Compatibility
- Operates in the most common PC Environments – 64-bit Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 Pro
- Multiple Languages: English, German, Chinese, French, and Russian
- Extensive Analysis and Detection Limit capability to accommodate a variety of applications
- Optional Report Writer with MS Access Data Storage and Crystal Reports for Rich Custom Reports
Process Efficiency
- Integrated Hardware control
- Automation Scripting for Consistent measurement processes
- Simplified Calibration using Wizards and Interactive Editors
- Customizable Spectrum Display with “Live” update during acquisition and Detailed Peak Evaluation
Defendable Results
- Compliance with Industry Standards such as ANSI N42.14, ANSI N13.30, and ISO/DIS 11929
- Quality Control Reports, Trending, and optional instrument lock-out on violations
- Security to limit access to specified functions
- Comprehensive V&V Test Results available as an option
Spectrum Analysis
The core purpose of GammaVision is the accurate identification and quantification of radioactive material using high or low resolution
gamma spectroscopy systems. This process requires accurate system calibration and analysis settings, robust peak search and fit algorithms, and a variety of corrections for background, peak interferences, attenuation, reporting units, and other factors. It is also important to comply with regulations and standards for reporting measurement uncertainty and detection limits.
For accuracy, efficiency, and standards compliance, GammaVision is the right choice.
Key Analysis Features:
- Standards Compliant: ISO/DIS 11929, ANSI N42.14, ASTM E181
- Total Uncertainty Propagation with all analysis parameters and up to 9 User-Defined custom Parameters
- Analysis Parameters: Peak Search Sensitivity, Maximum Peak Uncertainty, Peak Match Width, Fraction Limit and Key Line Tests, Background Determination by Fixed Channels or Fraction of Peak Width, Multiplet Peak Deconvolution Range, Peak Range for Detection Limits, Automatic Energy Recalibration Criteria, and more!
- User-Defined Nuclide Libraries with Key Line, Peak Activity, and MDA Criteria
- 19 MDA Methods: ORTEC MDA, ORTEC Critical Level, Suppress MDA, KTA Rule, Japan 2-Sigma Limit, Japan 3-Sigma Limit, Curie Limit, RISO MDA, ORTEC LLD, Peak Area, Air Monitor – GIMRAD, Reg. Guide 4.16, Counting Lab USA, DIN 25 482.5 Erkennungsgrenze, DIN 25 482.5 Nachweisgrenze, EDF-France, NUREG-0472, ISO-11929 Decision Threshold (Critical Level), ISO-11929 Detection Limit (MDA)
- Optionally Calculate Nuclide Activity with the Absence of Qualified Peaks (Directed Fit)
- Graphical Peak Fit and Residuals Display
- Customizable Reports
- Application Specific Analysis Engines
- WAN32: Simple spectra with a small list of possible nuclides
- GAM32: Simple spectra with a large list of possible nuclides
- ROI32: WAN32 with the addition of user-defined regions of interest
- ENV32: Complex spectra with a large list of possible nuclides
- NPP32: Complex spectra with a small or well-characterized nuclide mix
- NAI32: Low Resolution (Scintillator) spectrum analysis
- Peak Search Methodology
- Library Driven Peak Location
- Second Difference method (“Mariscotti”)
- User-Defined Region of Interest
- Analysis Corrections
- Nuclide Dependent or Independent Background/Blank Subtraction
- Partial or Complete Peak Overlap fitting (Deconvolution/Peak Stripping)
- Nuclide Decay from Collection time, During Collection, and During Acquisition
- Random and Cascade Summing
- Gain/Energy Calibration Shift
- Internal and External Absorption
- Relative Geometry Extrapolation
- Peak-Weighted Average Nuclide Activity
Calibration
An accurate calibration is essential for proper peak identification and quantification – particularly for complex spectra with closely overlapping peaks. This can be a tedious and time-consuming process with some systems, but it’s easy with GammaVision’s Calibration Wizard. Simply acquire a spectrum, load a calibration library and source certificate, and the calibration is complete!
Calibrations can also be automated as part of the routine counting or QA processes.
Key Calibration Features:
- Calibration Types
- Channel to Energy – Quadratic Fit
- Energy to Shape (FWHM) – Quadratic Fit
- Energy to Efficiency – Natural Logarithm Polynomial Fit across full energy range; or Linear, Quadratic, and Point-to-Point Interpolation fits for separate high and low energy regions
- Peak-To-Total (Cascade Summing)
- Calibration Processes
- Automatic Energy Calibration (U.S. Patent No. 6,006,162)
- Calibration Wizard
- Semi-Automatic and Manual/Interactive
- Automation using Job Functions
- Automatic Energy Calibration Adjustment during Analysis
- Calibration Reports and Graphic Display
Quality Assurance
Periodic instrument performance checks are necessary to ensure that the system is operating properly when samples are analyzed. These checks may be required by regulations, standards, or other governing bodies that may audit the results. The minimum performance measures should include validation of the system calibration parameters, limits that define acceptance and a warning when these limits are exceeded. Control charts for trending is also desirable and formally required for some applications.
