rubidium-82
Rb-82 — cardiac PET perfusion tracer. Generator-produced from strontium-82 parent (~25-day half-life in generator); very short half-life (~75 seconds) in the patient. Behaves as a potassium analog, taken up by myocardium proportional to perfusion.
Why it matters to buyers: Enables cardiac PET without an on-site cyclotron — generator-elution model. Higher throughput than FDG cardiac (short half-life means rapid stress / rest sequencing). Generator vendors: Bracco CardioGen-82, Jubilant RUBY-FILL.
Why it matters to engineers: Requires Rb-82 generator on-site — separate capital, dedicated infusion line, shielded cart, NRC license amendment. Generator weight ~80 lb; site planning often underestimated. Generator-supply continuity is a program-level concern (small-set manufacturer chain).