Abstract: Substrates for suspending sample elements are disclosed, as well as sample platforms comprising such substrates, in which the sample elements can be analyzed with improved reliability. In exemplary embodiments, such sample elements are used in thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) or optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) to provide a calculated radiation dose with improved accuracy. The reproducibility associated with analyzing a sample element, and particularly one suspended by a film or encapsulated within films, may be significantly improved by tensioning the film(s). Tensioning may result during assembly of a sample platform, using a mechanical creasing force that is applied as the result of the configuration of a substrate of the sample platform, such as opposing sections or plates of this substrate. Alternatively, tensioning may be achieved using a separate application of force to the film(s) against a section or plate of the substrate.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to an endoscope (and methods of manufacturing the same) having an illumination system that utilizes small diameter fibers for delivering bright, high quality light to a target site. In accordance with one aspect, an endoscope is provided having a phosphor-loaded, light emitting distal tip that can be energized via optical radiation delivered to the light-emitting distal tip via a small-diameter optical fiber (e.g., less than about 100 ?m in diameter) that extends through or along the length of the endoscope. The light-emitting distal tip can be energized by short wavelength laser light (e.g., radiation having wavelengths at 445 nm blue or 405 nm violet) coupled to the optical fiber's proximal end so as to deliver light of extremely high quality CRI (e.g., greater than 80, greater than 90, about 95).

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermoluminescent phosphor for the measurement of low radiation doses, including calcium sulphate (CaSO4), Dysprosium (Dy) and manganese (Mn), wherein Dy and Mn are present as dopants. A process for the preparation of a thermoluminescent phosphor is also provided. The process includes the steps of: separately dissolving calcium sulphate (CaSO4), Dysprosium chloride (DyCh) and Manganese chloride (MnC) in hot concentrated sulphuric acid, to obtain sulphuric acid solutions of CaSO4, DyCb and MnCb; mixing the solutions; and followed by slow evaporation of the solvent to obtain a powder of microcrystalline phosphor of CaSO4:Dy, Mn.

Abstract: A ceramic capacitor dielectric material includes BaTiO3, BaZrO3, SrTiO3, MgCO3, SiO2, and at least one compound selected from transition element and rare earth element. The amount of the BaTiO3 in the ceramic capacitor dielectric material is 40-80 mol %; the amount of the BaZrO3 is 20-40 mol %; and the amount of the SrTiO3 is smaller than or equal to 20 mol %. The permittivity of the ceramic capacitor dielectric material is larger than 350, and the dielectric loss is lower than 0.5%. Moreover, the resistivity can reach 1012 ?-cm under room temperature, and further reach 1011 ?-cm at 125° C. Besides that, the performance of the capacitance change rate of the ceramic capacitor dielectric material under DC bias is excellent, thus the ceramic capacitor dielectric material can fulfill the X7T dielectric properties of EIA.

Abstract: An optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensor is provided that has a reflective backing for improving the efficiency of exposing an optically stimulated luminescence material (OSLM) of the OSL sensor to stimulation light and for increasing the efficiency of detecting luminescent light emitted by the OSLM.

Abstract: A film dosimeter is disclosed in the present invention and doped with a sensitizer for determining a neutron and gamma-ray mixed radiation field. The sensitizer comprises quantitative lithium atoms with a different atom percentage of lithium-6 and lithium-7. Theoretically, the atom percentage of the lithium-6 in the lithium atoms is ranged from 0.1 to 99. On the other hand, a method of determining radiation doses of a neutron and gamma-ray mixed radiation field by using the abovementioned film dosimeter is also disclosed in the present invention.

Abstract: Described is a portable dosimeter reader that is small in size and light in weight.

Abstract: Provided are a dosimeter which uses thermoluminescent plates and with which a three-dimensional dose distribution of radiation can be acquired, a method of producing the dosimeter, and a method of using the dosimeter. A thermoluminescent layered product 11 is constituted of a plurality of thermoluminescent plates 13 which are layered. Each of the thermoluminescent plates 13 is constituted of a thermoluminescent phosphor containing no aluminum (III) and a heat-resistant resin. The thermoluminescent phosphor comprises lithium tetraborate as a base material and manganese as a luminescent center contained in the base material.

