Meaning of moly cow | Babel Free

Definitions

A device used to extract from a source of decaying molybdenum-99 the metastable isotope ⁹⁹ᵐTc of technetium, which is the most commonly used medical radioisotope.

informal

Examples

“When the ⁹⁹Tcₘ isotope is needed for medical imaging purposes, it has to be created on the spot because its half-life is only six hours. This is done using a device filled with longer-lived ⁹⁹Mo, which decays into ⁹⁹Tcₘ, continually replenishing the supply⟳ within the device. Because the process⟳ of removing the accumulated ⁹⁹Tcₘ is called "milking", the device is informally known as a "moly cow."”

“The radioactive isotope molybdenum-99 (half-life of 66 hours) decays to generate⟳ technetium-99m, which has a half-life of only six hours and is used in hospitals for medical imaging. The technetium isotope collects in various parts of the body, in particular bone. Scanners detect⟳ the radiation from the isotope to create⟳ an image, enabling diagnosis. The process⟳ uses a device that is filled with Mo-99, which decays into Tc-99m, forming a continuous supply⟳ that is ‘milked off’. The device is nicknamed the ‘moly cow’.”

“Clearly, transporting the daughter in equilibrium with the parent is a more economical, safer, and environmentally friendlier approach⟳. This is the reason⟳ that "technetium generators," dubbed "moly cows," are transported around the globe instead of the ⁹⁹ᵐTc isotope.”

CEFR level