Dynamic emergency radiation monitor

• US 7,205,544 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerrold T. Bushberg
• Original Assignee: Jerrold T. Bushberg
• Inventors: Bushberg, Jerrold T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gaworecki; Mark R.
• Application Number:
  US11/351,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20060237648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 250/336.1
• US Class Current: 250/336.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/02 Dosimeters G01T1/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments

Abstract

A dynamic radiation monitor having a detector coupled to a computer to determine at any given location, the amount of time a person has before a pre-selected maximum permissible radiation exposure is received. The device dynamically calculates and outputs the user'"'"'s permissible stay time for a given area based on a personalized maximum permissible dose, and adjusts in real time the output based on elapsed time and changing exposure rate. The device also provides the user audio and visual feedback such as varying background colors for different stay time ranges.

Claims

1. A personal radiation monitor, comprising:

a processor responsive to a radiation detector;

said radiation detector configured to produce real time radiation exposure data;

said processor configured for calculating one or more characteristics of an individual'"'"'s radiation exposure;

said processor further configured to continuously recalculate said radiation exposure data to update the one or more radiation exposure characteristics; and

a display responsive to information provided by said processor, said display adapted to display at least one of said or more radiation exposure characteristics as a primary signal from said processor;

said processor further configured to transmit a secondary signal to said individual;

said secondary signal correlating to a range of values of one of said one or more radiation exposure characteristics;

wherein said one or more radiation exposure characteristics further comprise a stay time based on the individual'"'"'s maximum permissible radiation dose limit, said processor further configured for continuously recalculating said stay time to accommodate for the accumulative exposure level or changing radiation dose rates;

wherein said processor is configured to output said stay time to the display at a display time interval; and

wherein said display time interval locks the value of the display for a specified period of time.

2. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 1:

wherein said display comprises an illuminated background responsive to said secondary signal; and

wherein said illuminated background color is configured to change color upon one of said one or more radiation exposure characteristics exceeding a threshold limit outside said range of values.

3. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 2:

wherein said display background is configured to illuminate a first color upon a radiation exposure characteristic falling within a first range of values, a second color upon a radiation exposure characteristic falling within a second range of values, and a third color upon a radiation exposure characteristic falling within a third range of values.

4. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 2:

wherein said processor is further configured to transmit a tertiary signal to said individual;

said tertiary signal comprising an audio signal having a rate associated with said range of values; and

wherein said audio signal rate is configured to change upon one of said one or more radiation exposure characteristics exceeding a threshold limit outside said range of values.

5. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 2, wherein said one or more radiation exposure characteristics comprise an accumulative radiation exposure level.

6. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 5, wherein said one or more second radiation exposure characteristics further comprise a radiation dose rate.

7. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 6, wherein said processor is configured to average the radiation dose rate over a period of time to stabilize the display of the stay time in fluctuating radiation exposure environments.

8. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 6, wherein the display is configured to display two or more of either the radiation dose rate, accumulative dose, or stay time simultaneously.

9. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 6, wherein the display is configured to display one of the one or more radiation exposure characteristics as a primary readout.

10. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 9, wherein one or more of the remaining radiation exposure characteristics are simultaneously displayed on a status meter.

11. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of controls coupled to the processor.

12. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 11, wherein the controls are configured to allow parameters of said radiation exposure characteristics to be pre-programmed by the individual.

13. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 11, wherein the controls are configured to allow the primary readout to be toggled between the one or more radiation exposure characteristics.

14. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 2, wherein the background color of the display changes color when the stay time exceeds a threshold limit outside said range of values.

15. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 2, wherein the display is further configured to transmit a pre-programmed message upon a specified radiation exposure characteristic value.

16. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

one or more illumination sources in proximity to said display;

wherein said one or more illumination sources are responsive to said secondary signal so as to communicate one or more radiation exposure characteristics exceeding a threshold limit outside said range of values.

17. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 1:

wherein said secondary signal comprises an audio signal having a rate associated with said range of values;

wherein said audio signal rate is configured to change upon one of said one or more radiation exposure characteristics exceeding a threshold limit outside said range of values.

18. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a communication port to allow parameters of said radiation exposure characteristics to be programmed remotely by an individual.

19. A personal radiation monitor comprising:

a processor responsive to a radiation detector;

said radiation detector configured to produce real time radiation exposure data;

said processor configured for calculating one or more characteristics of an individual'"'"'s radiation exposure;

said processor further configured to continuously recalculate said radiation exposure data to update the one or more radiation exposure characteristics; and

a display responsive to information provided by said processor, said display adapted to display at least one of said or more radiation exposure characteristics as a primary signal from said processor;

said processor further configured to transmit a secondary signal to said individual;

said secondary signal correlating to a range of values of one of said one or more radiation exposure characteristics;

wherein said display comprises an illuminated background responsive to said secondary signal;

wherein said illuminated background color is configured to change color upon one of said one or more radiation exposure characteristics exceeding a threshold limit outside said range of value;

wherein said display background is configured to illuminate a first color upon a radiation exposure characteristic falling within a first range of values, a second color upon a radiation exposure characteristic falling within a second range of values, and a third color upon a radiation exposure characteristic falling within a third range of values; and

wherein the display background is configured to flash the third color upon a radiation exposure characteristic falling within a fourth range of values.

