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AssigneeSaint-Gobain/Norton Industrial Ceramics Corporation
InventorsRiad A. Tawil, Philip M. Pontikos, Kenneth J. Velbeck, Joseph E. Rotunda
Estimating the term…
A dosimeter product that simplifies the process of dosimetry in medical diagnosis, therapy and other fields where high precision is needed. The dosimeter product is obtained by a unique training method which stabilizes the sensitivity of the dosimeter. Stability in sensitivity is established by a combination of high temperature cyclical annealing and low temperature furnace annealing. After the sensitivity of the dosimeters is stabilized, the dosimeters are then calibrated by generating for every dosimeter within a group element correction coefficients (ECCs) that compensate for the differences in sensitivity among the group of the dosimeters, bringing the sensitivity of each dosimeter to the sensitivity of the mean of the population. The result is a group of precalibrated dosimeters with stable sensitivity that are ready to use with established correction factors for individual TL response differences. This eliminates, among other things, the need for the end user to track individual dosimeters and to maintain annealing furnaces and fixtures. The dosimeters may be used to perform radiation dosimetry wherein the dosimeters are exposed to radiation after which the TL response of the dosimeter is read out. Accordingly, there is provided a dosimetry system comprising a dosimeter produced in accordance with the invention and a TLD reader for reading the TL response of the dosimeter. Also provided are an annealing tray and holder assembly useful in carrying out the method of the invention, a quench block and a storage case.
A method of stabilizing the sensitivity of a thermoluminescent dosimeter comprising the step of cyclically annealing the dosimeter by repeatedly annealing the dosimeter for at least ten cycles, while allowing the dosimeter to cool after each anneal and without any irradiation of the dosimeter between anneal cycles, thereby to stabilize the sensitivity of the dosimeter.
A method of producing a thermoluminescent dosimeter having high sensitivity stability and low fade comprising the steps of:
An annealing tray and holder assembly comprising an annealing tray having a base having a face containing a plurality of pockets for containing a dosimeter, and a holder, said holder including a base having a face containing a plurality of pockets arranged in the same but inverted relationship to the pockets in the base of said tray and a slot into which the base of said tray can be slid edgewise to bring the face of the tray base into juxtaposition with the face of the holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.