Activity 3.3 - Tracing substances in the human body

Learning Aims:

To explain which type of radioactive materials can be used in nuclear imaging
To explain why Technetium 99m is suitable for nuclear imaging
To specify the main elements of a gamma camera

Materials:

A computer with internet connection

Suggestions for use:

Here students learn how radioactive materials are used in nuclear imaging and how they are detected.

In activity 1 students identify properties of radioactive materials suitable for nuclear tracing. In activity 2 they explore Technetium 99m, a radioactive material often used in nuclear tracing. In activity 3 they learn more about Technetium 99m, about its decay, the way of producing and preparing for use in medicine. In activity 4 they learn the basic ideas of gamma cameras and PET scans.

This activity is quite full of facts and inquiry based approach is here quite limited. On the other side this activity gives a good opportunity to link to the medical industry. A good addition here, activity 5, would be an excursion to a hospital, which has a nuclear imaging department or inviting to school a person working at such department (there are few professions involved). In both cases students should prepare interview questions and after the excursion/visit write a report. (A worksheet for this activity is not provided).

Possible questions:

What kind of radioactive materials can be suitable for nuclear imaging?
What are radiopharmaceuticals?
What is Technetium 99m?
How is Technetium 99m produced?
How is Technetium 99m stored?
How are radiopharmaceuticals injected into a body detected?
What is a PET scan?