Key Quality Assurance Features:
- ANSI N13.30 and ANSI N42.14 Compliant
- Parameters Monitored
- Background Count Rate
- Total Source Activity
- Total Spectrum to Library Peak Energy Difference
- Average Actual to Calibration FWHM Ratio
- Average Actual to Calibration FWTM Ratio
- Individual Peak Details Available in Database
- Low/High Warning and Minimum/Maximum Violation Limits with Optional Detector Lock-out
- QA Reports and Trend Charts
User Interface and Security
GammaVision provides an intuitive user experience with the MCA Emulator “Spectrum Window” being the focal point of operation. This approach simplifies routine processes, such as hardware control and count rate/peak evaluation, but also provides the base for more advanced operations such as calibration, QA, and spectrum analysis with the most commonly used functions implemented as "hot keys" or toolbar buttons for rapid access.
The spectrum view offers all of the tools needed for basic MCA emulation including Hardware Control, Peak Navigation and Zoom functions, Region of Interest evaluation, Interactive Peak Search, Spectrum Overlay for comparison, Isotope Markers to identify nuclide common peaks, Summing/Subtraction of other spectra, and Spectrum Channel Smoothing. It also enables user preferences for color schemes and spectrum data views.
For easy access to spectra, GammaVision’s Multiple Detector Interface (MDI) mode can display up to 16 interactive windows (8 Live Detectors and 8 from Spectrum Files) with independent operation. Additionally, multiple detectors can be enabled for efficient group operations by synchronizing routine Start, Stop, and Clear processes from a single command.
Spectra are traditionally collected in Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) mode with data stored in channels related to pulse height. GammaVision can also store data in “List Mode”, or time-correlated events, with the ability to filter the events after acquisition by user-defined time ranges. This process allows long acquisitions to be scanned by shorter time intervals to identify precisely when activity was detected or interrogate a specific period of interest.
Basic sample measurements are simple processes when using the standard “Ask on Start” options. Just check the user inputs required for each measurement and the user is prompted to select the applicable files or input sample data when the acquisition is started. Additional options may be set to automatically save and analyze the spectrum and print the analysis report.
Key User Interface Features:
- Spectrum View
- View up to 8 live detectors and 8 saved spectra simultaneously
- Real Time display update during acquisition.
- Zoom In/Out independent of Full Spectrum Window
- User-Defined Spectrum Properties: Colors, Data Points
- Interactive ROI/Peak Calculations
- Peak Centroid, Shape, Gross/Net Area and Activity with Uncertainty
- Variable Number of Background Channels
- Improved FWHM accuracy when peak centroid falls between two channels
- Advanced Features
- Fast Mariscotti Peak Search to instantly mark Regions of Interest
- Region of Interest (ROI) reports in Column or Paragraph format
- Isotope markers with peak amplitude estimation to confirm peak source
- Interactive “Jump to Peak” by ROI, Library Energy, or Peak Search options
- Spectrum overlay for direct visual comparison to a reference
- Combine Spectra by Channel Summing or Stripping
- Spectrum Smoothing to improve statistically poor peak shape
- List Mode Spectra filtered by Time Range
- Ask On Start Basic Measurement process
- Security
- Menu Level Password protection
- Detector Locking by Owner
Automation
Although the toolbar and menus options are simple and intuitive, this method of operation does not guarantee consistent processing that is often needed for measurements performed frequently or by different individuals. In these circumstances a more structured approach using simple text scripts called “Jobs” may be preferred. This feature enables every detail of the process to be defined in advance or created dynamically by a custom user interface. Virtually all of the hardware commands, analysis parameters, and processes required measurements can be programmed for consistent and reliable results every time.
Key Automation Features:
- Simple Text Scripts require no prior programming experience
- Define and Set any Analysis Parameter or prompt for user input
- All Hardware Control functions available
- Jobs may be dynamically generated by custom data entry interfaces
- Custom Variables available for advanced programming
- Run External Applications to set parameters and automate data integration
Hardware Control
The interface between hardware and software is provided through the ORTEC CONNECTIONS framework which supports up to 250 detectors across a local network. This application layer encompasses all of the hardware drivers and communication protocols that are necessary for software applications to control the MCB (Multi-Channel Buffer) instruments. Hardware controls are accessed through MCB Property pages that are integrated with GammaVision and other standard ORTEC applications.
Windows 10, 8.1 and 7 64-bit hardware compatibility is available for all ORTEC instruments that use USB and TCP/IP connectivity. Instruments that are dependent on a host computer, such as plug-cards or USB devices, can optionally be shared on a network through local MCB Servers allowing full control from remote locations.
Key Hardware Control Features:
- List Mode Data Acquisition1
- High Voltage Bias Control
- Course and Fine Gain Adjustment
- Zero and Gain Stabilizer
- SMART-1 Detector functions
- ZDT loss-free counting correction
- Analog and Digital Amplifier Filters
- Automatic and Manual Optimization
- Sample changer control
- Insight Oscilloscope mode
- Battery Voltage monitoring for portable instruments
- State-of-Health Monitoring
- Acquisition Presets including Real and Live Time, ROI Peak, ROI Integral, Peak Uncertainty, or MDA