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This Week in History

November 6, 1962

— Whole-Body Radiation Counter Broadens NIH Research Field

Man in labcoat holds transparent mannekin.

A transparent manikin, "Christine," is lowered into the U-shaped trough of the Clinical Center's new whole-body radiation counter by Dr. Howard L. Andrews, NIH Radiation Safety Officer. Eighteen gamma ray counters, concealed by the sheet covering the trough, will detect and locate radioactive material in Christine's "body."

Photo: Jerry Hecht

The first whole-body radiation counter capable of recording separately the amount of radiation in 18 different sections of the body is now in operation in the NIH Clinical Center. Use of the new instrument is expected to enable scientists of the nine Institutes to conduct more sensitive, more accurate, and more detailed studies involving low levels of radiation.