US3898460A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and apparatus for converting liquid beta radiation scintillation counter to gamma radiation counter
Assignee: Saint Gobain Ceramics and Plastics Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-01
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1994-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus are disclosed for converting a conventional beta radiation liquid scintillation counter to detect gamma radiation. Special mini-size counting vials are employed of the same size as those used in the detection of beta radiation but such vials detect gamma radiation, which is measured by the beta radiation liquid scintillation counter. These mini-size counting vials have relatively thin walls formed from scintillation crystal chips of an alkali metal halide and are preferably covered by and embedded in a polynuclear aromatic compound.
Inventors
- 👤 John E Noakes
- 👤 Julious M Menefee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T7/00; G01T7/08; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/202; G01T1/204; G01T1/2042; G01T1/2047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a liquid scintillation process for assaying samples emitting beta radiation wherein a series of glass vials, which contain a scintillation solution are fed in sequence from a sample changer to a small vial-receiving chamber located adjacent the photomultiplier tubes of a beta-ray spectrometer, whereby each vial is optically coupled to said photomultiplier tubes for measurement of beta radiation, the steps which comprise placing a large number of different samples of material which emit gamma rays in a multiplicity of special counting vials of a size to fit in said vial-receiving chamber, feeding saId special vials to said chamber of said spectrometer from said sample changer, and measuring and recording the gamma radiation from said samples as indicated by said spectrometer, each of said special vials having a peripheral wall formed of scintillation means including inorganic crystals having an effective response to gamma radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a liquid scintillation process for assaying samples emitting beta radiation wherein a series of glass vials, which contain a scintillation solution are fed in sequence from a sample changer to a small vial-receiving chamber located adjacent the photomultiplier tubes of a beta-ray spectrometer, whereby each vial is optically coupled to said photomultiplier tubes for measurement of beta radiation, the steps which comprise placing a large number of different samples of material which emit gamma rays in a multiplicity of special counting vials of a size to fit in said vial-receiving chamber, feeding saId special vials to said chamber of said spectrometer from said sample changer, and measuring and recording the gamma radiation from said samples as indicated by said spectrometer, each of said special vials having a peripheral wall formed of scintillation means including inorganic crystals having an effective response to gamma radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a liquid scintillation process wherein a series of samples are assayed in a beta-ray spectrometer having a small vial-receiving chamber located adjacent a photomultiplier tube and having a sample changer for feeding diminutive glass vials to said chamber in a predetermined sequence, the steps which comprise supporting on said sample changer a large number of special diminutive vials of a size to fit in said chamber, feeding said special vials from said sample changer to said chamber in a predetermined sequence, and measuring on said beta-ray spectrometer the gamma radiation from different samples in said special vials, each of said special vials having an axially elongated main body portion with an upper central sample-receiving recess and a peripheral wall surrounding said recess, said body portion being formed of scintillation means responsive to gamma radiation and formed of inorganic scintillation crystals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a liquid scintillation process wherein a series of samples are assayed in a beta-ray spectrometer having a small vial-receiving chamber located adjacent a photomultiplier tube and having a sample changer for feeding diminutive glass vials to said chamber in a predetermined sequence, the steps which comprise supporting on said sample changer a large number of special diminutive vials of a size to fit in said chamber, feeding said special vials from said sample changer to said chamber in a predetermined sequence, and measuring on said beta-ray spectrometer the gamma radiation from different samples in said special vials, each of said special vials having an axially elongated main body portion with an upper central sample-receiving recess and a peripheral wall surrounding said recess, said body portion being formed of scintillation means responsive to gamma radiation and formed of inorganic scintillation crystals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 2 in which the body portion comprises inorganic scintillation crystals covered by an organic scintillator having a molecular structure favorable to fluorescence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 3 in which said organic scintillation comprises a light-transmitting polymer having recurring resonant aromatic groups.