Abstract: Radiation dosimeters containing thin KCl:Eu2+ storage phosphors for quantifying and/or verifying the dose of radiation applied during radiation therapy. Methods for measuring the amount of radiation applied from a source of radiation and methods for treating a patient having a cancerous tumor are also provided.

Abstract: A method of determining the radiation type and energy distribution of a radiation source that outputs radiation. The method including providing a plurality of detector materials and exposing the plurality of detector materials to the radiation. Each of the plurality of detector materials stores a signal in response to being exposed to the radiation. The signals are representative of the radiation. The plurality of detector materials is stimulated to output the signals as measured signals. These measured signals are used to determine the radiation type and energy distribution of the radiation.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described including implantable radiation sensing devices having exposure determination devices that determines exposure information based on the at least one in vivo measurand output.

Abstract: A computed radiography reading system and method. The system includes an exposed computed radiography plate, a two-dimensional pixelized array, and a heating element. The heating element conducts heat to the computed radiography plate and the computed radiography plate releases entrained light signals to the two-dimensional pixelized array in response to the conducted heat.

Abstract: A method of determining the radiation type and energy distribution of a radiation source that outputs radiation. The method including providing a plurality of detector materials and exposing the plurality of detector materials to the radiation. Each of the plurality of detector materials stores a signal in response to being exposed to the radiation. The signals are representative of the radiation. The plurality of detector materials is stimulated to output the signals as measured signals. These measured signals are used to determine the radiation type and energy distribution of the radiation.

Abstract: A radiation detection device with at least one self indicating radiation sensor and at least one machine readable sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for verifying the achievement of a desired sterility assurance level (SAL) for components manipulated within a low-energy electron beam sterilization chamber. The components are preferably pre-sterilized and connected together in an assembly fashion which creates and maintains the sterility of the connection by subjecting the components to low-energy (less than 300 KeV) electron beam radiation. The verification is completed by measuring the sterilization dose delivered to a sensor, also known as a dosimeter, positioned within the sterilization process to simulate the components.

Abstract: A method of determining the radiation type and energy distribution of a radiation source that outputs radiation. The method including providing a plurality of detector materials and exposing the plurality of detector materials to the radiation. Each of the plurality of detector materials stores a signal in response to being exposed to the radiation. The signals are representative of the radiation. The plurality of detector materials is stimulated to output the signals as measured signals. These measured signals are used to determine the radiation type and energy distribution of the radiation.

Abstract: This invention provides phosphor-doped fluoroperovskite compounds that are capable of storing at least part of the energy of incident ionizing radiation and releasing at least part of the stored energy upon optical stimulation or heating. Also provided are dosimeters and radiation storage devices comprising the compounds, methods of preparing the compounds, and methods of using the compounds to determine a dose of ionizing radiation or to record and reproduce an ionizing radiation image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a thermoluminescent dosimeter for radiation monitoring, comprising LiF doped with Mg, Cu and Si, and a fabrication method thereof. The LiF:Mg,Cu,Si thermoluminescent dosimeter is fabricated by heating a LiF-based thermoluminescent powder material having a composition of LiF mother material, 0.1-0.5 mol % of a Mg compound, 0.001-0.05 mol % of a Cu compound and 0.5-1.3 mol % of a Si compound to a temperature of 900-1200° C. to melt the LiF-based material, cooling the melted material, compression-molding the cooled material, sintering the molded material, cooling the sintered material, and then annealing the cooled material. The thermoluminescent dosimeter has high thermal stability and thus maintains constant thermoluminescence sensitivity even when it is annealed at a high temperature of more than 240° C.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus comprising: an image exposure portion that forms a latent image by optically exposing a recording medium based on entered image data; a thermal development portion that visualizes the latent image by heating the recording medium exposed by the image exposure portion; a data identification portion that reads ID information about image data obtained by mammography; and a data-processing portion that: when the data identification portion has determined that a set of breast image data about the same patient have been entered successively, rotates through 180° (i) images represented by even-numbered input ones of the set of breast image data or (ii) images represented by odd-numbered input ones of the set of breast image data; and then outputs the image data to the image exposure portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a thermoluminescent dosimeter for radiation monitoring, comprising LiF doped with Mg, Cu and Si, and a fabrication method thereof. The LiF:Mg,Cu,Si thermoluminescent dosimeter is fabricated by heating a LiF-based thermoluminescent powder material having a composition of LiF mother material, 0.1-0.5 mol % of a Mg compound, 0.001-0.05 mol % of a Cu compound and 0.5-1.3 mol % of a Si compound to a temperature of 900-1200° C. to melt the LiF-based material, cooling the melted material, compression-molding the cooled material, sintering the molded material, cooling the sintered material, and then annealing the cooled material. The thermoluminescent dosimeter has high thermal stability and thus maintains constant thermoluminescence sensitivity even when it is annealed at a high temperature of more than 240° C.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of identification or detection utilizing photoluminescent compositions containing photoluminescent phosphorescent materials and photoluminescent fluorescent materials whose emission signature lies partly or fully in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum onto or into objects for the purpose of identifying or detecting the objects. Also disclosed are methods of identification or detection utilizing photoluminescent compositions which are high in intensity and high in persistence, methods wherein the identifying markings can be clandestine or otherwise, and methods wherein activation and detection can be decoupled spatially and temporally. Objects containing these photoluminescent compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Labels, methods of making labels and methods of using labels are disclosed. The labels can be manufactured using fiber drawing techniques or by shutter masking. The labels can be used for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample and for detecting interactions of biomolecules.

