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.