System for Wireless, Motion and Position-Sensing, Integrating Radiation Sensor and Energy Harvester for Occupational and Environmental Dosimetry

• US 20140312242A1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landauer, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Landauer, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: VALENTINO, Daniel J., YODER, R. Craig
• Granted Patent: US 9,063,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/00 Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0219 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0488 with spectral filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/14 by making use of gyroscopes gyroscopes per se G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/02 Dosimeters G01T1/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/026 Semiconductor dose-rate meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data when an individual wearing a dosimeter is active. Also described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data whether an individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to radiation. Also described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data whether a dosimeter was in a particular location when the dosimeter was exposed to radiation. Also described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data where on the body of an individual the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to radiation. Also described are a method and apparatus for determining based on motion data the probability that an individual is wearing a dosimeter that is assigned to the individual.

Claims

1. A method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining a first period of time that an individual has been active based on motion data for a dosimeter worn by the individual and time data associated with the motion data, and

(b) reporting the first period of time the individual has been active via a visual display device and/or via saving the first period of time the individual has been active to a storage medium,

wherein the dosimeter comprises one or more motion sensors for generating the motion data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises comparing accelerometer displacements measurements from the dosimeter to the time data to thereby determine the first period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following step:

(c) determining a second period of time that dosimeter has been worn by the individual based on motion data for the dosimeter.

4. A method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining whether an individual was wearing a dosimeter during a monitored period based upon motion and time data obtained from the dosimeter, and

(b) determining whether an individual was wearing the dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation sources based upon measured radiation dosage data for the dosimeter, motion data for the dosimeter, time data associated with the radiation dosage data, and time data associated with the motion data,

(c) reporting whether the dosimeter was worn during a monitored period via display on a visual display device and/or via saving whether the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation sources to a storage medium, wherein the dosimeter comprises one or more motion sensors for generating the motion data, and

(d) reporting whether the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation sources via display on a visual display device and/or via saving whether the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses to a storage medium, wherein the dosimeter comprises one or more motion sensors for generating the motion data.

5. A method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining a dosimeter was in a location when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses based on radiation dosage data for the dosimeter, motion data for the dosimeter, time data associated with the radiation dosage data, time data associated with the motion data, and location data and location data for the dosimeter, and

(b) reporting whether the dosimeter was in the location when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses via display on a visual display device and/or via saving whether the dosimeter was in the location when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses to a storage medium,

wherein the dosimeter comprises one or more motion sensors for generating the motion data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the dosimeter comprises a device for generating a location beacon and wherein the location data based on data from the location beacon.

7. A method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining where on a body of an individual that the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses based motion data for the dosimeter and time data associated with the motion data, and

(b) reporting where on the body of the individual the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses via display on a visual display device and/or via saving whether the individual was wearing a dosimeter when the dosimeter was exposed to one or more radiation doses to a storage medium, wherein the dosimeter comprises one or more motion sensors for generating the motion data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more motion sensors cot rise an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

9. A method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining a probability that an individual wearing a dosimeter is the individual to whom the dosimeter is assigned based on motion data for the dosimeter, and

(b) reporting the probability that the individual wearing the dosimeter is the individual to whom the dosimeter is assigned via display on a visual display device and/or via saving the probability that the individual wearing the dosimeter is the individual to whom the dosimeter is assigned to a storage medium, wherein the dosimeter comprises one or more motion sensors for generating the motion data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more motion sensors comprise an accelerometer, a gyroscope and an energy harvester.