A method of detecting radon may include starting a first timer at a radon detection device in response to a first triggering action. A seal of the radon detection device may transition to a seal position from an open position in response to the first timer being equal to a measurement interval. The open position may facilitate the introduction of ambient air to a vent of the radon detection device. The seal position may discourage introduction of the ambient air to the vent. The vent may be in fluid communication with a test material. The test material may collect radon from the ambient air introduced to the radon detection device. A second timer may be started in response to the seal transitioning from the open position to the seal position. The seal remains in the sealed position following the transition from the open position to the sealed position.

An infusion system (10) including a radioisotope generator (52) that generates a radioactive eluate via an elution, an activity detector (58) configured to measure an activity of a first radioisotope in the radioactive eluate generated by the radioisotope generator, and a controller (80). The controller can track a cumulative volume of radioactive eluate generated by the radioisotope generator and also track the activity of the first radioisotope in the radioactive eluate generated by the radioisotope generator. The controller can determine a predicted volume of the radioactive eluate generated by the radioisotope generator at which the activity of the first radioisotope in the radioactive eluate will reach a threshold based on the tracked cumulative volume of the radioactive eluate and the tracked activity of the first radioisotope. This information can be useful for proactively removing the radioisotope generator from service and/or replacing the radioisotope generator with a fresh generator.

An infusion system (10) including a radioisotope generator (52) that generates a radioactive eluate via an elution, an activity detector (58) configured to measure an activity of a first radioisotope in the radioactive eluate generated by the radioisotope generator, and a controller (80). The controller can track a cumulative volume of radioactive eluate generated by the radioisotope generator and also track the activity of the first radioisotope in the radioactive eluate generated by the radioisotope generator. The controller can determine a predicted volume of the radioactive eluate generated by the radioisotope generator at which the activity of the first radioisotope in the radioactive eluate will reach a threshold based on the tracked cumulative volume of the radioactive eluate and the tracked activity of the first radioisotope. This information can be useful for proactively removing the radioisotope generator from service and/or replacing the radioisotope generator with a fresh generator.

A radioactivity measurement device for measuring an activity level of a radioisotope source is provided. The radioactivity measurement device comprises a housing and a self-powered detector. The housing comprises an outer shell and an inner shell, wherein the inner shell is adapted to house an insertable radioisotope source, and wherein the outer shell and the inner shell are configured to form a hollow annular region. The self-powered detector, positioned within the hollow annular region of the housing, comprises at least one tubular emitter configured to provide a source of electron emission proportional to a radioisotope activity level of the insertable radioisotope source and at least one tubular collector configured to sink the electron emission. A radioactivity level measurement system comprising at least one radioactivity measurement device, a shipping cask incorporating the radioactivity level measurement system and a method for shipping the shipping cask are also provided.

A radioactivity measurement device for measuring an activity level of a radioisotope source is provided. The radioactivity measurement device comprises a housing and a self-powered detector. The housing comprises an outer shell and an inner shell, wherein the inner shell is adapted to house an insertable radioisotope source, and wherein the outer shell and the inner shell are configured to form a hollow annular region. The self-powered detector, positioned within the hollow annular region of the housing, comprises at least one tubular emitter configured to provide a source of electron emission proportional to a radioisotope activity level of the insertable radioisotope source and at least one tubular collector configured to sink the electron emission. A radioactivity level measurement system comprising at least one radioactivity measurement device, a shipping cask incorporating the radioactivity level measurement system and a method for shipping the shipping cask are also provided.

Disclosed is a method for determining .sup.224Ra in a sediment by using a pulse ionization chamber emanometer, which belongs to the technical field of analysis and measurement. A pulse ionization chamber emanometer (PIC), a new emanometer, is used. Based on the half-life characteristics of different radon isotopes, one can separate the .sup.220Rn activity from the total counts by dual counting. The resulting .sup.220Rn measurement then can be used to determine the .sup.224Ra activity in sediment according to the principle of secular radioactive equilibrium.

Disclosed is a method for determining .sup.224Ra in a sediment by using a pulse ionization chamber emanometer, which belongs to the technical field of analysis and measurement. A pulse ionization chamber emanometer (PIC), a new emanometer, is used. Based on the half-life characteristics of different radon isotopes, one can separate the .sup.220Rn activity from the total counts by dual counting. The resulting .sup.220Rn measurement then can be used to determine the .sup.224Ra activity in sediment according to the principle of secular radioactive equilibrium.

The present invention relates to a radioactivity measurement method and a radioactivity measurement system. A radioactivity measurement method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: measuring radioactivity while performing energy scanning and temporal scanning; preparing a database from a time-energy-related data set obtained in result of the scanning; and obtaining a radioactivity measurement value of desired time from the database.

The present invention relates to a radioactivity measurement method and a radioactivity measurement system. A radioactivity measurement method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: measuring radioactivity while performing energy scanning and temporal scanning; preparing a database from a time-energy-related data set obtained in result of the scanning; and obtaining a radioactivity measurement value of desired time from the database.

A radon gas sensor comprising: a diffusion chamber; a photodiode positioned inside the diffusion chamber; and a photomultiplier positioned inside the diffusion chamber; wherein a scintillating material is provided on at least a part of an inner surface of the diffusion chamber. The photomultiplier detects more alpha particles, but cannot distinguish the energies of different alpha particles. On the other hand, the photodiode can distinguish different decays because the magnitude of the signal generated by the photodiode is proportional to the kinetic energy of the alpha particle striking it. Thus, the photodiode produces spectral data. The spectral data is used to estimate the amount of Polonium that is adhering to aerosols. This is used to apply a correction factor to the data to provide a better estimate of the true Radon concentration in the chamber. This can be combined with the count data of the photomultiplier for overall improved data.