Introduction

The invention refers to an apparatus and a method for making an automatic “environmental” dosimeter, for environments characterized by the need for surveillance for purposes of protection of staff or visitors being admitted thereto, due to the presence of static or quasi-static magnetic fields.

Technical features

The present invention refers to an apparatus and a method for making an automatic “environmental” dosimeter, for environments characterized by the need for surveillance for purposes of protection of staff or visitors being admitted thereto, due to the presence of static or quasi-static magnetic fields. In case of static magnetic fields, of greater interest for the present invention, laws generally require staff personnel having access to controlled areas to comply with preset magnetic field exposure limits. The innovative step is to combine the information provided by a set of video cameras with a spatial map of the magnetic field in the controlled area (to be acquired once) so to evaluate the magnetic field exposure for each body district relevant for monitoring the exposition to intense magnetic fields: head, trunk, limbs.

Possible Applications

• Hospitals and diagnostic centres with high field MRI scanners;
• Research facilities with magnets that generate high magnetic fields;
• Industrial activities that involve high magnetic fields and/or high DC currents that generate high magnetic fields.

Advantages

• Environmental surveillance Active even during a MRI;
• No limitations about sensitivity;
• Measurement rate and dynamic range;
• Real-time evaluation of induced currents in the body for each body district;
• Real-time analysis of magnetic exposure.