Optimized Personal Dosimeter Kiosk for Mass Casualty Triage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation exposure testing methods are inadequate for rapid and accurate assessment of ionizing radiation in mass casualty incidents, as they are invasive, time-consuming, and unable to efficiently screen large numbers of people, leading to delayed medical interventions and increased morbidity and mortality.
Innovation Solution
A portable, non-invasive self-testing system using an Optimized Personal Dosimeter (OPD) embedded in a lightweight kiosk that allows individuals to quickly and reliably measure radiation exposure, providing near real-time results and facilitating triage and resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current radiation exposure testing methods are used, then measurement capability is provided, but the process is invasive, time-consuming, and unable to efficiently screen large numbers of people
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service radiation testing where individuals insert their own personal dosimeters into the kiosk and receive immediate results without requiring medical personnel involvement. This self-service approach dramatically increases screening capacity and reduces time loss by eliminating the need for staff to manually process each test.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sampling and laboratory analysis systems with an automated optical scanning system. The personal dosimeters contain embedded optical elements that can be directly scanned and read by the kiosk, eliminating the need for physical sample extraction, laboratory processing, and manual data entry, thereby increasing productivity and reducing test time.
2Measurement precision
If current radiation exposure testing methods are used, then measurement capability is provided, but the process is invasive and cannot provide rapid results
Solution Approach 1:
The personal dosimeters are pre-loaded with optimized optical materials and calibration data before distribution to the public. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the dosimeter is inserted into the kiosk, the measurement can be performed immediately and accurately without requiring on-site sample collection or laboratory processing, enabling rapid result delivery while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an optical copy of the radiation exposure data stored in the personal dosimeter through non-contact scanning. Instead of physically extracting samples or requiring complex data retrieval processes, the kiosk optically reads the embedded information and immediately processes the results, eliminating time delays associated with physical handling and laboratory analysis while preserving measurement accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If invasive testing methods are used, then direct physiological indicators can be obtained, but the process is not scalable for mass casualty incidents
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the radiation testing function into two independent components: (1) the personal dosimeter carried by each individual, and (2) the portable kiosk for batch processing. This segmentation allows the dosimeters to be distributed to large populations in advance, and when needed, multiple simple kiosks can be deployed to handle mass casualty incidents efficiently, greatly improving scalability without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The personal dosimeter serves multiple functions: it acts as a radiation measurement device, a data storage medium, and a identification card. The kiosk serves multiple functions including optical scanning, data processing, result display, and communication with emergency response systems. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate systems needed and simplifies deployment during mass casualty incidents, improving adaptability while maintaining manageable complexity.
4Productivity
If rapid screening is implemented, then more people can be screened quickly, but measurement accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the measurement parameter from physical sample analysis to optical signal detection. The personal dosimeters contain optical materials that absorb and store radiation energy, which is then read as an optical signal by the kiosk. This parameter change enables rapid non-contact measurement while maintaining accuracy, as the optical reading process can be performed instantly without the time-consuming physical analysis required by traditional methods, thereby increasing throughput without sacrificing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, accurate, and efficient screening of large populations, allowing for immediate medical attention to those needing it while freeing up resources and minimizing panic and unrest, by providing instantaneous results and aiding in the allocation of medical resources.
Implementation Method 1
A significant amount of funding has been spent in the development of medical and nonmedical countermeasures that are directed at counteracting the consequences of an intentional attack/accident by an improvised nuclear/radioactive device. When a victim/patient is exposed to ionizing radiation, such as that emitted as a result of the intentional/accidental detonation of a nuclear/radiological device
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a method and system that facilitates triage of thousands to millions of potential patients within a relatively short period of time by scanning of a substrate of a designated card issued to a victim. The method and the system comprise a plurality of noninvasive self-testing test devices located at a plurality of remote peripheral self-testing sites, and each one of the plurality of noninvasive self-testing test devices facilitates self-testing of the substrate of the designated card. Each of the plurality of noninvasive self-testing test devices provides test results of the scan of the substrate of the designated card, and the potential patients are identified, then subsequently screened and triaged based upon the test results of the scan of the substrate of the designated card.