DEVICE FOR MEASURING RADIOELECTRIC DOSE ON A SURFACE, IN PARTICULAR FOR MEASURING THE RADIOLOGICAL DOSE OF A PATIENT DURING A RADIOLOGY OPERATION

Abstract

A device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface, in particular for measuring the radiological dose for a patient during a radiology operation comprising a matrix with sensors equipped with transparent radio antennas, capable of creating an electric signal corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation received, means for measuring the electric flows emitted by each sensor and means for processing the flow measurements for calculating the accumulation of doses received by predetermined zones of the matrix.

Claims

1. A device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface, in particular for measuring the radiological dose of a patient during a radiological operation, comprising: a matrix with sensors equipped with transparent radio antennas able to create an electrical signal corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation received, measurement means for the electrical fluxes emitted by each sensor, and processing means of flux measurements for calculate the accumulation of doses received by predetermined areas of the matrix.

2. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprise means for displaying in the form of a map the dose accumulation levels by areas of the matrix.

3. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 1, in which wherein the processing means comprise means for recording the flow measurements in order to cumulate the doses on at least two radiology operations.

4. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprise means for warning the exceeding of at least one radiation threshold per predetermined area of the matrix.

5. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 1, wherein the matrix is integrated with a flexible transparent radiating mat adapted to conform to the shapes of a patient.

6. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 5, wherein the mat comprises locating means adapted to allow positioning on the patient.

7. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 1, wherein the radio sensor and the flux measuring means comprise the radio-transparent antenna associated with an RFID type transmitter.

8. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 7, wherein the antenna is made of a polymer material and/or transparent radio conductive polymer mixture.

9. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 7, in which the material of the antenna is a mixture of poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) and sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS).

10. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 7, wherein the thickness of the antenna is between 2 and 20 microns, and preferably between 5 and 10 microns.

11. The device for measuring a radioelectric dose on a surface according to claim 1, wherein each sensor has a radiofrequency area at least equal to 95% of its total area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] The present invention will be better understood on reading a detailed example of embodiment with reference to the appended figures, provided by way of non-limiting example, among which:

[0017] FIG. 1 represents a schematic exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0018] FIG. 2 represents, schematically and in perspective, a device according to the invention arranged on a patient during a radiology operation,

[0019] FIG. 3 represents a photograph of an exemplary embodiment of a radio sensor,

[0020] FIG. 4 represents in schematic form an embodiment of the radio sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a measuring device 1, the measuring device comprises a matrix 2 with sensors 3, each equipped with a radio-transparent antenna. The number of sensors 3 depends in particular on the precision required for the measurement of the radiations, advantageously the sensors 3 are distributed on the surface of the matrix 2 according to a density of the order of one sensor per cm.sup.2.

[0022] These sensors 3 are able to create an electrical signal corresponding to the received electromagnetic radiation, in this way it is possible to accurately measure the radiation absorbed by the sensor and the radiation transmitted to the body of the patient in contact with the matrix.

[0023] The size and shape of the matrix 2 are variable and depend on the part of the body of the patient to be covered. For example, referring to FIG. 2, we see a matrix 2 whose dimensions make it possible to measure radiations substantially at the level of the trunk of a patient 4.

[0024] Other forms of matrix 2 will be more suitable for covering the lower limbs or the entire body of the patient.

[0025] Advantageously, the matrix 2 is integrated in a mat 5, flexible and transparent radio. The mat 5 is able to conform to the shapes of a patient. The advantage of integrating the matrix 2 in a mat 5 is to be able to clean or wash the latter without the risk of damaging the sensors 3.

[0026] In an advantageous variant, the mat 5 comprises locating means, (not shown in the attached figures) able to allow positioning on the patient. For example, the mat 5 may indicate a positioning point relative to the patient's anatomy, including the sternum for the trunk. In this way, it is possible to position the mat 5 incorporating the matrix 2 in the same way during several operations.

