US 11,747,495 B2 · Systems and methods for emulating scintillation events using an electronic test source

Abstract

Presented herein are systems and methods that provide for calibration and/or testing of liquid scintillation counters (LSCs) using an electronic test source. In certain embodiments, the electronic test source described herein provides for emission of emulated radioactive event test pulses that emulate light pulses produced by a scintillator as a result of radioactive decay of a variety of different kinds of radioactive emitters (e.g., beta, alpha, and gamma emitters). Additionally, in certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein provide for the emission of emulated background light (e.g., luminescence and after-pulses) from the electronic test source. The emulated radioactive event test pulses and, optionally, emulated background light can be used for the calibration and/or testing of LSCs, in place of hazardous radioactive material and/or volatile chemicals. Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein dramatically improve the calibration and/or testing of liquid scintillation counters.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for calibrating and/or testing one or more high voltage settings of a liquid scintillation counter using an electronic test source, the method comprising:

(a) generating, from a pulse LED of the electronic test source, a plurality of emulated radioactive event test pulses, the plurality of emulated radioactive event test pulses comprising one or more beta test pulses, each having a light pulse shape that emulates a light pulse shape produced by a scintillator as a result of radioactive decay of a beta emitter;
(b) adjusting an intensity of the one or more of beta test pulses to produce a distribution of intensities that emulates a carbon-14 (14C) spectrum, thereby generating an emulated 14C spectrum;
(c) detecting, by one or more detectors of the liquid scintillation counter, the emulated 14C spectrum;
and
(d) calibrating and/or testing the one or more high voltage settings of the liquid scintillation counter based on the detected emulated 14C spectrum.

2 more elements

A method for calibrating and/or testing Time-Resolved Liquid Scintillation Counting (TRLSC) electronics and/or software of a liquid scintillation counter using an electronic test source, the method comprising:

(a) generating, from a pulse LED of the electronic test source, a plurality of emulated radioactive event test pulses, wherein each emulated radioactive event test pulse is of a kind selected from the group consisting of:
(A) a beta test pulse having a light pulse shape that emulates a light pulse shape produced by a scintillator as a result of radioactive decay of a beta emitter;
(B) an alpha test pulse having a light pulse shape that emulates a light pulse shape produced by a scintillator as a result of radioactive decay of an alpha emitter;
and
(C) a gamma test pulse having a light pulse shape that emulates a light pulse shape produced by a scintillator as a result of radioactive decay of a gamma emitter;
(b) generating, following generation of a primary test pulse of the plurality of emulated radioactive event test pulse, a plurality of emulated after-pulses associated with the primary test pulse;
(c) detecting, by one or more detectors of the liquid scintillation counter, the primary test pulse and associated emulated after-pulses;
and
(d) calibrating and/or testing the Time-Resolved Liquid Scintillation Counting (TRLSC) electronics and/or software of the liquid scintillation counter based on the detected primary test pulse and associated emulated after-pulses.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for emulating scintillation events using an electronic test source

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for emulating scintillation events using an electronic test source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20