Medical radioisotopes and methods for producing the same

摘要

This disclosure concerns a new method for preparing radioisotopes, such as molybdenum-99, by alpha particle irradiation, such as by alpha particle irradiation of zirconium-96. Molybdenum-99 is a precursor to the medically-significant radioisotope technetium-99m. Also disclosed are novel compositions containing one or more of technetium-99m, molybdenum-99 and zirconium species. Systems for producing molybdenum-99 and technetium-99m, including alpha particle generators and irradiation targets, also are described.