Beta Imager - Operating principle

The samples (1) are placed on a dedicated sample holder (2). The sample holder is placed on a motor driven drawer, which automatically positioned such as the sample holder closes the gazeous detector (3).

A 98% Argon and 2% Triethylamine gas mixture (4) circulates throught the detector. High voltages (5) are applied between the parallel grids of the detector.

Each beta particle entering the detector ionizes the gas along its course, producing UV light (6).

Light spots are detected by the CCD camera. A spot selection algorithm analyze each spot to take it into account as a count or reject it.

The actual position of the emission in the tissue sample is computed back from the shape of the spot, in order to obtain a maximal precision that ensures the system's high resolution.
Beta particles are thus detected and displayed in real time on the acquisition image on the PC screen.