<p>This thesis work consisted of the development of a virtual instrument that automates enzyme activity measurements and spectrum measurements with the spectrophotometer UVmini-1240. The purpose was to expand the functionality of the instrument, to eliminate the human error and to decrease the amount of time spent on measurements. A PC was connected to the UVmini-1240 via a RS-232C interface and the cell position and temperature was regulated with a CPS-240A controller. The new interface allows all the parameters to be set in the same place. It allows a visualization of the continuous monitoring of the sample absorbance and the option to save the data for post-processing. Also a module for measuring the spectrum of a sample in the wavelength range of 190 nm to 1100 nm is included. The graphical programming language LabView was used to develop the virtual instrument. This thesis work also contained measurement series of the catalase enzyme activity. These were carried out to determine the best storage temperature for the catalase solution and to determine the optimal surrounding temperature for the highest activity in the catalase solution. The conclusions were that the activity does not change considerably the first week of storage, not matter the temperature, and that the activity goes down when the surrounding temperature reaches above 30° C. These measurements were part of a bigger project to develop an ultrasonic method for measuring enzyme activity at the Institute of Acoustics at C.S.I.C in Madrid.</p>

This thesis work consisted of the development of a virtual instrument that automates enzyme activity measurements and spectrum measurements with the spectrophotometer UVmini-1240. The purpose was to expand the functionality of the instrument, to eliminate the human error and to decrease the amount of time spent on measurements. A PC was connected to the UVmini-1240 via a RS-232C interface and the cell position and temperature was regulated with a CPS-240A controller. The new interface allows all the parameters to be set in the same place. It allows a visualization of the continuous monitoring of the sample absorbance and the option to save the data for post-processing. Also a module for measuring the spectrum of a sample in the wavelength range of 190 nm to 1100 nm is included. The graphical programming language LabView was used to develop the virtual instrument. This thesis work also contained measurement series of the catalase enzyme activity. These were carried out to determine the best storage temperature for the catalase solution and to determine the optimal surrounding temperature for the highest activity in the catalase solution. The conclusions were that the activity does not change considerably the first week of storage, not matter the temperature, and that the activity goes down when the surrounding temperature reaches above 30° C. These measurements were part of a bigger project to develop an ultrasonic method for measuring enzyme activity at the Institute of Acoustics at C.S.I.C in Madrid.

Après l’incorporation de radionucléides dans l’organisme, l’imagerie quantitative en médecine nucléaire et l’anthroporadiométrie sont utilisés pour quantifier l’activité retenue. L’étalonnage de ces systèmes in vivo peut être amélioré afin de tenir en compte de la variabilité individuelle. En vue d’optimiser la mesure de l’activité retenue, des fantômes d’étalonnage innovants ont été réalisés par impression 3D. L’infographie 3D a été utilisée pour la conception, en parallèle avec un travail d’ingénierie permettant l’inclusion de radionucléides et l’adaptation aux besoins des utilisateurs. Un jeu de fantômes thyroïdiens adapté à l’âge a été développé et utilisé pour améliorer la mesure anthroporadiométrique thyroïdienne des enfants. À la suite d’une étude systématique, les coefficients d’étalonnage des installations de routine et de crise de l’IRSN ont été déterminés pour l’adulte et les enfants de 5, 10 et 15 ans. Un fantôme thyroïdien pathologique a été développé en plus du jeu de fantômes thyroïdiens dédié à la crise pour améliorer la mesure de fixation thyroïdienne en médecine nucléaire. Une étude multicentrique a été réalisée pour optimiser l’étalonnage afin de mieux personnaliser le traitement des pathologies bénignes de la thyroïde. Pour l’anthroporadiométrie pulmonaire, une famille de fantômes de poitrine a été développée pour améliorer la surveillance des travailleuses du nucléaire. Finalement, ce travail de recherche a permis de développer des fantômes adaptés aux besoins et de démontrer leur utilité pour la quantification de l’activité en dosimétrie interne. / Following the incorporation of radionuclides in the body, quantitative imaging in nuclear medicine and in vivo spectrometry measurements are used to quantify the retained activity. The calibration of these in vivo systems can be improved to take account of individual variability. To optimize the measurements of the activity retained, innovative calibration phantoms were created and manufactured by 3D printing. 3D computer graphics were used for the design, coupled with an engineering work allowing the inclusion of radionuclides and the fit to users’ needs. A set of age-specific thyroid phantoms has been developed and used to improve the thyroid in vivo measurement of children. Following a systematic study, the calibration coefficients for IRSN emergency and routine installations were determined for adults and 5, 10 and 15 year old children. A pathological thyroid phantom has been developed in addition to the set of thyroid phantoms dedicated to the emergency to improve the thyroid uptake measurement in nuclear medicine. A multicentre study was carried out to optimize the calibration so that treatment of thyroid benign diseases moves towards a better personalization. For lung in vivo measurement, a set of breast phantoms has been developed to improve the monitoring of female workers. Finally, this research work has allowed developing several phantoms adapted to the needs and their usefulness was proven for the quantification of the activity in internal dosimetry.