Development of a reader for the routine analysis of CR-39 fast neutron dosemeters: improvement of the dosimetric performance using automatic vision and motion tools

At the personal dosimetry service of the ENEA Radiation Protection Institute, a fast neutron dosemeter based on chemically etched CR-39 (Poly Allyl Diglycol Carbonate) is operating since more than 20 years. Since then the track counting has been performed with a system consisting of a microscope, a video camera and an image analyser. A new automatic analysis system has been developed, based on automatic motion and vision tools and the programming language Labview 6, from National Instruments. The system selects the correct number of reading fields on the basis of a preliminary scan of the dosemeter, therefore operating motion and vision procedures in order to perform the analysis. For each reading field the system collects the track area distribution to which a previously optimised algorithm is applied, in order to correct the energy dependence of the response. For each dosemeter, a record containing the barcode and all data necessary for assessing the personal dose equivalent is stored in a routine file. Taking advantage of automatic vision and motion, a CR-39 reader with innovative features in terms of reproducibility, velocity and accuracy is now available even for the routine purposes of dosimetric services.