A compact tank for processing medium quantities of personnel monitoring films.

Abstract

Many small hospital physics departments provide a radiation film badge monitoring service on a scale which, while not large enough to warrant the purchase of an expensive processing unit, requires something more than a simple development technique. Our department is now required to expand the existing service to a maximum estimated capacity of 200 film badges per fortnight. The processing tank described was designed to deal with a service of this size. It is usually necessary, when developing monitoring or dental films, to ensure that the method of holding the film leaves a minimum mark on the film. The two normal methods of holding the film are (a) by spring or crocodile clip, or (b) in a rectangular frame, the films being placed end-on across each diagonal alternately. The first of these methods marks the film and although holding the film safely, allows considerable movement of the film relative to the holder. Such movement increases the clearance that is necessary between films when in the developer.