US 2014/0175291 A1 · Spatially-Aware Radiation Probe System and Method

Abstract

A spatially-aware radiation probe system/method allowing for detection and correction of radiation readings based on the position and/or movement of a radiation detector is disclosed. The system incorporates a radiation detector combined with a spatially-aware sensor to permit detection of spatial context parameters associated with the radiation detector and/or object being probed. This spatial context information is then used by analysis software to modify the detected radiation values and/or instruct the radiation probe operator as to appropriate measurement activity to ensure accurate radiation measurements. The spatially-aware sensor may include but is not limited to: distance sensors to determine the distance between the radiation detector and the object being monitored; accelerometers integrated within the radiation detector to detect movement of the radiation detector; and/or axial orientation sensors to determine the axial orientation of the radiation detector.

Claims60

Dependent claims

A spatially-aware radiation probe system comprising:

(a) radiation detector (RD);
(b) spatially-aware sensor (SAS);
(c) computing device (CD);
wherein
said RD is configured to detect radiation;
said RD is physically coupled to said SAS;
said SAS is configured to detect a spatial parameter associated with the spatial context of said RD;
said RD is electrically coupled to said CD and configured to transmit information on said detected radiation to said CD;
said SAS is electrically coupled to said CD and configured to transmit said spatial parameter to said CD;
and
said CD is configured to generate measurement coordination commands (MCC) that supervise the measurement of said detected radiation based on said spatial parameter received from said SAS.

8 more elements

A tangible non-transitory computer usable medium having computer-readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computing device to execute a spatially-aware radiation probe method, said method comprising:

(1) measuring radiation of a monitored subject/object using a radiation detector (RD) to generate measured radiation parameters;
(2) detecting the spatial context of said radiation detector and/or monitored subject/object using a spatially-aware sensor (SAS) to generate spatial context parameters;
(3) transmitting said measured radiation and spatial context parameters to a computing device (CD) for analysis;
(4) analyzing said measured radiation parameters using said spatial context parameters;
(5) based on said analysis, determining if corrective operator action is required, and if not, proceeding to step (8);
(6) retrieving operator coordination instructions from an operator measurement coordination database based on said corrective operator action;
(7) issuing operator generate measurement coordination commands (MCC) by said CD to supervise spatial manipulation of said radiation detector by an operator based on data retrieved from said operator coordination database and proceeding to step (1);
(8) modifying/correcting said measured radiation parameters using said spatial context parameters;
and
(9) logging said modified/corrected radiation measurement parameters to a computer database controlled by said computing device.

7 more elements

A spatially-aware radiation probe method comprising:

(1) entering a STANDBY mode in a computing device (CD) in which all radiation alarms are deactivated;
(2) determining with said CD if a spatially-aware sensor (SAS) is active/proximal to a monitored subject/object, and if not, proceeding to step (1);
(3) entering a FRISKING (dynamic) mode in said CD to detect background radiation using a radiation detector (RD);
(4) determining with said CD if said background radiation is at an acceptable level, and if not, proceeding to said step (3);
(5) determining with said CD if an alarm has been triggered, and if not, proceeding to said step (3);
(6) issuing operator generate measurement coordination commands (MCC) by said CD to supervise spatial manipulation of said RD prompting a user to inspect a suspect area on said monitored subject/object using said RD by positioning said RD proximal to said suspect area;
(7) entering a COUNTING mode in said CD;
(8) measuring radiation using said CD from said suspect area of said monitored subject/object using said RD to generate measured radiation value until an accuracy threshold is reached;
(9) determining if said measured radiation value is greater than a threshold for contamination, and if not, proceeding to step (11);
(10) presenting a CONTAMINATION message with said CD to said user and proceeding to step (12);
(11) presenting a NO CONTAMINATION message with said CD to said user;
and
(12) terminating said FRISKING/COUNTING modes in said CD and proceeding to said step (1).

10 more elements

(1) entering a STANDBY mode in a computing device (CD) in which all radiation alarms are deactivated;
(2) determining with said CD if a spatially-aware sensor (SAS) is active/proximal to a monitored subject/object, and if not, proceeding to step (1);
(3) entering a FRISKING (dynamic) mode in said CD to detect background radiation using a radiation detector (RD);
(4) determining with said CD if said background radiation is at an acceptable level, and if not, proceeding to said step (3);
(5) determining with said CD if an alarm has been triggered, and if not, proceeding to said step (3);
(6) issuing operator generate measurement coordination commands (MCC) by said CD to supervise spatial manipulation of said RD prompting a user to inspect a suspect area on said monitored subject/object using said RD by positioning said RD proximal to said suspect area;
(7) entering a COUNTING mode in said CD;
(8) measuring radiation using said CD from said suspect area of said monitored subject/object using said RD to generate measured radiation value until an accuracy threshold is reached;
(9) determining if said measured radiation value is greater than a threshold for contamination, and if not, proceeding to step (11);
(10) presenting a CONTAMINATION message with said CD to said user and proceeding to step (12);
(11) presenting a NO CONTAMINATION message with said CD to said user;
and
(12) terminating said FRISKING/COUNTING modes in said CD and proceeding to said step (1).

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spatially-Aware Radiation Probe System and Method

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Spatially-Aware Radiation Probe System and Method

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Abstract

Claims60