Dosimeter Developed for Interventional Radiology Procedures

An active dosimeter has been developed especially for interventional radiology that provides real time data regarding radiation exposure.

According to Unfors Ray Safe (Ulm, Germany), medical staff in hospitals and clinics worldwide are not yet sensitized enough to the risks of unnecessary radiation. The company recently presented its product innovation RaySafe i2 in Australia and Singapore.

With the help of the dosimetry system, medical staff can immediately adjust their behavioral routines and improve the radiation safety culture in their workplaces. “In the US, recent information campaigns have had a large impact raising awareness and motivation to optimize dose among patients. There remains a need for more training and education to give doctors and nurses the knowledge and confidence to work safely in a radiation environment,” explained Bart Leclou, vice president business area personal dosimetry at Unfors RaySafe.

Since the beginning of 2012, RaySafe i2 has already been available in several European countries and in North America. “RaySafe i2 has already attracted a lot of interest in Australia and Singapore,” continued Mr. Leclou. “Real time measurement and analysis are the most important arguments for the professional public.”

The personal dosimeters are easy to handle, maintenance-free, and can simply be attached to the work clothes. The collected data are sent wireless to the i2 real time display that is placed in the examination room, so that all staff members can see their current exposure. Colored bar charts provide an overview of individual dose, making it easy to allocate data to single users. The integrated software not only analyses but also gives access to time stamped dose data. As a result, hospital staff can change their behavior immediately in order to minimize their radiation exposure. All data is also available to hospital management for further analysis.

Studies presented in 2011 have shown that staff dose can be reduced significantly by using such measuring systems. They are already an integral part at renowned hospitals such as the Charité (Berlin, Germany). RaySafe i2, which has been approved in most European countries as well as in the United States and Canada, can be purchased directly from Unfors RaySafe or the major X-ray manufacturers. Following the product launch in Australia and Singapore, Unfors RaySafe will soon introduce RaySafe i2 in other Asian markets and also plans activities to additionally raise awareness of unnecessary radiation exposure.

According to Mr. Leclou, the overall awareness of unnecessary radiation is significantly higher in Europe and North America than in the rest of the world. This is due to recent campaigns such as the initiative “Image Gently/Image Wisely” in the United States by the American College of Radiology and Radiological Society of North America drawing attention to the matter of patient dose.

“Due to the growing knowledge among patients, the necessity of certain X-ray examinations is questioned more frequently.” However, hospital staff still has to pay more attention to keeping their personal dose within the limits, stressed the Unfors RaySafe manager. “The lead apron only covers some parts of the body while others--no less important--are still exposed to the harmful rays.”

Unfors RaySafe is the leading supplier of radiation measurement solutions in the medical field. Products range from personal dosimetry to quality assurance diagnostic X-ray equipment. They combine advanced technology, simple use, and transparent data overview with competitive pricing. Unfors RaySafe also provides extensive customer service and helps increase awareness of unnecessary radiation.

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