Methods and apparatus for radiographic source exposure

A radiographic source exposure device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a radiographic source capsule within the housing, the radiographic source capsule having a radionuclide;
• a shield within the housing and configured to shield the radiographic source capsule and to permit extension of the radiographic source capsule to expose the radiographic source capsule;
• one or more sensors coupled to the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data comprising one or more of:
• a count of exposure cycles, a length between the radiographic source capsule position and a stored position, a surface dose, a source decay of the radiographic source, a locking device locking mode status, an unlocking key status, a radiographic source exposure device orientation, a particulate count within the shield, a shock event, or shield wear;
• a processing system within the housing and configured to store the sensor data and output the sensor data;
• and
• a power source within the housing and configured to provide power to the processing system, wherein the power source comprises a battery, and
• wherein the power source comprises a photovoltaic cell configured to convert radiation from the radiographic source to electrical energy when the radiographic source is in a stored position and store the electrical energy in the battery.

A radiographic source exposure device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a radiographic source capsule within the housing, the radiographic source capsule having a radionuclide;
• a shield within the housing and configured to shield the radiographic source capsule and to permit extension of the radiographic source capsule to expose the radiographic source capsule;
• one or more sensors coupled to the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data comprising one or more of:
• a count of exposure cycles, a length between the radiographic source capsule position and a stored position, a surface dose, a source decay of the radiographic source, a locking device locking mode status, an unlocking key status, a radiographic source exposure device orientation, a particulate count within the shield, a shock event, or shield wear;
• a processing system within the housing and configured to store the sensor data and output the sensor data;
• and
• a power source within the housing and configured to provide power to the processing system,
• wherein the one or more sensors comprise a proximity sensor configured to detect when the radiographic source is in a predetermined position to count the exposure cycles.

A radiographic source exposure device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a radiographic source capsule within the housing, the radiographic source capsule having a radionuclide;
• a shield within the housing and configured to shield the radiographic source capsule and to permit extension of the radiographic source capsule to expose the radiographic source capsule;
• one or more sensors coupled to the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data comprising one or more of:
• a count of exposure cycles, a length between the radiographic source capsule position and a stored position, a surface dose, a source decay of the radiographic source, a locking device locking mode status, an unlocking key status, a radiographic source exposure device orientation, a particulate count within the shield, a shock event, or shield wear;
• a processing system within the housing and configured to store the sensor data and output the sensor data;
• and
• a power source within the housing and configured to provide power to the processing system,
• wherein the one or more sensors comprise an odometer configured to measure a length between the radiographic source capsule position and the stored position.

A radiographic source exposure device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a radiographic source capsule within the housing, the radiographic source capsule having a radionuclide;
• a shield within the housing and configured to shield the radiographic source capsule and to permit extension of the radiographic source capsule to expose the radiographic source capsule;
• one or more sensors coupled to the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data comprising one or more of:
• a count of exposure cycles, a length between the radiographic source capsule position and a stored position, a surface dose, a source decay of the radiographic source, a locking device locking mode status, an unlocking key status, a radiographic source exposure device orientation, a particulate count within the shield, a shock event, or shield wear;
• a processing system within the housing and configured to store the sensor data and output the sensor data;
• and
• a power source within the housing and configured to provide power to the processing system,
• wherein the one or more sensors comprise a dosimeter configured to detect whether the radiographic source capsule is in a stored position.

A radiographic source exposure device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a radiographic source capsule within the housing, the radiographic source capsule having a radionuclide;
• a shield within the housing and configured to shield the radiographic source capsule and to permit extension of the radiographic source capsule to expose the radiographic source capsule;
• one or more sensors coupled to the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data comprising one or more of:
• a count of exposure cycles, a length between the radiographic source capsule position and a stored position, a surface dose, a source decay of the radiographic source, a locking device locking mode status, an unlocking key status, a radiographic source exposure device orientation, a particulate count within the shield, a shock event, or shield wear;
• a processing system within the housing and configured to store the sensor data and output the sensor data;
• and
• a power source within the housing and configured to provide power to the processing system,
• wherein the one or more sensors comprise a proximity sensor configured to detect the locking device locking mode status by detecting a position of the locking device.

A radiographic source exposure device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a radiographic source capsule within the housing, the radiographic source capsule having a radionuclide;
• a shield within the housing and configured to shield the radiographic source capsule and to permit extension of the radiographic source capsule to expose the radiographic source capsule;
• one or more sensors coupled to the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data comprising one or more of:
• a count of exposure cycles, a length between the radiographic source capsule position and a stored position, a surface dose, a source decay of the radiographic source, a locking device locking mode status, an unlocking key status, a radiographic source exposure device orientation, a particulate count within the shield, a shock event, or shield wear;
• a processing system within the housing and configured to store the sensor data and output the sensor data;
• and
• a power source within the housing and configured to provide power to the processing system,
• wherein the one or more sensors comprise a proximity sensor configured to detect the unlocking key status.

A radiographic source exposure device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a radiographic source capsule within the housing, the radiographic source capsule having a radionuclide;
• a shield within the housing and configured to shield the radiographic source capsule and to permit extension of the radiographic source capsule to expose the radiographic source capsule;
• one or more sensors coupled to the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data comprising one or more of:
• a count of exposure cycles, a length between the radiographic source capsule position and a stored position, a surface dose, a source decay of the radiographic source, a locking device locking mode status, an unlocking key status, a radiographic source exposure device orientation, a particulate count within the shield, a shock event, or shield wear;
• a processing system within the housing and configured to store the sensor data and output the sensor data;
• and
• a power source within the housing and configured to provide power to the processing system,
• wherein the one or more sensors comprise a particle counter configured to measure the particulate count within the shield.

A radiographic source exposure device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a radiographic source capsule within the housing, the radiographic source capsule having a radionuclide;
• a shield within the housing and configured to shield the radiographic source capsule and to permit extension of the radiographic source capsule to expose the radiographic source capsule;
• one or more sensors coupled to the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect sensor data comprising one or more of:
• a count of exposure cycles, a length between the radiographic source capsule position and a stored position, a surface dose, a source decay of the radiographic source, a locking device locking mode status, an unlocking key status, a radiographic source exposure device orientation, a particulate count within the shield, a shock event, or shield wear;
• a processing system within the housing and configured to store the sensor data and output the sensor data;
• and
• a power source within the housing and configured to provide power to the processing system,
• wherein the one or more sensors comprise a wear sensor configured to detect a worn-through condition in a source tube, the radiographic source capsule being housed within the source tube.