Abstract: A generator of radionuclides comprises a generator column (10) containing the radionuclide and provided with an inlet (12) and an outlet (14) for eluent, first and second reservoirs (16, 18) for eluent, and connecting means for passing a pre-determined column of eluent from the second reservoir through the generator column. A part defining the second reservoir, which part may be the second reservoir itself, is rotatable to determine the volume of eluent passed through the column. The second reservoir is preferably shaped as a sector of a cylinder rotatable around a horizontal axis.The generator is well suited for vacuum elution of a variable pre-determined volume of eluent into a single size collection vial with subsequent drying of the generator column.

Abstract: A generator of radionuclides such as technetium-99m comprises a generator column (10) containing the radionuclide, a first reservoir (16) for eluent, a second reservoir (18) to contain a volume of the eluent required for a single elution, and a vessel 40 to contain eluate. First, a pre-set volume of eluent is transferred from the first to the second reservoir; then the eluent is sucked from the second reservoir through the column into the eluate vessel. A hydrophobic filter 32 adjacent the second reservoir (18) permits the use of air to dry the column (10) and to bring the partly filled eluate vessel (40) to atmospheric pressure.