Osmium-191 → iridium-191m radionuclide generator: development and clinical application. Progress report, March 1, 1981-February 28, 1982

A prototype osmium-191 (T 1/2 = 16 days) → iridium-191m (T 1/2 = 4.9 seconds) generator designed for first pass radionuclide angiography was developed in our laboratory (Os-191 → Ir-191m). Our generator had 14 to 20% Ir-191m yield and a 1 to 3 x 10-3% Os-191 breakthrough. Iridium-191m decays with emission of a 65 and a 129 keV photon in 50% and 25% abundance respectively. This radionuclide is advantageous for angiography since it provides higher photon flux and results in much lower radiation dose to the patient than Tc-99m. One objective of this research is to improve the Os-191 → Ir-191m generator for first pass radionuclide angiography at an increase in the Ir-191m yield and a decrease in the Os-191 breakthrough. In addition, we would like to develop an Os-191 → Ir-191m generator for continuous infusion which will be used for ECG gated blood pool ventriculography, venography, and arteriography. Another approach will be to develop a carrier free Os-191 → Ir-191m generator in combination with organic or inorganic exchangers. Iridium-191m from our current generator has been employed successfully in two patient studies for the quantitation left-to-right shunting and the measurement of right and left ventricular ejection fractions. These types of studies will be expanded and further evaluated