Whole-Body Counter Facility Preliminary Proposal Project Orins 60-1A

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OAK RIXE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR STUDIES ORINS MEDICAL DIVISION SUB PROW ACTIVITY ACCOUNT - UNASSIGNED Note: Original Proposal dated August 3, 1959, is herein revised Pollard, executive director, Oak Ridge Institute of Ihclear

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General Description of the Project ........ Outline Specific at ims........... Estimate of Cost ................. Method of Doing Work. ........... Proposed Starting and Completion Dates ...... Drawing No. 915-1 - P l o t Plan - Dated April 19, 1960 Drawing No. 915-3 - Floor Plan and Details - Dated 4 r U 19, 1960 Drawing No. 915-4 - Alternate Floor Plan and Details - Dated I O 5 f 2 0 2 OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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ORINS MEDICAL DIVISION 1 0 5 1 2 0 3 OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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OROJS MEDICAL DIVISION It i s proposed t o construct a whole-body counter facility adJacent to, and i n cammunication With, the Oak Rim Institute of Nuclear Studies Medical Division Hospital.. me facility will be located almost entirely underground and will be used for diagnostic and therapeutic determinations of the radioactive elements in a human body and f o r other purposes. m e equipment will be designed to in tea a tea quick total-body count, for use in survey work on large groups of subjects, and f o r repetitious determinations irhere the source has been previously work on selected subjects top edt identification and measurement It will a l s o be designed to do moTe precise and extended of the radiation sowces. The structure will be designed f o r use of cancrete, earth, and other materials for shielding to afford the ultra low-level radiation background essential for the counting chambers of this facility,all as further described in this proposal. OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THl3 PROJECT The proposed location of tne ORINS whole-body counter facility isthe area h mediate ly ad;acent tothe north end of the existing "D" wing of the ho spit d. The floor level will coincide with the middle floor level of the iring, end the cover slab will be below the proposed north entrance to t h e 'ID" wing, as shown on OFUNS drawing No. 915-2. In this location the facility construction and the "D" wiag remodeling may be done concurrently. Two alternate, but possibly less desirable, locations are shown on ORINS draving No. 915-1, one of which m q be used if it i s not possible t o cmbine the two jobs. The proposed facility will consist of a s2eciaU.y ~ e sign e dundersound concrete structure to house and shield the counting equipment and containing the necessary associated utility and service facilities as will be fx rt her described subsequently. The structure, approximately 1800 gross square feet area and 18,000 gross cubic feet volme, will be constructed with coiiventional reinforced cm crete for the service areas and mass poured concre.te for the heavFly shielded areas. Interi or partitions will be, preferably, of masonry construction t o minimize the fire hazard. The princip a feat we of the str dc ture is, using already established nae ncl a ture,the "Cave." Essentially the Cave consists of two heavily shielded roams, each of which is large enough t o enclose the person o r object t o be counted, and certain detection devices. One roan will contain a liquid scintillation detec+,or, i&ich has been named the "Glutton, I' and the other roan will be occupied by a more discriminating sodium iodide cry s tel detector, designated the "Gourmet." These tietectors wiU. be more f'ully described later. IO5 I 2 0 5 OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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The remainder of the structure will be occupied by a radioactively clean roan, called the "Counter Roan,ttto contain all of the electronic equipment not enclosed inthe Cave and also used as the control roan; change roans for men and women; corridors and entry; and a visitors ' More detailed description of the st mc ture occurs i n the Each of the two shielded rooms constituting the Cave will cmt a in a different type of radiation detecting device, horn as the "Glutton" "Gourmet" respectively. They a r e described as follows: The Glutton is a liquid scintilla tor system used for rapid counting of gross radiation from radioective isotopes i n the human body. It -#illconsist of a horizontal cylindrical tank with ac irc dar ring cross section i n which the patient i s placed. The total-body burden c out is transmitted toa read-out in the central roam in the ~lsu.almamer for liquid The Gourmet is a syst m of sodium iodide photonultiplier detectors arranged for selective use in low-enerXy o r highat iv ely thin sodium iodide (T) crystals VU.be used for low-energy spectrametry and a different, but similar, array of 16 relatively thick crystals will be used for highenergy s2ectrcmetry. The crystals will be arranged i n horizontal rows along four sides of the patient ' s body. One array of approximately 16 rel - Since it will. be necessazy t o in-iiro&xe numy nonambulato-y patients into the detectors, they will be counted in the rolling beds upon which 1 0 5 t 2 0 b OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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all patients will ke placed in the counter roam and moved into the Cave through a small opening which can then be closed. It i s now proposed t o include a visitors ' gallery which i s radioactively isolated f'rm the remainder 02 the facility so that it will not be necessary t o admit anyone, other than the patients and two technicians, into the radioactively clean area of the facility. Ventilation of the facility will reqEire sane spec id treatment t o prevent contamination of the detector chambers. for purging the Cave. Zry, cool, clean air w i l l be passed through LIe heme-tically sealed electronic equipment cabinets in tine counter roan and dischazged outAged air m y be required To remove the heat from the electronic equipment, Rom air i n the occupied zone will be conditioned, with emphasis Nore extended and detailed. descriptions of the facility are t o be found inthe "Outline Specifications" of this proposal and i n the bookDr. M. Wdcer, chairman, Xedical Division, Oak Ridge Institute of

