Licensable Technologies : Security & Defense

Dosimeter and Method for Using the Same

Abstract
A very sensitive dosimeter that detects ionizing radiation is described. The dosimeter includes a breakable sealed container. A solution of a reducing is inside the container. The dosimeter has an air-tight dosimeter body with a transparent portion and an opaque portion. The transparent portion includes a transparent chamber that holds the breakabble container with the reducing agent. The opaque portion includes an opaque chamber that holds an emulsion of silver salt (AgX) selected from silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide, and combinations of them. A passageway in the dosimeter provides fluid communication between the transparent chamber and the opaque chamber. The dosimeter may also include a chemical pH indicator in the breakable container that provides a detectable color change to the solution for a pH of about 3-10. The invention also includes a method of detecting ionizing radiation that involves producing the dosimeter, breaking the breakable container, allowing the solution to flow through the passageway and contact the emulsion, detecting any color change in the solution and using the color change to determine a radiation dosage.

IP Status: Available both Exclusively and Non Exclusively

Reference Number: 520

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 94,714

Patents & Applications:
United States National Patent Number 6582657 Issued on 06/24/2003

Posted: 09-29-2004

Contact
John Russell
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 665-3941
jrussell@lanl.gov