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radioactive_giraffe t1_j6zc8sg wrote

Radiochemist here. Tc-99m is a so-called generator produced isotope. It is a decay product of Mo-99 (half-life 66h) which is produced via fission of U-235 (around 6% of the fission products is Mo-99). Mo-99 is separated from U-235 and afterwards bound to a stationary/solid phase. There it decays constantly to Tc-99m. Due to the different chemical nature of Mo and Tc you can easily elute the Tc-99m for preparation of the radiopharmaceutical. Hospitals have these Mo-99/Tc-99m generators on site and elute them every day. As the Mo-99 decays these generators needs to be replaced after 1-2 weeks. After elution of the Tc-99m the radiopharmaceutical is then usually prepared via a kit. It is like a pre-made mix where you just need to add the Tc-99m, shake for a minute and it's ready to use for patients.

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Medphysto t1_j7180gj wrote

Nuclear physicist here. This guy has the right answer. I can add that these generators are compact in size (though heavy because of radiation shielding) and can be delivered to the hospital with fresh Mo-99 inside. The old generators with depleted Mo-99 are picked up when the new generators are delivered. The extraction of the Tc-99m can be done within the hospital. It actually gets sucked out of the generator with special syringes that have been manufactured with a defined underpressure inside and the first thing to do with a new generator after this sucking process (called elution) is to check it for Mo-99 contamination. Only <1% of Mo-99 is allowed (where I live, ymmv).

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navigationallyaided t1_j7144iy wrote

I was gonna ask, didn’t DuPont market a technium generator a long time ago for hospitals to use?

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