[0027] Other means of identification are also conceivable and for example means using straps allowing both precise placement and maintenance of the mat 5 on the patient 4.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown means 6 for measuring the electrical flux of each sensor 3. These measurement means 6 comprise in particular a multi-input flowmeter, they are associated with first transmission means 7 for the transmission of the streams coming from the sensors 3 and the second transmission means 8 to the processing means 9 of the flow measurements. These processing means 9 allow to calculate the accumulation of the doses received by predetermined zones of the matrix 2.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of a sensor 3 with the first transmission means 7 is shown in the form of a photograph.

[0030] This sensor 3 allows to generate a signal corresponding to the radiation received, the sensor 3 comprises an antenna 10 associated with a transmitter 11 of RFID type (radio frequency identification device) constituting the first transmission means 7.

[0031] Preferably this antenna 10 associated with the transmitter 11 is optimized to operate in ISM bands (industrial, scientific and medical), broadband: Ultra-High Frequencies (860-960 MHz).

[0032] The antenna 10 is made of a polymer material and/or transparent radio conductive polymer mixture. Preferably a polymer mixture will be used: PEDOT: PSS, a polymer of low conductivity, namely a mixture of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) and sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS).

[0033] After a certain number of radio transparency tests and beam degradation tests passing through the sensor 3, the applicant advantageously selected a thickness of the antenna 10 comprises between 2 and 20 microns, and preferably between 5 and 10 microns.

[0034] In the photograph, the polymer is printed with a thickness of 6 microns. The substrate used is 3 mm thick glass, which has a permittivity Er=5.6 and a dielectric dissipation factor tan 6=0.02. The glass substrate is only given by way of example and the PEDOT: PSS can be deposited on flexible substrates of plastic type (PTE), substrates of conventional industrial electronics (kapton) but also on substrates also biocompatible (parylen) by means of a specific surface treatment prior to deposition of the conductive polymer.

[0035] Referring this time to FIG. 4, there is shown a sensor 3 in schematic form with its different dimensions. Advantageously, the height and the width of the antenna 10 are of the order of 30 to 60 mm. The conductivity of the PEDOT: PSS antenna is of the order 1.5 104 S/m with an antenna thickness of the order of 6 microns. The first transmission means 8 thus make it possible, given the geometry of the antenna, the conductivity and the deposit thickness of the conductive material, a reading distance of the order of one meter.

[0036] The area occupied by the antenna 10 of the sensor 3 is very large compared to the total surface of the sensor 3, some parts of which not transparent radio are. Advantageously, each sensor 3 has a radiofrequency surface at least equal to 95% of its total surface, so as not to substantially modify the action of the rays on the patient and in particular not to significantly affect the quality of the radiological image produced.

[0037] The signals transmitted by each antenna 10 comprise both the identification of the sensor 3 and therefore its position on the matrix 2 and a flux level. The flow measurement means 6 therefore allow to measure a flow level for a given sensor. The data are then transmitted to the processing means 9 by the second transmission means 8. These second transmission means 8 may be made by well-known transmission means and in particular by wired or remote radio means. In another embodiment, the first transmission means 7 send the data directly to a set consisting of a flowmeter (or equivalent) and processing means 9.

[0038] The processing means 9 receive the flow measurement for each sensor 3, from these data, the processing means 9 calculate the cumulative doses received by predetermined areas of the matrix during the operation. These areas can constitute in the detection zone of a sensor 3 or of a set of sensors 3.

[0039] Advantageously, the processing means 9 comprise display means 12 in the form of a map of the dose accumulation levels by zones of the matrix 2. The real-time display allows the practitioner to react very quickly depending on the data displayed, possibly to stop the beam or adjust the power or direction of the latter.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment, the processing means 9 further comprise means for recording the flow measurements in order to cumulate the doses on at least two radiology operations.

[0041] In another embodiment, the matrix comprises several layers of sensors 3, superimposed or not, and the processing means 9 allow to calculate the doses not on the surface but on the volume, by reconstituting the volume from the different layers of sensor 3.

[0042] The measuring device 1 as described above thus constitutes a powerful solution for measuring the doses received by a patient allowing the practitioner to precisely adjust the doses delivered to the patient while preserving the latter from the risks of overexposure.

[0043] Of course, other features of the invention could also have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

[0044] By way of example, in an advantageous embodiment, the processing means comprise means of warning of exceeding at least one radiation threshold per predetermined area of the matrix.