Technetium Generator with clear cover, England, 1993

Amertech II technetium generator, with clear plastic exterior to allow visualisation of all working parts. model. Made in 1993 by Amersham International Plc.

Radioactive isotopes are used for a number of nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. These include radio-imaging to detect carcinomas and tumours. A technetium generator extracts a radioactive isotope – in this case Technetium-99m (99mTc). This is used in diagnostic investigations. But as 99mTc has a half-life of only six hours, it has to be produced just before it is injected into a patient.

The ‘Amertech II’ technetium generator is made by pharmaceutical company Amersham International. It specialises in medical diagnostics and life science products. The demonstration model on the right (1998-636) has a transparent outer case to show the internal parts. It is shown with a production model (998-635) on the left.