Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched the Thermo Scientific NetDose PRO digital dosimeter, a device designed to monitor radiation for healthcare professionals.
The dosimeter is a wearable, connected device for monitoring radiation that is designed to track and inform radiation exposure risk. The device continuously measures radiation levels and transmits the data to either a personal mobile application or a web-based user interface.
The NetDose PRO is accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).
Administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the NVLAP accredits testing and calibration laboratories to ensure they meet high standards of quality and competence.
Each dosimeter can be individually programmed to transmit data at scheduled intervals, while the wearer can read radiation levels on-demand via a button found on the device. NetDose Pro only stores measured radiation dose data in its memory, meaning customer and wearer information is secure, according to the company. The device can be used by all healthcare professionals working near radiation sources.
Radiation workers who operate X-ray machines, fluoroscopy units, certain unsealed and sealed radioisotopes or are exposed to gamma radiation are generally required to wear a dosimeter.
In the US, the regulatory limit for occupational radiation exposure for medical personnel, including radiologists, is set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Too much radiation can damage tissues by changing cell structure and damaging DNA. This can cause serious health problems, including cancer. The amount of damage that radiation exposure can cause depends on several factors, including the type of radiation.
Radiotherapy is commonly used to treat cancer but can sometimes be used to treat benign (non-cancerous) tumours and other conditions, such as thyroid disease and some blood disorders. Last month, new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended that patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) in the liver could benefit from a therapy that targets the tumours with radiation.