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3 in which said organic scintillator comprises a fluorescent polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 2 in which said main body portion contains a large number of pieces of the inorganic scintillation crystals embedded in and distributed through a matrix comprising a fluorescent polynuclear aromatic compound having at least two benzene rings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a liquid scintillation beta-ray spectrometer having a small vial-receiving chamber located adjacent photomultiplier tubes of an electronic counting circuit and having a sample changer with means for feeding hundreds of diminutive glass beta-counting vials one at a time to said chamber in a predetermined sequence, a large number of special diminutive gamma-counting vials, each having an axially elongated main body with an upper sample-receiving recess surrounded by a peripheral wall formed of inorganic scintillating crystals having an effective response to gamma radiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a liquid scintillation beta-ray spectrometer having a small vial-receiving chamber located adjacent photomultiplier tubes of an electronic counting circuit and having a sample changer with means for feeding hundreds of diminutive glass beta-counting vials one at a time to said chamber in a predetermined sequence, a large number of special diminutive gamma-counting vials, each having an axially elongated main body with an upper sample-receiving recess surrounded by a peripheral wall formed of inorganic scintillating crystals having an effective response to gamma radiation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said main body of each special vial is formed of a large number of pieces of said crystals and is surrounded by a thin casing having a transparent glass portion to permit optical coupling of the fluorescing crystals and the photomultiplier tubes when the vial is located in said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which the main body of each gamma-counting vial is formed of a metal-activated alkali metal iodide and said main body has a thin metal layer at the inner surface of said sample-receiving recess and a glass layer at the outer peripheral surface of said body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said main body is surrounded by a thin transparent elongated sleeve of low-potassium glass having a diameter from about 2 to about 3 centimeters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which each special vial comprises an externally cylindrical axially elongated main body having an upper cylindrical recess with a volume of at least about 4 cubic centimeters and a cylindrical peripheral wall portion surrounding said recess, a low-potassium glass sleeve of a size to fit the external surface of said main body extending the full length of said body, a bottom wall closing and sealing the bottom end of said vial, and a cover layer shaped to conform to said recess and having a thickness less than 1 millimeter, said cover layer covering the upper end of said peripheral wall and cloSing and sealing the upper end of said vial to exclude moisture from said main body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which said sleeve is formed of quartz glass; said main body is molded of a large number of pieces of thallium-activated alkali-metal iodide scintillation crystals covered by an aromatic polycyclic organic scintillator having a molecular ring structure favorable to fluorescence from gamma radiation and a gamma pulse height at least 20 percent of that of anthracene; and a photon-reflecting agent is sealed within the vial at opposite ends of said main body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a liquid beta-ray scintillation spectrometer having a small vial-receiving chamber of a size to receive mini-size counting vials, closely spaced opposed photomultiplier tubes at opposite sides of said chamber and contiguous thereto, an automatic sample changer for feeding vials one at a time to said chamber, said sample changer containing a large number of gamma-ray counting vials, each of the latter vials having an upper central sample-receiving recess with a volume of at least 4 cubic centimeters surrounded by a circumferential wall of narrow cross section formed of scintillation means having an effective response to gamma radiation, said scintillation means comprising alkali metal halide crystals containing a metal impurity as an activator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a liquid beta-ray scintillation spectrometer having a small vial-receiving chamber of a size to receive mini-size counting vials, closely spaced opposed photomultiplier tubes at opposite sides of said chamber and contiguous thereto, an automatic sample changer for feeding vials one at a time to said chamber, said sample changer containing a large number of gamma-ray counting vials, each of the latter vials having an upper central sample-receiving recess with a volume of at least 4 cubic centimeters surrounded by a circumferential wall of narrow cross section formed of scintillation means having an effective response to gamma radiation, said scintillation means comprising alkali metal halide crystals containing a metal impurity as an activator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a liquid soft-beta scintillation spectrometer having a vial-receiving chamber of a size to receive vials with an external diameter of from about 2 to about 3 centimeters, closely spaced opposed photomultiplier tubes at opposite sides of said chamber, and an automatic sample changer for feeding vials one at a time to said chamber, a vertically elongated vial of a size to fit in said chamber, said vial having an upper central sample-receiving recess with a volume of from about 4 to about 15 cubic centimeters surrounded by a clear circumferential wall of narrow cross section having an axial length at least eight times its radial thickness, said circumferential wall being formed of scintillation means responsive to gamma radiation, said scintillation means comprising alkali metal halide crystals containing