University of Alberta cyclotron could supply province's demand for medical isotopes

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University of Alberta scientists have taken a critical step towards supplying Alberta's demand for medical isotopes. Their newly published findings could have major implications for other health jurisdictions across North America as well.

Researchers at the university's Medical Isotope and Cyclotron Facility used a particle accelerator to produce enough isotopes for up to 1,000 diagnostic procedures in a day.

The development comes in the wake of the closure last March of the Chalk River nuclear reactor, which was one of two major producers in the world of technetium-99m, the major medical isotope used for diagnostic procedures.

With new radioactive isotopes increasingly in demand for PET imaging around the world, the researchers believe cyclotron technology gives a capability that ultimately provides the best health care for patients.

To read more please visit: https://phys.org/news/2018-05-university-alberta-cyclotron-province-demand.html#jCp 

Source: Phys.org