20. A personal radiation monitor, comprising:

a detector configured for producing real time radiation exposure data;

a processor responsive to said detector and configured for calculating a stay time based on an individual'"'"'s maximum permissible radiation dose limit, said processor further configured for continuously recalculating said stay time based on the individual'"'"'s accumulated exposure and radiation exposure rate; and

a display responsive to information provided by said processor, said display adapted for displaying at least said stay time data from said processor, said display having a variable background that changes color based on changes in said stay time data;

wherein said display exhibits a first color for a stay time greater than a first time period, a second color for a stay time less than the first time period, and a third color for a stay time less than the second time period.

21. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 20,

wherein, as the stay time reaches less than a third time period, the display flashes the third color.

22. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 20:

wherein said processor is further configured to transmit an audio signal to said individual;

said audio signal having a rate associated with said stay time; and

wherein said audio signal rate is configured to change in response to changes in said stay time data.

23. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 20, wherein said display is further configured to exhibit the individual'"'"'s accumulated exposure and radiation exposure rate.

24. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 23, wherein the display is configured to display two or more of either the radiation exposure rate, accumulative exposure or stay time simultaneously.

25. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 24:

wherein the display is configured to display the stay time as a primary readout; and

wherein the exposure rate and accumulative exposure are displayed simultaneously on separate status meters.

26. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 25:

wherein said processor is configured to output said stay time to the display according to a display time interval; and

wherein said display time interval locks the value of the display for a specified period of time.

27. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

a plurality of controls coupled to the processor;

wherein said controls are configured to allow parameters of the maximum permissible exposure, stay time, accumulated exposure and radiation exposure rate to be pre-programmed by the individual.

28. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 27, wherein the controls are configured to allow the primary readout to be toggled between the stay time, accumulated exposure, and radiation exposure rate.

29. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 20, wherein the display is further configured to transmit a pre-programmed message in response to said stay time data.

30. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

a passive radiation detector configured to provide further radiation exposure data.

31. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 30, wherein the passive radiation detector comprises a dosimeter strip.

32. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 30, wherein the radiation monitor is configured to allow the passive radiation detector to be changed out to account for different operators or events.

33. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

a housing configured to support the processor, radiation and display; and

wherein the housing is further configured to support attachment of a passive radiation detector to the radiation monitor.

34. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 33, wherein the passive radiation detector is integrated with the housing.

35. A radiation monitor as recited in claim 33, wherein the housing is further configured to allow the radiation detector to be changed out to account for different operators or events.

36. A method of monitoring radiation exposure levels, comprising:

inputting an individual'"'"'s maximum permissible radiation dose limit;

detecting radiation exposure levels at a location at or near the individual;

calculating a stay time as a function of the detected radiation exposure levels and the maximum permissible radiation dose limit;

displaying said stay time against an illuminated background;

continuously recalculating said stay time according to the individual'"'"'s detected accumulated exposure and radiation exposure rate;

updating the display of said stay time;

changing the background color in response to said stay time falling outside a predetermined range of values; and

transmitting an audio signal to said individual;

said audio signal having a rate associated with said stay time;

wherein said audio signal rate is configured to change upon said stay time data.

37. A method of monitoring radiation exposure levels comprising:

inputting an individual'"'"'s maximum permissible radiation dose limit;

detecting radiation exposure levels at a location at or near the individual;

calculating a stay time as a function of the detected radiation exposure levels and the maximum permissible radiation dose limit;

displaying said stay time against an illuminated background;

continuously recalculating said stay time according to the individual'"'"'s detected accumulated exposure and radiation exposure rate;

updating the display of said stay time; and

changing the background color in response to said stay time falling outside a predetermined range of values;

wherein changing the background color comprises;

illuminating a first color for a stay time greater than a first time period;

illuminating a second color for a stay time less than the first time period; and

illuminating a third color for a stay time less than a third second time period.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

flashing the third color in response to the stay time having a value less than a third time period.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

displaying the individual'"'"'s stay time, accumulated exposure and radiation exposure rate simultaneously.

40. A method as recited in claim 39, further comprising:

displaying the stay time as a primary readout, and

simultaneously displaying the exposure rate and accumulative exposure on separate status meters.

41. A method as recited in claim 40, further comprising:

toggling the display of the primary between the stay time, accumulated exposure and radiation exposure rate by pressing a control button.

42. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising:

displaying a pre-programmed message in response to said stay time data.