Target Delivery System (TDS)

Through our collaboration with Laurentis Energy Partners, a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), we have designed specialized tooling, known as the Target Delivery System, to increase the production of this life-saving medical isotope at OPG’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.

Quick Facts:

• Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is used to produce Technetium-99 metastable (Tc-99m), one of the most prevalently used diagnostic imaging agents in nuclear medicine to help detect illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Mo-99 is used in over 40 million procedures a year to detect cancers and diagnose various medical conditions around the world.
• Because of the unique design of CANDU® reactors, medical isotopes can be produced without interrupting the generation of clean energy.

• Our collaboration will be capable of producing enough Mo-99 to supply a significant portion of the current and future North American demand.
• Historically, Mo-99 has been produced within research reactors using uranium as a starting material. Alternatively, our Tc-99m generator will be produced using natural molybdenum targets irradiated at Darlington Nuclear, greatly reducing waste by-products.
• In the future, the Target Delivery System at OPG’s Darlington site may be used to produce other medical isotopes.