 | Nero mAx X-Ray Test Device. |  |
Introduction The Victoreen® NERO® mAx, Non-invasive Evaluator of Radiation Outputs, evaluates the widest range of x-ray machines on the market today. Evaluation of pulsed fluoro, cine, computed tomography (CT), portable, mammographic, dental, radiographic, fluoroscopic, low, medium, and high frequency machines is finally made possible with a single instrument. This fifth generation (EFM) system and flexible softkeys provide an intuitive, user friendly operating environment for quick, accurate, and easy measurements. All measurement modes and functions are displayed on the NERO mAx's super bright LCD and are controlled by the five softkeys directly below the display and three hard keys to the right. Seven user selectable measurement modes and three system control modes are available and clearly displayed on the control console screen for easy addess and selection. Applications The NERO mAx consists of the control console, detector, detector cable, two filter cards, mAs leads, Excel Add-in, AC adapter, HVL plates, instruction manual, and carrying case. The compact control console houses the rechargeable battery, super bright easy to read backlit display, eight control buttons, and the sophisticated electronics necessary for accurate, reproducible measurements. Connectors for power input, RS-232, printer, scope output and the NERO mAx detector are located on the control console's rear panel. The NERO mAx detector contains sensors for simultaneously measuring kV, exposure or rate and mA or mAs. Solid state detectors are used to measure kV. An ion chamber, located in the top of the detector, is used for exposure/rate measurements. Connectors for external ion chambers and the NERO mAx detector interface are located on the rear panel of the detector. The front panel has a keyed opening for the NERO mAx filter cards and a connector for mAs leads. The filter cards contain the various filters needed to accurately measure kilovoltage. Each filter card is coded so that the NERO mAx "knows" which filter is in use and its position. The NERO mAx also verifies that the filter card is valid for the selected measurement mode. The two filter cards are keyed so that they may only be inserted properly. The W/A1 filter card and the Mammo filter card are clearly labeled as to the x-ray tube targets for which they are calibrated. External chambers External ion chambers for CT, mammographic, image intensifier tube, and special radiographic applications are available. Chamber calibration factors can be stored in the NERO mAx for direct readout of measurements. |  |
 | The Excel Add-in acquires measured data and waveforms directly into an Excel spread sheet to maximize flexibility for
report generation. NERO mAx operating modes Radio mode - Radio mode is used to make measurements on tungsten target, aluminum filtered radiographic x-ray generators. Selections are available for % kV peak for the type of generator being tested. For example, Zero Crossing, Single Phase Pulse, 75%, 80% or 90% of kVp modes are available for accurate exposure measurements on difficult x-ray machines. Radio mode simultaneously measures: Mammo mode - Mammo mode is used to make measurements on mammographic x-ray generators. Mammo mode simultaniously measures: Fluoro mode - Fluoro mode is used to make measurements on fluoroscopic x-ray generators. Fluoro mode supports both continuous fluoro and pulsed fluoro measurements. In the continuous fluoro mode, the NERO mAx measures: In the pulsed fluoro mode the NERO mAx measures: |
AMSE mode - AMSE mode is used for Automated Measurement of Sequential Exposures. This mode is used to measure the output of CINE generators. In AMSE mode, the NERO mAx measures: CT Exposure mode - CT Exposure mode is used to make CT exposure measurements using the Victoreen Model 6000-100 CT ion chamber. The CT probe must be connected to the NERO mAx detector's external ion chamber input in this mode. Exposure mode - Exposure mode is used to make exposure and rate measurements using the NERO mAx's internal ion chamber or an external ion chamber. HVL mode - In the HVL mode, the NERO mAx calculates half value layer based upon a series of exposure or rate measurements made with varying thicknesses of aluminum absorbers placed in the x-ray beam. A minimum of two exposures are required and up to ten exposures may be used. Calibrate mode - Calibrate mode is used to enter and store calibration factors for ion chambers used with the NERO mAx. Setup mode - Setup mode is used to setup various features of the NERO mAx. From the setup screen the user can set the instrument's parameters such as the real time clock, temperature and pressure. Unit ID - Displays the NERO mAx's serial number, firmware part number and level. Specifications Kilovoltage - Measured during the first 480 ms of exposure - Measured quantity kVp Avg, kV Eff, kV Peak - Accuracy 0.5 kV or ± 1% - Range See Table! Analyze/Display cycle time - Radio & mammo 3 seconds for 0.1 second exposure, 1 second for each 32 ms of exposure time - Fluoro & AMSE 15 seconds for all exposures Time |  |
 | - Radio mode Measured during entire exposure at 90, 80, 75% rise/fall of waveform, zero crossing, or pulse count - Mammo mode Measured during entire exposure at 90% rise/fall of waveform - Accuracy 1 ms - Resolution 0.1 ms - Range All diagnostic exposures from 1 ms to 60 seconds Exposure & rate Measured during entire exposure with automatic energy, temperature, and pressure correction - Measured quantity Roentgens or Grays - Accuracy ± 5% - Reproducibility Radio and mammo modes: ± 2% or 2 mR - Resolution 0.1 mR - Range All diagnostic exposure and rate measurements from 1 mR to 9999R - Fluoro rate 0.1 R/min to 999 R/min mAs and mA Measured invasively during entire exposure - Accuracy 2% - Reproducibility ± 1% or 0.2 mAs - Range 0.1 mAs to 9999 mAs, 0 to 1000 mA HVL - Accuracy ± 5% - Range 0.1 to 99.9 mmA1 Physical - Display Super bright 240 x 60 pixel, super twist LCD with cold cathode fluorescent backlight - Detectors Ion chamber and solid state (kV detectors) - Ion Chamber volume 45 cc nominal - Window area/density 38 mg/cm² Polycarbonate - HVL set 2.30 mm, 1.0 mm, 0.3 mm A1 - Power requirements 12 VDC 1 A external supply. Rechargeable internal batteries supply more than 4 hours of continuous service with overnight charge Size Volume is 3960 in³ (0.065 m³) - Console 9.00 x 9.12 x 3.25 in (22.86 x 23.17 x 8.26 cm) - Detector 6.56 x 3.70 x 2.58 in (16.66 x 9.4 x 6.55 cm) - Filter Cards 2.4 x 6.25 x 0.31 (6.1 x 15.88 x 0.8 cm) Weight - Shipping 23 lb (10.43 kg) - Console 4.56 lb (2.067 kg) - Detector (with card) 1.65 lb (0.747 kg) - Filter Cards 2.9 and 3.2 oz (0.090 and 0.094 kg) |
|
 |
 |