Medical radioisotope generator. This device is used to generate the short-lived radioactive isotope technetium-99m (Tc-99m) for use in diagnostic medi

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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.

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Size: 3397px × 4176px
Photo credit: © MARTIN BOND/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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