Osmium191m

Osmium-191m is a radioactive isotope of osmium. Its nucleus consists of 76 protons and 115 neutrons, for a total atomic mass number of 191. The "m" in its designation indicates that it is a metastable nuclear isomer, meaning it exists in an excited energy state and will eventually decay to a lower energy state, releasing energy in the process.

The primary decay mode of osmium-191m is gamma emission. It decays to osmium-191, a stable isotope, with the emission of gamma rays. The half-life of osmium-191m is approximately 15.5 days. This relatively short half-life makes it useful in certain applications where a short-lived radioactive source is desired.

Osmium-191m has found limited use in nuclear medicine as a radiotracer for imaging. Due to its gamma ray emission, it can be detected by imaging devices. However, its clinical application is not widespread compared to other commonly used radioisotopes. Research has explored its potential in diagnostic procedures, but practical implementation has been constrained by factors such as availability and the development of alternative imaging agents. The primary concern in medical applications is the radiation dose delivered to the patient.