THERMOCOUPLES - THE ARIZONA EXPERIENCE WITH IN-HOUSE MANUFACTURED PROBES

The performance of several different types of multisensor thermocouple probes have been tested to determine the feasibility of each type for use in the hyperthermia clinic. All of the probes tested were manufactured in-house, and a detailed description of the construction process will be presented. The overall performance of the probes in terms of robustness, calibration, conduction errors, and response time will be described. In particular, this study describes our experience with in-house manufactured thermocouples over the past several years. The results indicate that when strict quality assurance guidelines are followed, in-house manufactured thermocouples perform satisfactorily-thereby providing an alternative to purchasing probes and measurement systems from commercial vendors if the proper resources are available.