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"My other big development is a system to produce medical isotopes that are injected into patients and used to diagnose and treat cancer. It’s a design that cos
by anonymouz 14y ago
"My other big development is a system to produce medical isotopes that are injected into patients and used to diagnose and treat cancer. It’s a design that costs less than $100,000 and wheels right into a hospital room—replacing multimillion-dollar, warehouse-size facilities."
I can see how a low price is attractive. But why bring the isotope source into a hospital room? Seems to be better placed in a warehouse...
- cmckay 14y agoThese isotopes have limited (and sometimes quite short) lifetimes. Bringing them closer to the patients means that they can be produced in smaller quantities on an as needed basis, and reduces the necessary infrastructure to transport them.
- marvin 14y agoIs it correct that this is the kind of stuff used for PET scans? I didn't read the article, but my radiology friend told me that they create semi-custom isotopes for PET scans.
- marksbrown 14y agoPET (for oncology at least) typically uses 18-FDG, a glucose analog. Unfortunately has a short half life requiring facilities to be close to the source.