Instadose™

A World of Information at Your Fingertips

The knowledge center from Quantum Products offers up-to-date news about radiation devices and best dosimetry practices. Quantum Products strives to provide relevant information to help people understand the importance of radiation monitoring.



What is Dosimetry?
How to Wear the Device
FAQ
Difference Between Dosimeters
Should I Wear a Device?

Dosimetry Essentials

Dosimetry is the science of measuring the deposited radiation energy, or radiation dose, resulting from the exposure to an ionizing radiation source, such as an x-ray machine or a radioactive source. A personal dosimeter is a device used to measure the accumulated radiation dose in human tissue. Workers who may be exposed to radiation routinely carry personal dosimeters.

Before the invention of instadose™, radiation workers' only option would be to wear a dosimeter for a period of time and send it in for processing to find out their accumulated dose for the wear period. With instadose, users can determine their accumulated dose instantly at any time by plugging the device into the USB port of any computer with internet access.

Why Is It Important to Wear a Dosimeter?

Wearing a dosimeter on a daily basis is important to the health and safety of employees who work in radiation environments. The only way to determine an employee's real accumulated dose level is to have them wear a dosimeter every day and to check their dose reports regularly. Increased exposure to radiation can potentially increase the risk of illness. Therefore, monitoring your employees' accumulated radiation dose over time is important. This will ensure that they will not experience any significant health risk due to radiation. In the rare case where an x-ray machine malfunctions or there is an error during a procedure, unacceptably high levels of exposure to radiation can be detected early before any significant danger occurs.

By using a dosimeter device in your practice you can:

• Confirm safety procedures are being followed.
• Detect faulty equipment or gaps in safety practices.
• Monitor pregnant workers.

Guidelines

Quantum Products recommends the following wear and care guidelines for instadose™ dosimeters. These guidelines will help to ensure accurate dose readings for your employees.

Wear

Instadose dosimeters should be worn on the front of the torso. They are commonly clipped to clothing at waist or chest level.

Care

Do not store instadose dosimeters next to radiation sources. Devices should not be worn outside the workplace, or during personal medical procedures. Companies that collect all dosimeters at the end of each shift and store them in a central location away from a radiation source can avoid having to replace dosimeters which are accidentally lost.

How Do I Create an Account Within AMP?
If you purchased the instadose devices you will use the username and password you created during the purchase process.

How Do I Assign an Instadose™ to a User?
Do NOT connect an instadose device to your computer until after you have installed the instadose driver. The driver will be downloaded during the registration process. Each device must be activated by completing the four step registration process during which devices can be assigned to users. Users are assigned a username and temporary password. Users will be prompted to change the password the first time logging into AMP.

Users must also download the instadose driver before connecting the device to their computer system. If the driver is not installed on the system the following message will appear on the homepage “First time using this computer? Download the driver- process may take up to 15 minutes

Can Someone Else Obtain a Reading from My Device?
No, each device has a unique serial number embedded into the device. Once the device is registered to an individual, that device is associated with that wearer. To obtain a dose reading from the device you must login to AMP (Account Management Program). Unless you have the username and password associated with that device you will not have access.

How Long Can I Keep an Instadose Device?
Unlike other x-ray badges on the market that need to be returned for processing to obtain dose levels, the technology behind instadose allows users to perform their own dose reading via the internet eliminating the need to return the device for processing.

Do I Need a Control Dosimeter?
No, a control badge is used to subtract background radiation exposure during transit and while the badge is stored at the customer's facility. This exposure is accounted for and removed through the proprietary algorithm deployed by instadose.

What If I Forget My Password?
Simply click "AMP My Account Login" and then click "Forgot Password" and a temporary password will be sent to you. Alternatively you may email customer support at: info@quantumbadges.com

How Do I Know My Device Is Working?
Every time the device is plugged into the USB port a self diagnostic is run on the device and any errors that are detected will be reported to the user.

How Often Should I Read My Instadose?
As part of a good “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” (ALARA) program, it is recommended devices be read once a week. Using the principles of ALARA means doing everything you can to minimize the affects of radiation to yourself and your patients.

