HERM LB 500 with NaI Detector

Dedicated Radio Flow Monitor for Gamma and High-Energy Beta Isotopes

Overview

The HERM LB 500 with NaI detector is a dedicated radio flow monitor engineered for detecting gamma and high-energy beta isotopes present in high-activity samples. Developed by Berthold Technologies, it is the instrument of choice for nuclear medicine and PET laboratories where sensitive, reliable, and stable measurement of radioisotopes is critical.

The system combines a sodium iodide (NaI) crystal detector with thick lead shielding to provide a measurement platform with exceptionally low background even in high-radiation environments. The compact design allows the instrument to fit easily into a hot cell, making it ideal for routine quality control and process monitoring in space-constrained facilities.

Applications

The HERM LB 500 is designed for development, production, and quality control of:

Radio-pharmaceuticals

PET isotope labelled tracer substances

Radio isotope labelled substances

125I quality control

18F quality control

68Ga quality control

Gamma metabolite studies (all gamma isotopes)

Key Features

• Extremely sensitive NaI detector for gamma and high-energy beta isotopes
• Thick lead shielding ensures low background even with high external radiation
• High efficiency detection of low-energy gamma isotopes such as 125I
• Twin-Cell-Changer for flexible switching between activities and flow rates
• Dual operation mode — stand-alone analog output or PC-driven digital acquisition
• Compact design fits easily into hot cells and crowded laboratory benches
• No manual adjustment knobs — all parameters controlled remotely to prevent accidental modifications
• Secured power supply for reliable operation in regulated environments
• Advanced downstream control with 2 programmable relay outputs
• Time-delayed threshold-based control of separation valves and fraction collectors
• Simple integration into any existing HPLC system via analog 0–1 V output
• USB connectivity for digital data acquisition and instrument control

Detector Technology

The NaI detector option pairs an ultrasensitive photomultiplier tube (PMT) with a 1-inch sodium iodide crystal to deliver outstanding detection efficiency. Even low-energy gamma isotopes such as 125I are detected with high sensitivity. The integrated lead shielding minimizes background interference, ensuring reliable results even when the instrument is operated in close proximity to high-radiation sources.

Cell Flexibility: Standard tubing is used to create the flow cell volume, providing maximum user flexibility. The Twin-Cell-Changer enables the operator to switch easily between two different cell volumes to accommodate changing activities and flow rates. For GLP-regulated environments, an optional single-volume insert can fix the cell to one volume. Compatible cell types include admixture cells (Z type) and solid scintillator low-background gamma/PET cells (MX type), with sizes ranging from 10 µL to 1000 µL.

Operation Modes

Stand-Alone Mode

In stand-alone configuration, the HERM provides an analog 0–1 V output signal that can be integrated into any existing HPLC system without PC dependency. The instrument is equipped with flash memory and a powerful CPU for autonomous operation.

PC-Driven Mode

Connected via USB, the HERM delivers full digital data acquisition and remote instrument control. All parameters are set through software, eliminating the risk of accidental manual adjustments.

Software & Integration

The HERM LB 500 supports multiple software platforms to fit seamlessly into your existing workflow:

• RadioStar Software — Berthold's dedicated control and evaluation software combining sophisticated measurement capabilities with an intuitive user interface
• Chromeleon™ Driver — Full instrument control via the ThermoFisher Scientific™ Chromeleon™ Chromatography Data System (CDS). The driver is fully certified and digitally signed by ThermoFisher Scientific™, supporting versions 6.x and 7.x
• OpenLab Driver — Seamless integration into the Agilent OpenLab CDS for laboratories running Agilent chromatography platforms

Technical Specifications

Detection
Detection Device	NaI crystal coupled to low-noise photon counting PMT
Detection Unit	State-of-the-art ultrasensitive PMT coupled to 1-inch NaI detector
Cell Compatibility	Admixture cells (Z type); Solid scintillator low-background gamma/PET cells (MX type)
Cell Size Range	10 – 1000 µL
Interface & I/O
Interface	USB port (mini USB connector)
Inputs	Start signal (contact closure)
Outputs	TTL signal output (raw data); Analog signal 0–1 V with 16-bit resolution; 2 programmable relay outputs
Software
Control Options	RadioStar software; Chromeleon™ driver (certified, digitally signed by ThermoFisher Scientific™); OpenLab driver
Power & Environment
Power Supply	6 V DC (via wide range mains adapter)
Regulations	CE
Warranty	1-year parts and labor
Physical Specifications
Electronics	210 × 60 × 120 mm (W × H × D); 1 kg
NaI Detector	140 × 180 × 100 mm (W × H × D); 2 kg
Lead Shielding	150 × 350 × 180 mm (W × H × D); 25 kg

 

 

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