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Cancey re sea cli at the ORINS Nedical Division has centered about t h e uses of radioisotopes in diagnosis and therapy. There has long existed a need at the hospital for means of determining quickly the total body burden of a patient. the activity of excreta, tissue biopsies, and the attemped use of scanners as whole-body counters are crude, insensitive, and subject t o large errors.A method for ra2id and accurate deterraination of body bu dens capable of identifying the radioisotopes present, bot" qualit at iv ely and qdantitatively, is clearly a prhaJ.-y need of the entire program anC a key element in achieTV-ingthe n is sion of the llediczl 7fi be designed to fill this need. Existing methods based on following The whole-body counter facility described in this progosal Medical Division La exceptional cases, on a cooperative basis, bd t the intervening distance makes the trm q ort ation of ph;tienf,s Lapractical-- i n many cases, inpossible. the ORNL facility. ava-5lable on the mschine, practice in its ?ise, 1201- gene rd access t o counter inor near Odc Ridge. There i s no diagnostic time available at ORINS research staff maibers have nei+Aer time These a r e health-physics machiaes designed and There i s no medical whole-body The OEUNS Medical Division has, among other activities, five major b ter related research programs Trhldr, are briefly ovklined below. These programs are more ccxqletefy described i n the publication, "The

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The need for wholebody counting facilities in this area extends i n several directions: a. The determination 02 the body burden resulting fr m the use of, and the metabolic fate Gf, tracers of fission products administered t o patients. The extension of t h e study of long-range metabolism ofb. various therapev-tic radioisotopes such as iodine - 1 3 and After a number of half lives, radioisotopes can no longer be measured w i t h equipment at present a\-ailable, and the long-time f a t e and continued body burdens have never been adeqmtely s tue ed. c. Quantitative studies on f'undamental biological problem using labeled organic cmpounds. will be the Limitations inposed by sensitiyrity i n counting pure beta emitters. emitters with sufficient energy t o allow c o ' ating of Both gma - en it th g labels and beta Brmsstrahlung can be used. 2. Investigation of RaGiation Carcinogenesis The role of eleva%ed burclens o r radioactivity in the growth of abnomal tissue in the body continues t o be of kizespread concern. Cap mis on of the 5dy bmdens of cancer patients vith levels of the geaeral population, by the use of a sensitive viiole-body counter: should give sane Imovledge of the r o l e of body burdens of ra cio activity in carcinogenesis.

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3. Diagnostic Radioisotope Studles The m e of the whole-body counter may profitably replace the conventional counting techniques h studies of the long-range pattern of the raetabolisn and excretion of clinical tracer labeled ccmpounds, cobalt-60-labeled vitamin BIZ, etc., especially when decay has rendered present counting aethods Neutron activation of body sodim arid other elements forms the basis of application of whole-body counting t o %he measirring of the dosages received. The wholebody counter i s a necessary tool for one segment of this problem, which will arise when the use of neutron facilities are made available for whcle-body irradiatim of patients. very valuable in t h e management of any f'uture reactor or critical it y incicents which may occur. Training and the Accumlation of Statistical Data The importance of h a v h g such equipment available in the clinical t rahi ng program of the Medical Wrislon should not be overlooked. The incidental use of the facilit;. t o assemble statistical data, mch as not-yet-determined biological half lives, and the average body burden of persons ;Yarn various environments, will represent an important application of The data thus obtained VU.a l s o be

