June 18, 2008 – Bracco Diagnostics showcased its Cardiac PET Perfusion Imaging with CardioGen-82, a Rubidium Rb 82 generator and emphasized the advantages of cardiac PET Perfusion Imaging over the current SPECT, at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 55th Annual Meeting.
The Rb-82/Sr-82 generator, which is FDA cleared, has Sr-82 on the column. When Sr-82 decays, it decays to a new daughter product called Rb-82. The physical half-life for Rb-82 is 75 seconds, which allows for an efficient protocol. By the time the imaging is completed for the rest portion (approximately 6 minutes), stress can follow immediately and then the stress images can be acquired (approximately 6 minutes). The study can be completed in approximately 40-45 minutes.
Key features of Rb-82 are that it has properties similar to Thallium-201 (Tl-201). Rb-82 acts as a potassium analog, allowing for a high extraction fraction at high flow rates. Defects are visualized within 2 – 7 minutes after injection. Due to the short T_ (75 seconds), both sets of images can be acquired using the same sized dose. A new 100 mCi generator arrives every 28 days. Fixed pricing allows many patients to be performed in a day without the hassle of ordering unit doses. All studies are performed under pharmacologic stress (e.g., adenosine, dipyridamole, or dobutamine)
Some of the advantages of cardiac PET Perfusion Imaging over the current SPECT, according to the company are: improved efficiency; lower radiation; exposure; less attenuation artifacts; and improved resolution.
For more information: www.bracco.com
October 28, 2026 
