7
The UFU communicates bi-directionally with the
TruNode®
Probe
over a Bluetooth Low Energy (‘BLE’) wireless l
ink. It provides the
visual display, sound feedback, and redundant controls for
operating the probe.
The rate of gamma photons entering the Probe is displayed on the
UFU in digits and with a log-scale meter. This rate is also
represented by the audio feedback (pitch and beat frequency)
coming from the speaker. The UFU will also announce the count rate
upon request by the user via pushbutton on the Probe hand- piece.
The tablet computer controls for changing parameters such as the
time zone or the announcements are accessed through the touch
screen interface, as with any Android operating system. The ON/OFF
control that turns launches the
TruNode®
application is located on
the top of the UFU enclosure.
TruNode®
Probe
The wireless
TruNode®
Probe is battery-powered (4.5V). It is
completely sealed and supplied sterile for a single-patient use in a
Tyvek
TM
peel-pouch. The pouch is designed for sterile handoff. The
Probe can also be used in the pouch without breaking the seal prior
to setting up the sterile field. Prior to use, the Probe must be stored
in its unit box to prevent damage to the sterile pouch.
The Probe detects and quantifies gamma rays (
‘cou
nt
s’
) from Tc-
99m and I-125 isotopes and communicates this information to the
UFU over the wireless link for user feedback. The Probe keypad
provides the user with control of:
•
activation status,
•
detection energy window mode*,
•
audio count-rate feedback volume,
•
audio count-rate range scaling,
•
announce instantaneous count-rate feedback, and
•
announce integrated count-rate feedback*.
*
see ‘Using the Controls’, Se
ction 5.
