Title :
A portable dual-input multichannel analyzer with large onboard memory for dual isotope diagnostic techniques
Author :
Fazzi, A. ; Magnoni, L. ; Tristano, L. ; Varoli, V.
Author_Institution :
Dipt. Ingegneria Nucl., Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Abstract :
An innovative dual-input multichannel analyzer purposely designed for the diagnosis of cardiac and pulmonary diseases using the dual isotope technique has been realized and tested. Its main features are: two independent inputs; medium (1024 channels) resolution, large onboard memory so that up to 128 spectral pairs can be stored, small size and weight, programmable measure and wait times, programmable HV or bias supply for the detectors, local and remote programmability and large autonomy with the on board battery. The instrument is based upon a microcontroller with a multiplexed A/D converter with 10-bit resolution. The integral and differential linearity and the conversion time were proved to be adequate for the application by comparing the recorded spectra with the output of a research grade multichannel analyzer. In order to show the feasibility of the dual isotope technique, spectra from different radioactive sources and detectors are reported
Keywords :
analogue processing circuits; analogue-digital conversion; biomedical electronics; diagnostic radiography; microcontrollers; portable instruments; programmable controllers; pulse height analysers; cardiac disease diagnosis; conversion time; differential linearity; dual isotope diagnostic techniques; dual isotope technique; integral linearity; large onboard memory; medium resolution; microcontroller; multiplexed A/D converter; on-board battery; portable dual-input multichannel analyzer; programmable HV supply; programmable bias supply; programmable measure times; programmable wait times; pulmonary disease diagnosis; radioactive sources; remote programmability; research grade multichannel analyzer; spectral pairs; Battery charge measurement; Cardiac disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Detectors; Instruments; Isotopes; Microcontrollers; Size measurement; Testing; Weight measurement;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, 2000 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Lyon
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-6503-8
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.2000.949960
