulated-dcm-nuclear-fuel-and-related-methods) — This patent describes a method for making a new type of nuclear fuel called Dispersion Ceramic Micro-Encapsulated (DCM) fuel, which uses tiny, specially coated uranium particles embedded in a super-strong silicon carbide material to prevent meltdowns in nuclear reactors. - [Using Gas Pressure to Safely Control Liquid Fuel Nuclear Reactors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12073952/fail-safe-reactivity-compensation-method-for-a-nuclear-reactor) — This patent describes a method to control a nuclear reaction in liquid-fueled reactors by using gas pressure to adjust the amount of fuel solution in special pipes, ensuring the reactor always returns to a safe state if something goes wrong. - [How a Nuclear Reactor's Rotating Drum Controls Power](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11417435/control-drum-for-a-mobile-nuclear-reactor) — This patent describes a rotating drum for nuclear reactors, especially mobile ones, that uses tubes filled with different materials to absorb or scatter neutrons, precisely controlling the reactor's power output.