Thermoluminescent dosimetry readout apparatus

Claim 2

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means comprising a four-decade counter associated with four display tubes for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal form; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-topulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification by a factor of ten in up to five steps to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; and j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 and further comprising thermocouple means adapted to sense the temperature of said heating elements and means for indicating the temperature sensed by said thermocouple.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 in combination with recorder means for permanently recording the light emitted from the materials and sensed by the photomultiplier and for simultaneously recording the temperature sensed by the thermocouple means, and means for activating said recorder means only during a preset readout cycle.

Claim 5

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal form; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-to-pulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating; k. thermocouple means adapted to sense the temperature of said heating elements but maintained remote from said heating elements until said insertion mechanism reaches a predetermined location at which time said thermocouple is brought near said heating elements; and l. means for indicating the temperature sensed by said thermocouple.

Claim 6

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal form; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-to-pulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating; k. thermocouple means adapted to sense the temperature of said heating elements but maintained remote from said heating elements until said insertion mechanism reaches a predetermined location at which time said thermocouple is brought near said heating elements; and l. means for indicating the temperature sensed by said thermocouple.

Claim 7

The invention as recited in claim 4 and further comprising means to permanently print the temperature sensed by said thermocouple.

Claim 8

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal form; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-to-pulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating; and k. external programmable timer means whose program is readily adapted for particular needs.

Claim 9

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal form; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-to-pulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating; and k. external programmable timer means whose program is readily adapted for particular needs.

Claim 10

The device as recited in claim 6 in combination with recorder means for permanently recording the light emitted from the materials and sensed by the photomultiplier means, and means for activating said recorder means only during a preset readout cycle.

Claim 11

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal fOrm; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-to-pulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating; and k. data handling means for the entry of an identification code.

Claim 12

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal fOrm; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-to-pulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating; and k. data handling means for the entry of an identification code.

Claim 13

The device of claim 8, wherein said identification code is manually entered in said data handling means.

Claim 14

The device of claim 8, wherein said identification code is entered in said data handling means in response to a set of indicia on an identification card.

Claim 15

The device of claim 8 and further comprising printer means for printing said identification code with data indicative of the light detected by said photomultiplier means.

Claim 16

The device of claim 11 and further comprising means to automatically initiate said printer means at the conclusion of a measurement cycle.

Claim 17

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal form; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-to-pulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating; k. thermocouple means adapted to sense the temperature of said heating elements; l. means for indicating the temperature sensed by said thermocouple; m. data handling means for the entry of an identification code; and n. printer means for printing said identification code with data indicative of the light detected by said photomultiplier means and with data indicative of the temperature sensed by said thermocouple means.

Claim 18

A thermoluminescence dosimetry readout apparatus for the measurement of radiation dose absorbed in thermoluminescent materials and comprising: a. manually operated sample insertion means including removable and reusable heating elements for accepting loose phosphor powder, solid phosphor-Teflon dosimeters and other solid dosimeters of various geometric forms; b. variable constant current heat control means for adjusting the heating rate and the maximum temperature of said heating elements through ranges required for emission of thermoluminescence of the various phosphors and dosimeters; c. photomultiplier means for detecting the light emitted from said materials; d. current-to-frequency converter means for converting the photomultiplier output current into a train of pulses, the pulse frequency of which is proportional to the current; e. counter means for accumulating the pulses and presenting the result on the display tubes and further presenting the result in binary coded decimal form; f. automatic range changing means actuated by the saturation of the counter for reducing the sensitivity of the current-to-pulse converter and thereby extending the range by a set factor; g. current amplifier means for providing an output current proportional to the photomultiplier output current and including automatic range switches for reducing the amplification to maintain the output within specific limits; h. internal programmed timing control means for automatically sequencing the apparatus operation; i. power supply means for energizing the apparatus; j. means to pass an inert gas over the material during heating; k. thermocouple means adapted to sense the temperature of said heating elements; l. means for indicating the temperature sensed by said thermocouple; m. data handling means for the entry of an identification code; and n. printer means for printing said identification code with data indicative of the light detected by said photomultiplier means and with data indicative of the temperature sensed by said thermocouple means.

Claim 19

A thermoluminescence dosimetry system for rapid routine dosimetry and including a basic unit comprising: photomultiplier tube means, means to dispose thermoluminescent material that has been exposed to radiation in an optically coupled relation to said photomultiplier tube means, means to heat said thermoluminescent material to release light as a function of the radiation to which said material has been exposed, analog to digital converter means operatively connected to receive current from the photomultiplier tube and convert said current to a pulse train, the pulSe frequency of which is directly proportional to said current, means to count said pulse train, and means to display said count on a plurality of decimal indicator tubes; and further including: temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of the heating means, program means for automatically controlling the operation of said basic unit, data handling means for providing a readout of an identification number associated with a particular dosimeter, and printer means for permanently recording said identification number, a dose reading and a maximum temperature reading from which correct operation may be inferred.

Claim 20

A thermoluminescence dosimetry system for rapid routine dosimetry and including a basic unit comprising: photomultiplier tube means, means to dispose thermoluminescent material that has been exposed to radiation in an optically coupled relation to said photomultiplier tube means, means to heat said thermoluminescent material to release light as a function of the radiation to which said material has been exposed, analog to digital converter means operatively connected to receive current from the photomultiplier tube and convert said current to a pulse train, the pulSe frequency of which is directly proportional to said current, means to count said pulse train, and means to display said count on a plurality of decimal indicator tubes; and further including: temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of the heating means, program means for automatically controlling the operation of said basic unit, data handling means for providing a readout of an identification number associated with a particular dosimeter, and printer means for permanently recording said identification number, a dose reading and a maximum temperature reading from which correct operation may be inferred.