radionuclide generator

ra·di·o·nu·clide gen·er·a·tor

a column containing a large amount of a particular radionuclide (mother radionuclide) that decays down to a second radionuclide of shorter physical half-life; the daughter radionuclide is separated from the parent by the process of elution and affords a continuing supply of relatively short-lived radionuclides for laboratory use; the elution is loosely termed "milking" with the generator referred to as a "radioactive cow."

ra·di·o·nu·clide gen·er·a·tor

(rā'dē-ō-nū'klīd jen'ĕr-ā-tŏr) A column containing a large amount of a particular radionuclide (mother radionuclide) that decays down to a second radionuclide with shorter physical half-life; the daughter radionuclide is separated from the parent by the process of elution and affords a continuing supply of relatively short-lived radionuclides for laboratory use; the elution is loosely termed "milking," with the generator referred to as a "radioactive cow."

ra·di·o·nu·clide gen·er·a·tor

(rā'dē-ō-nū'klīd jen'ĕr-ā-tŏr) A column containing a large amount of a particular radionuclide (mother radionuclide) that decays to a second radionuclide with shorter physical half-life.