an activator metal, said crystals being completely covered to exclude moisture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a liquid soft-beta scintillation spectrometer having a vial-receiving chamber of a size to receive vials with an external diameter of from about 2 to about 3 centimeters, closely spaced opposed photomultiplier tubes at opposite sides of said chamber, and an automatic sample changer for feeding vials one at a time to said chamber, a vertically elongated vial of a size to fit in said chamber, said vial having an upper central sample-receiving recess with a volume of from about 4 to about 15 cubic centimeters surrounded by a clear circumferential wall of narrow cross section having an axial length at least eight times its radial thickness, said circumferential wall being formed of scintillation means responsive to gamma radiation, said scintillation means comprising alkali metal halide crystals containing an activator metal, said crystals being completely covered to exclude moisture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vial for measuring gamma radiation in a liquid scintillation spectrometer, said vial having a vertically elongated peripheral wall of narrow radial cross section having an external diameter from about 2 to about 3 centimeters and being formed of inorganic scintillation crystals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vial for measuring gamma radiation in a liquid scintillation spectrometer, said vial having a vertically elongated peripheral wall of narrow radial cross section having an external diameter from about 2 to about 3 centimeters and being formed of inorganic scintillation crystals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A gamma-ray vial according to claim 15 having an internal cavity with a volume of from about 4 to about 15 cubic centimeters.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A gamma-ray vial according to claim 16 in which said peripheral wall is substantially transparent, is formed of alkali metal halide crystals containing an activator metal, and has a radial thickness of from about 2 to about 5 millimeters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A gamma-ray vial according to claim 17 in which alkali metal iodide particles are embedded in and distributed through a matrix comprising an organic scintillator having a molecular structure favorable to fluorescence including a plurality of benzene rings.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vial according to claim 18 in which said matrix comprises a solid polyvinyl resin having recurring resonant aromatic groups.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vial according to claim 19 in which said polyvinyl resin contains a solute fluor comprising an organic scintillator having a plurality of benzene groups.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vial according to claim 18 in which said matrix comprises a solid polynuclear aromatic scintillator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A gamma-ray vial according to claim 16 in which said inorganic scintillation crystals are surrounded by an axially elongated annular transparent glass sleeve having a radial thickness from about 0.8 millimeter to about 2 millimeters.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vial according to claim 22 in which the inner surface of said peripheral wall and the bottom of said internal cavity are covered by a Water-impervious layer having a thickness less than 1 millimeter which allows gamma radiation to pass from the sample to said crystals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
87 words
A vial for measuring gamma radiation comprising a generally cylindrical outer glass wall with a diameter of from about 2 to about 3 centimeters and a radial thickness no greater than about 2 millimeters, a main body within said glass wall having formed therein an upper sample-receiving chamber with a volume of from about 4 to about 15 cubic centimeters, said body being formed of scintillation means comprising inorganic crystals having an effective response to gamma radiation, and means for closing the bottom end of said vial.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
87 words
A vial for measuring gamma radiation comprising a generally cylindrical outer glass wall with a diameter of from about 2 to about 3 centimeters and a radial thickness no greater than about 2 millimeters, a main body within said glass wall having formed therein an upper sample-receiving chamber with a volume of from about 4 to about 15 cubic centimeters, said body being formed of scintillation means comprising inorganic crystals having an effective response to gamma radiation, and means for closing the bottom end of said vial.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A gamma-ray vial according to claim 24 in which said scintillation means comprises a large number of pieces of an alkali-metal iodide activated with thallium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A gamma-ray vial according to claim 25 in which the inner surface of said sample-receiving chamber is covered with a water-impervious sheet having a thickness less than 1 millimeter.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vial according to claim 24 in which said body is completely covered to prevent entrance of moisture.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
53 words
A gamma-ray vial according to claim 24 in which said body is formed of a large number of pieces of thallium-activated sodium iodide crystals embedded in a matrix comprising an organic scintillator having a cyclic molecular structure favorable to fluorescence and a gamma pulse height at least 20 percent of that of anthracene.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |