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A biomarker generator system for producing approximately one (1) unit dose of a biomarker. The biomarker generator system includes a small, low-power particle accelerator ("micro-accelerator") and a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip. The mic

A biomarker generator system for producing approximately one (1) unit dose of a biomarker. The biomarker generator system includes a small, low-power particle accelerator ("micro-accelerator") and a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip. The micro-accelerator is provided for producing approximately one (1) unit dose of a radioactive substance, such as a substance that emits positrons. The radiochemical synthesis subsystem is provided for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the approximately one (1) unit dose of a biomarker.

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What is claimed is: 1. A system for producing a radiochemical, said system comprising: a particle accelerator for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minim

What is claimed is: 1. A system for producing a radiochemical, said system comprising: a particle accelerator for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minimum energy greater than, or equal to, five (5) MeV, and for directing the beam of charged particles along a path; a target positioned in the path of the beam of charged particles, said target serving to receive a target substance having a composition selected for producing a radioactive substance during interaction with the beam of charged particles; and a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip, said radiochemical synthesis subsystem for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the radiochemical. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the radioactive substance includes a positron-emitting radioactive isotope selected from the group consisting of carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15, and fluorine-18. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radioactive substance is a positron-emitting substance selected from the group consisting of [11C]CH4, [11C]CO2, [11C]CH3I, [13N]N2, [15O]O2, [18F]F-, and [18F]F2. 4. A system for producing a radiochemical, said system comprising: a cyclotron for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, a the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minimum energy greater than, or equal to, five (5) MeV , and for directing the beam of charged particles along a path; a target positioned in the path of the beam of charged particles, said target serving to receive a target substance having a composition selected for producing a radioactive substance during interaction with the beam of charged particles; and a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip, said radiochemical synthesis subsystem for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the radiochemical. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said particle accelerator includes an internal target subsystem. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein said cyclotron includes an internal target subsystem. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said particle accelerator includes a permanent magnet for directing the beam as the beam is being accelerated. 8. The system of claim 4, wherein said particle accelerator includes a permanent magnet for directing the beam as the beam is being accelerated. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam consists essentially of protons having an energy of approximately seven (7) MeV. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said particle accelerator is a cyclotron. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the radioactive substance includes a radioisotope that emits positrons. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the radioisotope that emits positrons is a PET biomarker . 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said radiochemical synthesis subsystem is for synthesizing per run a maximum of approximately one (1) unit dose of the PET biomarker. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the approximately one (1) unit dose of the PET biomarker has a maximum activity of less than, or equal to, approximately twenty (20) mCi. 15. A system for producing a radiochemical, said system comprising: a particle accelerator for producing per run a radioactive substance having a maximum activity of less than, or equal to, approximately sixty (60) mCi; and a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip, said radiochemical synthesis subsystem for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the radiochemical. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the radioactive substance includes a positron-emitting radioisotope selected from the group consisting of carbon-11, nitrogen-13, oxygen-15, and fluorine-18. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the radioactive substance is a positron-emitting substance selected from the group consisting of [11C]CH4, [11C]CO2, [11C]CH3I, [13N]N2, [15O]O2, [18F]F-, and [18F]F2. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein said particle accelerator is for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minimum energy greater than, or equal to, five (5) MeV. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the beam consists essentially of protons having an energy of approximately seven (7) MeV. 20. The system of claim 15, wherein said particle accelerator is a cyclotron. 21. The system of claim 18, wherein said particle accelerator is a cyclotron. 22. The system of claim 15, wherein said particle accelerator includes an internal target subsystem. 23. The system of claim 20, wherein said cyclotron includes an internal target subsystem. 24. The system of claim 21, wherein said cyclotron includes an internal target subsystem. 25. The system of claim 15, wherein said particle accelerator includes a permanent magnet for directing the beam. 26. The system of claim 20, wherein said particle accelerator includes a permanent magnet for directing the beam. 27. The system of claim 15, wherein said radiochemical synthesis subsystem is for processing per run a maximum of less than, or equal to, approximately sixty (60) mCi of the radioactive substance. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the radioactive substance includes a radioisotope that emits positrons. 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the radioisotope that emits positrons is a PET biomarker. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein said radiochemical synthesis subsystem is for synthesizing per run a maximum of approximately one (1) unit dose of the PET biomarker. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the approximately one (1) unit dose of the PET biomarker has a maximum activity of less than, or equal to, approximately twenty (20) mCi. 32. A method for the producing approximately one (1) unit dose of a PET biomarker, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a particle accelerator for generating a beam of charged particles having a maximum beam power of less than, or equal to, approximately fifty (50) watts, the beam consisting essentially of particles having a minimum energy greater than, or equal to, five (5) MeV, said particle accelerator being incapable of generating a beam of charged particles having a beam power in excess of approximately fifty (50) watts; (b) generating a beam of charged particles using said particle accelerator; (c) bombarding a substance with the beam of charged particles such as to produce a radioactive substance; (d) providing a radiochemical synthesis subsystem having at least one microreactor and/or microfluidic chip, said radiochemical synthesis subsystem for receiving the radioactive substance, for receiving at least one reagent, and for synthesizing the approximately one (1) unit dose of a PET biomarker; (e) transferring the radioactive substance to said radiochemical synthesis subsystem; (f) transferring at least one reagent to said radiochemical synthesis subsystem; and (g) synthesizing the approximately one (1) unit dose of a PET biomarker, using said radiochemical synthesis subsystem.