Do I need to install any special software?
No, but your computer must have a USB port or a dongle if you are using a MacAir to perform readings.

What address do I send payment to?
For customers paying via a Purchase Order, orders will be shipped after payment is processed. Please remit payment to:
2652 McGaw Avenue Irvine, CA 92614

Are there system requirements for instadose to work properly on my computer?
Yes, you must have NET Framework 2.0 installed on your system. The following operating systems and browsers are supported:

Operating systems:

Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows vista
MAC OS 10.3 - 10.5.4

Browsers:

IE6 with SP1
IE7
Firefox 3
Safari 3 and 4

System Requirements

Passive Dosimeters
Passive dosimeters accumulate dose from the time it is first used until the time it is processed. Passive dosimeters include TLD , film, and OSL.

TLD dosimeters are made from one or more thermoluminescent elements that measure cumulative exposure to ionizing radiation.

Film dosimeters contain a small piece of photographic film to record exposure to gamma rays, X-rays, and beta particles. Film badge images are permanent records that are able to distinguish between different energies of photons and dosages of different types of radiation.

OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) detector is made of aluminum oxide crystals (Al2O3:C). OSL dosimeters measure the amount of radiation exposure by stimulating the Al2O3 material with green light from either a laser or light emitting diode source. The resulting blue light emitted from the Al2O3 is proportional to the amount of radiation exposure. Both high and low-energy photons and beta particles can be measured with this technique.

While TLD and OSL dosimeters have a practical useful life of up to twelve months, the maximum wear period for the film dosimeter is typically four months. After that time, it is necessary to have a replacement badge sent and current badges must be sent in for processing. Once the badge is processed a radiation report is sent indicating measurable dose levels for the wear period.


Instadose™
Instadose is a small, rugged dosimeter based on direct ion storage technology. Instadose does not require batteries to capture radiation exposure, it is always on. The device does not need to be sent in for processing to view dose levels. Dose levels can be viewed at any time from any computer with a USB plug and internet access. Instadose is the perfect device to accurately measure photon dose.

Product Comparison

	instadose	Luxel   Dosimeters	Film   Dosimeters	TLD   Dosimeters
Instant reading of dose	X
Measures exposure to gamma and x-ray	X	X	X	X
Multiple reads	X	X	X
Does not need to be sent in for processing	X
No reader required	X

Radiation monitoring should be considered if you work in an occupation where X-ray equipment or radioactive research materials are utilized.

Why Radiation Can Be Dangerous
Ionizing radiation can be found in certain equipment and manufacturing environments such as X-ray machines. Ionizing radiation cannot be seen, heard, tasted, smelled, or felt in any way. Therefore it is important that those working in an environment where equipment is being utilized that emits ionized radiation be monitored on a regular basis.

Measuring Radiation
Scientists use terms such as roentgens, rads, and rems to measure radiation levels. A dosimeter can be used to measure the exposure of radiation.

For employees who work in a radiation environment, the only way to know your real exposure level is to wear a dosimeter every day and to review your exposure reports regularly.

For Women of Child-Bearing Age
All women should be aware of the dangers of radiation exposure and its potential effects. While exposure may be considered relatively low in dental offices, knowing your cumulative exposure levels ensures your safety. If you are of child-bearing age or pregnant and working where the potential for radiation exposure exists, you should be aware of your surrounding environment and how it could affect the health of your baby.

Although proper safety measures may be taken by wearing lead aprons, the possibility of exposure to radiation always exists. Make sure you take precautions from these potential risks by wearing a monitoring device. Women of child bearing years who work in an occupation or office where the potential for radiation exposure exists should be aware of her surrounding environment and how it could affect the health of her newborn baby.

How Can X-rays Affect the Unborn Child?
An unborn child is more sensitive to the affects of radiation exposure due to the rapidly dividing cells that naturally occur during development. As the cells of the embryo are rapidly dividing and growing into specialized cells and tissues, radiation can cause changes in these cells, which could slightly increase the chance of birth defect or certain illnesses, like leukemia, later in life. There is scientific disagreement about whether the small amounts of radiation used in diagnostic radiology can actually harm the unborn child, but it is always better to err on the side of caution.