Radcal Accu-Gold Touch User manual

Accu-Dose™
Radiation Measurement
System
Quick-Start

Radcal Corporation
426 West Duarte Road
Monrovia, CA 91016-4591 USA
USA [phone]
Fax USA [phone]
email [e-mail]
www.radcal.com
Radcal Part # MNL/2086
4091183 Rev:B3
Firmware V7.03/7.23
Printed: Feb 2013

Accu-Dose

Thank you for choosing the Radcal Accu-Dose Analyzer for your
diagnostic x-ray measurement needs. Accu-Dose is one of the
family of the Accu-series analyzers. This Quick-Start Guide will
step you through Getting Started, which includes the basic
connections of the various ion chambers and battery charger as
well as the Operation of the system including the set-up menu
and making a measurement. Further details, including individual
chamber specifications, can be found in the User’s Guide on the
CD included with your system.

INTRODUCTION .................................... 1
GETTING STARTED ................................ 10
Operation ................................. 15
Display ................................... 17
Sounds ................................... 18
Making a measurement ..................... 18
Dose Rate ................................ 19
MAKING ION CHAMBER MEASUREMENTS ..... 21
PERFORMANCE ................................... 26
ACCESSORIES .................................... 29
XLPRO ................................... 29
90E6-2 - Extension cable .................... 31
10A96 Ion chamber Adapter .................. 32
WARRANTY ....................................... 34

INTRODUCTION
The Accu-Dose™system measures dose, time, and more.
Measurements are processed and displayed by a
microprocessor-based control unit. To eliminate cable noise,
dose sensors connect to the control unit via a 4-m cable that
carries only digital signals and operating voltages.
Dose is measured using ion chamber or diode-dose sensors
connected directly to a digitizer-electrometer.
The table on page 6 lists available dose sensors.
The Accu-Dose Basic system measures dose and dose rate.
The Accu-Dose Advanced measures dose, dose rate and more
for radiography, fluoroscopy and leakage measurements. A USB
interface on the Accu-Dose Advanced allows a PC to control and
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process measurements performed by the Accu-Dose™System.
XLPRO, an Excel add-in, uses this capability to produce reports,
graphs and to automate measurements.
The Accu-Dose™may be operated from a rechargeable NiMH
battery, from alkaline C cells, or from mains power.
The control unit is shown on page 5. The UP-arrow, DN-arrow,
select and test buttons and a 2-line display are on the front
panel. The green power button is located on the left end. The
battery charger connects at the rear.
The UP-arrow, DN-arrow and select pushbuttons are used to
navigate the menu and to activate measurements. The test
pushbutton provides a simulated x-ray signal so you can observe
how the measurements work. The power pushbutton provides for
orderly startup and shutdown.
2

Measurement results are presented on the display and are
available in digital formusing the USB connection (see XLPRO
page 29).
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Accu-Dose™ Diagnostic Ion Chamber Components
A. Accu-Pro™ (9096) Control Unit
B. 10X6-6 Ion Chamber Sensor
C. 9660 Ion Chamber Digitizer
D. 90C6-4 Sensor Cable
4

5

Available Sensors Description
DDX6-W, M Dose diode sensors
10X6-6 In-beam, diagnostic x-ray ion chamber
10X6-6M Mammographic x-ray ion chamber
10X6-3CT CT measurement ion chamber
10X6-60 General-purpose ion chamber
10X6-180 100 ccm2scatter and leakage ion
chamber
10x6-1800 1800 cc high-sensitivityion chamber
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Measurement Functions
Dose Dose Rate Time
Dose Accum/Hold Dose Rate Seconds*
Auto Dose* Max Dose Rate* Minutes*
Last Dose* Dose/pulse* Hours*
* available with the Accu-Dose Advanced only
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Ion Chamber Dose Timing Specifications
Measuring time (pulse width)
The Auto-Dose mode Accu-Dose Advanced only provides a
pulse width (time) measurement capability when you use either
ion chambers or dose diodes.
For ion chambers, the 10X6-6 and 10X6-6M are recommended.
The range of pulse width extends from 10 ms to 9999s. The
uncertainty is 4 ms (or 50 ms for the 10X6-1800 only) plus 0.1%
of width.
The minimum dose rate for the 6cc Chamber is 650 mR/min or
95 μGy/s.
Minimum total dose for the 6cc Chamber is 0.54 mR or 4.7 μGy.
For other 10X6-series chambers, these minimums are inversely
proportional to chamber volume.
When using adapters for 10X5 or 10X9 chambers, time
measurements are valid for the -6 and -6M chambers only.
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For time less than 10ms, dose diodes are recommended.
For the DDX6 diodes in Auto Dose the width uncertainty is 1.2 ms
plus 0.1% of width over a range from 5 ms to 9999 s. Minimum
dose rate is 102 μGy/s or 700 mR/min.
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GETTING STARTED
This describes assembly and operation of the Accu-Dose™
System on page 5 comprising a control unit, a diagnostic kV
sensor and a 6cc ion chamber with an ion-chamber digitizer.
IMPORTANT: Stabilization is required before making any
ion chamber measurements. Stabilization is best done by
putting the unit in Dose Rate mode/High Sensitivity and
waiting for 3 minutes. See page 21 for details.
Assembly
Connect the sensor cable to the control unit:
Insert the rectangular connector on the sensor cable into the
socket on the right side of the instrument with the Radcal logo
facing you. It will click into place. To disconnect, pinch the levers
on the side of the connector and pull it from the socket.
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Sensor cable connection
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Connect the ion chamber digitizer:
Align the red dots of the smaller round connector of the sensor
cable and corresponding connector of the digitizer and push to
engage. Pull on the ribbed metal ring to disconnect.
Connect the ion chamber:
Connect the ion chamber to the larger circular connector on the
ion chamber digitizer. Align the red dots and push the connector
until the mating surfaces contact one another.
Never attempt to unscrew the connector.
12

13

Connect the battery charger:
The batteries are fully charged when they leave the factory and
may be charged before use. The charger connects to the rear of
the control unit. Plug it into an ac outlet. The charge indicator
should turn orange indicating the battery is being charged. The
instrument can operate while charging.
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