Medical radioisotope generator. This device is used to generate the short-lived radioactive isotope technetium-99m (Tc-99m) for use in diagnostic medical techniques. The device contains the more stable element molybdenum-99 (a byproduct of fission in nuclear reactors),which decays to produce Tc-99m. Tc-99m is useful because its half- life of 6 hours is long enough to measure metabolic processes,but short enough to minimise the patient's radiation exposure. The low-energy gamma rays it emits escape the body without being absorbed,and can be accurately detected by a gamma camera (gamma scintigraphy). Photographed at a hospital in London,UK | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Bond, Martin |
Taille de l’image : | 3397 px × 4176 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |