Development of “Gamma Finder” Device

“Gamma Finder” Cihazının Geliştirilmesi

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to develop a radiation warning system with a portable structure such as a name badge, which will minimize the damage to the hospital personnel near the patient after the radiation used in diagnostic nuclear medicine applications. In these applications, short half-life radionuclide (technetium-99m (Tc-99M), fluorine-18 (Fl-18) and iodine-131 (I-131)) is given to the patient and imaging is performed with a gamma camera or another device. The half-lives and energies of these radionuclides are 6 hours-140 keV for Tc-99M, 110 minutes-511 keV for Fl-18 and 8 days 364 keV for I-131, respectively. At least three half-lives are required for these radionuclides to lose 87.5% of their activity. In this study, a “Gamma Finder” radiation warning device was developed by using a microcontroller, a sensor that can detect gamma and beta particles in the 50 keV-2 MeV energy range, and light and sound warning components. The warning threshold limit of this device is the value read from 1 meter of the dose emitted from the radionuclides in the patient after imaging procedures. This value is the distance at which 87.5% of the activity effect of the radionuclide disappears. The device warns if the nuclear imaging patient is closer than 1 meter to hospital personnel before the threshold time expires.