Technetium-99 (Tc-99m) is used tens of millions of times annually. Approximately 85% of diagnostic procedures in nuclear medicine use this radioisotope. Making it the most common radioisotope used in diagnosis. Technetium-99 is used as a radioactive tracer and is detected in the body by gamma cameras.
Technetium-99 is produced by bombarding Molybdenum with neutrons, producing Molybdenum-99. This then goes through a Beta decay with a half-life of 66 hours and produces Technetium. Technetium-99 isn't stable and therefore turns into Ruthenium-99 through more beta decay.
Technetium-99 has a half-life of only 6 hours. This makes it nearly impossible to transport to medical facilities. Therefore, it is its parent nuclide Molybdenum-99 …show more content…
This is the oxidised state of Technetium. This is appropriate for medical applications only in bone scans and sometimes thyroid scans. Other scans rely on Tc-99m, reducing agents are added to the Pertechnetate to bring the oxidised state down from +7 to +3 or 4. Ligand is then added to create a coordination complex, ligand is chosen to specify an organ to target. The exametazime complex in oxidisation can cross the blood-brain barrier and can therefore flow through the vessels of the human …show more content…
The wires are then connected to a positive voltage, which creates a strong electric field. When radiation enters the tube, it causes ionisation and the production of ions and electrons. The negative electrons are attracted to the positive wire and then collide with more molecules on the way. This then causes a chain reaction. Due to this reaction, a large number of electrons reach the wire causing pule of electricity that can be measured by a meter or heard as a click on an amplifier. The Geiger-muller is a hand-held radiation instrument survey that detects alpha, beta and gamma rays. However, it cannot differentiate between the radiation types, it also cannot measure high radiation rates due to dead time of tube resting with quencher