Granted Patent B2

US 6,892,948 · App. 09/995,081 · Granted May 17, 2005

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A method of measuring an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation using a measuring device that bears an integral identification mark, comprising the steps of:

providing a support;

coating on said support a first region for measuring an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation, said region comprising a binder and alanine;

disposing on said support a second region that bears an integral identification mark;

exposing at least the first region to a dose of ionizing radiation, wherein the alanine, upon exposure to ionizing radiation, produces radicals; and

detecting the radicals in the first region.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of revealing the identification mark in the second region.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the identification mark is revealed through the use of a laser.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of deciphering the identification mark in the second region.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification mark is a bar code, a series of alpha-numeric characters or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification mark is on a substrate.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the substrate for the identification mark is a label.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the substrate for the identification mark is an intermediate layer and a dark-colored layer coated directly onto the support.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the substrate for the identification mark extends partially over the alanine-containing layer.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification mark is printed onto a strip.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the radicals remain stable for at least 3 hours.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the support is flexible.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the alanine is in crystalline form.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the crystalline alanine comprises particles less than 100 microns in size.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the coated first region is between 100 and 200 microns thick.

16. A dosimeter comprising:

a support;

at least one first region disposed on said support, the first region containing alanine and a binder;

at least one second region disposed on said support;

wherein the first region is for measuring an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation and the second region bears an identification mark on a substrate.

17. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the identification mark is a bar code, a series of alpha-numeric characters or a combination thereof.

18. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the substrate for the identification mark is a label.

19. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the substrate for the identification mark is a label which is adhered to the support by means of a thermally activated adhesive.

20. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the substrate for the identification mark is a label the topmost surface of which is coated with an intermediate layer and a dark-colored layer.

21. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the substrate for the identification mark is a label the topmost surface of which is coated with an intermediate layer and a dark-colored layer which is black.

22. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the substrate for the identification mark is an intermediate layer and a dark-colored layer coated directly onto the support.

23. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the substrate for the identification mark extends partially over the alanine-containing layer.

24. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the identification mark is revealed through the use of a laser.

25. The dosimeter of claim 16 wherein the identification mark is printed onto a strip.

Assignments (13)