Myocardial positron scintigraphy with short-lived /sup 82/Rb. [Dogs]

Positron-emitting 78-sec /sup 82/Rb obtained from a /sup 82/Sr (25 day) nuclide generator is used with a multicrystal positron camera for serial non-invasive myocardial scanning. Progress in application of this generator for myocardial scintigraphy from December 1974 to September 1975 is reported. Physical characteristics of the generator and scanning system were examined with the aid of phantom models. Myocardial scanning was carried out in an open chest canine myocardial infarct preparation and in normal human subjects. It is concluded that positron scintigraphy with /sup 82/Rb permits rapid non-invasive assessment of regional myocardial perfusion at intervals of several minutes.