A radionuclide generator and infusion system for pharmaceutical quality Rb-82

The short lived positron-emitter Rb-82 (t 1/2=1.26m) has potential application in cardiovascular diagnostic nuclear medicine. A generator system containing the parent Sr-82 has been developed that will provide an eluate of Rb-82 suitable for direct infusion. The Rb-82 is eluted by a syringe pump from a hydrous stannic oxide column in a continuous stream of physiological saline solution. The rate of elution (infusion) can be controlled from 10 to 100 ml/ min. At elution rates of 25, 50, and 75 ml/min, 100% of label potency (Rb-82 activity divided by Sr-82 activity X 100) is delivered in 47, 51, and 57 ml, respectively. At these same elution rates the peak of Rb-82 activity (bolus) emerges in 45 sec, 22 sec, and 15 sec, respectively. The breakthrough of Sr-82 is typically less than 1 x 10-5 uCi Sr-82/ml/mCi Rb-82 in 50 ml. A positron sensitive detector monitors and integrates the eluted activity. This instrument may be set to select any fraction of the eluate activity for administration and to terminate the delivery at any preset dose