Millons of cancer and heart disease patients around the world are treated with radioactive elements called isotopes.
 
The substance is mostly produced at nuclear facilities. Instead of a costly, dangerous nuclear reactor, isotopes are made in a cyclotron, a standard particle accelerator sold on the commercial market.

It uses magnets, not uranium, and emits radiation but in small amounts.

Now, researchers in Canada say the have developed a safe way to produce it in hospitals.  
 
Al Jazeera's Daniel Lak reports.