Abstract: Optical methods and devices for measuring temperature and a second physical parameter, using a single photoluminescent probe material comprised of a single luminophor, and methods and devices for determining temperature-corrected values of said second physical parameter, which can be an oxygen or air pressure or a parameter chosen from the group comprising an electrical current, a magnetic field and an electrical field or voltage. The luminophor is excited sequentially by a first excitation light of chosen first wavelengths and intensity P1 which generates a first luminescence light of intensity I1, and a second excitation light of chosen second wavelengths and intensity P2 which generates a second luminescence light of intensity I2. The ratio (I2.P1/I1.P2) varies substantially in a known manner with varying temperature, substantially independent of the magnitude of said second physical parameter, thus providing a temperature correction factor to the measurement of said second physical parameter.

Abstract: In an apparatus for reading codes of a thermoluminescence detector, a housing including an optical unit is disposed on a base together with a disc-like magazine, which is rotatably supported adjacent the housing and provided with an annular array of recesses receiving the thermoluminescence detectors to be examined. The housing has a side opening through which the magazine extends into the housing, in which a light source is disposed for the homogeneous illumination of the thermoluminescence detectors from one side thereof, A CCD camera is disposed in the housing at the other side of the magazine for recording the illuminescence generated by the detectors when exposed to the light from the light source for determining the radiation exposure of thermoluminescence detectors.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprises at least a phosphor layer and a protective film. The protective film contains a film-forming resin, a reactive silicone, which has at least one hydroxyl group or at least one amino group at a terminal and has a number-average molecular weight falling within the range of 5,000 to 30,000, and a crosslinking agent capable of undergoing reaction with the hydroxyl group or the amino group of the reactive silicone. The reactive silicone has been crosslinked by the crosslinking agent. The film-forming resin may contain a fluorine type of resin, which is soluble in an organic solvent.

Abstract: Method and devices for measuring spot temperatures and surface temperature distributions using a luminophor, and method and devices for determining temperature-corrected oxygen or surface air pressure distributions using the same oxygen-sensitive luminophor. The luminophor is excited sequentially by a first light of wavelengths &lgr;1 and intensity P1 and a second light of wavelengths &lgr;v and intensity PT·, generating a first luminescence light of intensity I1 and a second luminescence light of intensity IT, respectively. The absorption of light of wavelength &lgr;v is substantially temperature-dependent in such a manner that the ratio (IT·P1/I1·PT) increases substantially in a known manner with increasing temperature, substantially independent of any oxygen pressure, and the oxygen pressure can be determined as a function of the luminescence decay time.

Abstract: Disclosed are a CaSO4 based TL detector bonded with phosphorous compound and a method for fabricating thereof. The CaSO4 based TL detector can be fabricated by mixing CaSO4 based TL powder with a phosphorous precursor; molding the mixture powder under pressure; and sintering the molded body. The TL detector has so high TL sensitivity as to effectively measure personnel dose equivalent and low dose detection. It can be also manufactured in various forms and is easily handled, finding numerous applications in personnel and environmental monitoring fields.

