Disposable single-use external dosimeters for detecting radiation in fluoroscopy and other medical procedures/therapies

Abstract

Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products include positioning single-use radiation sensor patches that have adhesive onto the skin of a patient to evaluate the radiation dose delivered during a medical procedure or treatment session. The sensor patches are configured to be relatively unobtrusive and operate during radiation without the use of externally extending power cords or lead wires.

1 . A sterile medical kit of single-use external use radiation dosimeter patches, the kit comprising: a plurality of single-use patches, each patch comprising a generally conformable resilient substrate body comprising opposing upper and lower primary surfaces, a flex circuit with at least one radiation sensor circuit having an operational electronic component that changes a parameter in a detectable predictable manner when exposed to radiation, the flex circuit held by the substrate body, the flex circuit also including at least one electronic memory configured with radiation calibration data,
 wherein, in position on a patient during radiation exposure, the dosimeter patches are devoid of externally extending lead wires, and wherein the patches are single-use dosimeter patches that adhesively secure to the skin of a patient.   
     
     
         2 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the patches have a lower primary surface that comprises an adhesive thereon. 
     
     
         3 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the disposable dosimeter patches are adapted to contact a portable reader device to electrically couple the reader device to the patch circuit. 
     
     
         4 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the disposable patches are configured to communicate with a portable reader device to wirelessly relay radiation data. 
     
     
         5 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to store patient specific data and radiation data. 
     
     
         6 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the flex circuit operational electronic component that changes a parameter in a detectable and predictable manner when exposed to radiation is an unbiased MOSFET, and wherein the patch further comprises an externally accessible tab configured to engage a portable electronic reader to transmit threshold voltage data and calibration data associated with the MOSFET. 
     
     
         7 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensor patches comprises at least one primary sensor patch and at least one secondary sensor patch, wherein the primary sensor patch has a larger surface area than the secondary sensor patch. 
     
     
         8 . A kit according to  claim 7 , wherein the primary sensor patch is sized and configured to reside at least partially within a target radiation beam path during a fluoroscopic procedure, and wherein the secondary sensor patch is configured to reside outside the target beam path during the fluoroscopic procedure. 
     
     
         9 . A kit according to  claim 7 , wherein the primary patch flex circuit comprises a plurality of spaced apart radiation sensor circuits, each having a respective single MOSFET that is the operational component for a respective radiation sensor circuit that changes in a detectable predictable manner when exposed to radiation, each MOSFET configured to independently detect radiation. 
     
     
         10 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the flex circuit comprises aluminum electrical traces. 
     
     
         11 . A fluoroscopic single-use radiation dosimeter patch comprising a generally conformable resilient body holding at least one radiation sensor circuit with a MOSFET that changes a parameter in a detectable and predictable manner when exposed to radiation, and wherein during irradiation, the patch is devoid of externally extending lead wires. 
     
     
         12 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 11 , wherein the patch has a surface area that is sufficient to cover a major portion of a predicted surface exposure area associated with a target radiation beam path, and wherein the patch comprises a plurality of spaced apart radiation sensor circuits, each having a respective MOSFET. 
     
     
         13 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 12 , wherein each radiation sensor circuit comprises a single MOSFET, and wherein the radiation sensor circuits are spaced apart sufficiently to provide data for a plurality of different skin radiation exposure locations over the patch surface area. 
     
     
         14 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 13 , wherein the patch is configured to provide data from each radiation sensor circuit for determining maxima, minima and average exposure over a surface area associated with the patch. 
     
     
         15 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 13 , wherein the sensor patch radiation circuits are configured to detect radiation doses in the range of from about 1 to about 500 cGy. 
     
     
         16 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 15 , wherein the patch is configured with a low profile when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         17 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 16 , wherein the patch is substantially planar when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         18 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 12 , wherein the patch has a surface area of between about 4-20 cm. 
     
     
         19 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 18 , wherein the patch has a surface area of between about 8-20 cm. 
     
     
         20 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 19 , wherein the patch has a surface area of between about 10-15 cm. 
     
     
         21 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 12 , wherein the patch comprises a first radiation circuit with a single MOSFET that is disposed generally medially on the patch, and wherein the remainder of the radiation circuits are spaced transversely outwardly away from the first radiation circuit. 
     
     
         22 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 11 , wherein the patch comprises a plurality of spaced apart radiation sensor circuits, each having a respective single MOSFET, with an increased density of the radiation sensor circuits positioned away from a generally medial location of the patch body. 
     
     
         23 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 22 , wherein the patch is generally circular. 
     
     
         24 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 23 , wherein a plurality of the radiation sensor circuits are circumferentially spaced apart on the patch body. 
     
     
         25 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 24 , wherein a plurality of the radiation sensor circuits are radially spaced apart on the patch body. 
     
     
         26 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 11 , wherein the radiation circuits each comprise at least one conductive metal trace for communicating with a portable reader after irradiation. 
     
     
         27 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 11 , wherein the conductive metal traces comprise aluminum. 
     
     
         28 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 23 , wherein the sensor patch has a substantially planar profile when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         29 . A fluoroscopic dosimeter patch according to  claim 11 , wherein the radiation sensor circuit includes a MOSFET that is devoid of floating gate structures and/or is unpowered during radiation.