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(Premised upon construction at the preferred loc a tian at the north end of the existing "D" wing, as shown on ORINS Drawings No. 915-1 Excavation of approxinately lo00 cubic yards of material. !be earth-rock r a t i o is unknown at this time. The excavated materia3 nw be used for backfilling if its natural radioactive count is acceptable. Demolition will not be extensive. It may include the removal of certain parts 03 the entrance way and the north wall. Sane demolition a t the mrth end of the existing middle floor corridor may be required. Sub dr air qe will be required ~ z 1t hree sides of the new facility t o prevent any possibility of groundtwater pressure building up Fine grading, seeding, sodding, and plm ting be done t o restore the site. Foundations will be extended to solid rock, or t o soil bearings Etccegtable t o tLe ccmtracting officer.

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Since the structure is underground, no special exterior architect ural treat a ent is required. Because of its hiwy spec idi zed use, the materials and architectural treatment for the interior of the struct ce will be limited t o those which are canrpstable with its use. Floors, roof, and exterior walls will be reinforced concrete of conventional design as required t o contain the earth back fill and roof cover fill. AU exterior parts of tine structure in contact with the wound are t o be canpletely waterproofed. The inside surface of all expose6 walls and ceilings shall have a smooth finish, and aXL floors shell have a hard trowelled A small retaining wall will be require2 a t the new north entrance t o Wing Dto permit thz required earth fill over the Cave vithout blocking the en trace 3. Doors and Windows There will be one outside door and no outside windows. Doors 1-3/4" thick where hospital stretchers are to be passed. One Window of plate or double-strength glass will be required between the visitors ' gdl e ry and the cam ter room. One leaded-glass~ or liquid - filled window will be required between each detecting chaubei- 21 %he Cave and the counting roan top emit visual cammunlcation with the patients. be the plugged opening througb which the patient is inserted.

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Door harGvare and door sving shall be designed t o control the directiaiil of traffic and t o exclude unauthorized persons from Panic bolts will be supplied where required. i. Incandescent lighting exclusively, well diffused, and 50- t o k plex outlets as required for7F.foot candles at desk top. 115 volts on walls. 2. Power for the instrumentation 1.- be supplied by a canstant voltage electronic power supply served directly frcin the main distribution center and terminating i n dcplex mt lets near the To include all fixtures and piping for toilet and shower facilities cmp let e in each of two change room and slop sink in one janitor ' s Also floor drains and sill cocks a s shoirn on drawlngs Preliminary cost est hates will inclnde the cost of three-coat painting of all interior surfaces for which no other wall finish has been specified. ALL of the roans outside of the Cave will require special treatment l o r the ceilings, walls, end floors t o ensure adequate cleanliness. Polished marble, t i l e , or other noq)orous materials of suitable low inherent radiation content possibly could be used. Sprayed fiberglass

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might be cansidered, siice it would provide a roan with pr act icd ly no construction joints in which contaminants might be trapped. is practically inert, has excellent washing queJ-ities, i s fireproof, and isa very durable structural material. F. Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning; Air - filtration, temperature, and humidity requirements for this facility will be sanewhat more exacting than for conventional ho spit d or surgical roans. into the detector chambers (Cave) from compressed air cylinders so that air pressure in the chambers will be positive and prevent outside air, which may be contaminated, from entering the chambers. It i s proposed that aged air be bled Air bled into the chambers must have a relatively constant temperture to prevent "breathing" of the roam; this will require the inclusion of both a humiCrifier and ade - h midi fier in the systen for the canfort of the patient. wash-rom, and en tip roan requirements wUl be samewhat the sae as for conventional air-conditioned hospital roans, except that the instrument-room will require a separate ventilation system for the electronic equipment which is isolated *am the roan air. Heat output of the electronic instruments cannot be determined until design of the detect i cn and counting system is cw ple te, bu% i s filtered with the highest efficiency possible, probably through an All air entering the facility should be elect r mic precipitation …