Abstract: Simultaneous measurement of neutron flux and temperature is provided by a single sensor which includes a phosphor mixture having two principal constituents. The first constituent is a neutron sensitive Li6F and the second is a rare-earth activated Y2O3 thermophosphor. The mixture is coated on the end of a fiber optic, while the opposite end of the fiber optic is coupled to a light detector. The detected light scintillations are quantified for neutron flux determination, and the decay is measured for temperature determination.

Abstract: The instant invention teaches a method of preparing a luminescent detecting material for use in UV dosimetry which utilizes phototransferred luminescence. The detecting material has a set of shallow dosimetry traps for trapping electronic charge carriers, which are thermally released upon heating to a first temperature, and a set of deep traps for trapping electronic charge carriers, which charge carriers are released upon heating to a second temperature. The detecting material is prepared by irradiating the detecting material to fill the shallow and deep traps with charge carriers, heating the material to release charge carriers from the shallow traps, and then cooling the material. When the detecting material is subsequently exposed to ultraviolet light a proportion of charge carriers will be released from the deep traps to be retrapped in the shallow traps, thereby allowing for the measurement of phototransferred luminescence by thermal or optical stimulation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and apparatus for performing sensitive detection of analytes, such as biological macromolecules and other analytes, by labeling a probe molecule with an up-converting label. The up-converting label absorbs radiation from an illumination source and emits radiation at one or more higher frequencies, providing enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and the essential elimination of background sample autofluorescence. The methods, compositions, and apparatus are suitable for the sensitive detection of multiple analytes and for various clinical and environmental sampling techniques.

Abstract: A radiation image information reading apparatus has a main assembly which incorporates an exposure unit, an image information reading unit, an erasing unit, and a circulatory feed system. The image information reading unit has an auxiliary scanning feed mechanism for feeding a stimulable phosphor sheet vertically in an auxiliary scanning direction, and a laser beam applying mechanism for applying a laser beam substantially horizontally to the stimulable phosphor sheet which is being fed in the auxiliary scanning direction and scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with the laser beam in a main scanning direction. The radiation image information reading apparatus is relatively simple in structure and small in size.

Abstract: A radiation intensifying screen is formed by a reflective-transmissive layer which is disposed between two radiation absorbing, luminescent phosphor layers having emission maximum wavelengths which are well separated. The reflective-transmissive layer is either a long wave pass or short wave pass filter which provides maximum reflection for spectral emissions produced in the first luminescent layer but, at the same time, allows the maximum transmission of spectral emissions produced in the second luminescent layer. An optional secondary reflective layer and a backing layer are provided adjacent to the second luminescent layer. As a result, spectral emissions in the first luminescent layer have a relatively short traveling path compared to the path in a conventional intensifying screen. The disclosed dual layer intensifying screen construction increases the spatial resolution of the phosphor screen without adversely affecting the screen speed.

Abstract: A dosimeter analysis system provides the capability to easily handle the radiochromic pieces of film which are commonly employed as dosimeters and make an accurate analysis of the amount of radiation received in an irradiation process. The dosimeter is constructed through use of one or more layers of a material such as paper, cardboard or non-woven material between which a piece of radiochromic film may be positioned. Through at least one of the layers, an aperture is formed which provides for the direct viewing of the radiochromic film. This dosimeter card may then be placed in a dosimeter card holder and placed in an analysis device such as a spectrophotometer. Also included on the dosimeter card may be a unique marking which provides a reference to unique information pertaining to the piece of radiochromic film employed in the dosimeter card.

Abstract: Objects are marked for identification by a luminescent label including an optically stimulable glass having trapping centers and luminescence centers. The objects are marked by exposing the luminescent label to a radiation flux to populate metastable trapping centers in the luminescent label. The labels are read by exposing the label to a second radiation flux of optical radiation, to stimulate the release of trapped charges, causing the label to luminesce. The labels may also be read without previously populating these metastable trapping centers, by stimulating prompt luminescence through exposure to a flux of UV radiation. The label is made from an optically stimulable glass, where this glass has a glass matrix with defects, where these defects may be: (i) an alkaline earth sulfide, activator Sm ions, and an additional coactivator dopant (Eu or Ce); (ii) ZnS and activator ions (Cu, Pb, Mn, Ce, Eu, Ag, Au, or Fe); or (iii) activator ions without metal sulfides.