Oak Ridge Nationwide Laboratory (ORNL) researchers are growing superior monitoring methods for radioactive supplies utilized in most cancers therapies. The challenge, known as Good Packaging for Important Vitality Shipments (SPaCES), makes use of 3D printing to create safe packaging that includes electronics for steady monitoring. This technique tracks radioactive supplies from the second they’re packaged till they attain medical services for affected person therapies.
ORNL’s method combines additive manufacturing with built-in sensors to boost safety for the roughly three million hazardous and radioactive materials shipments made yearly. Researchers are establishing packages the place tampering is much less probably, whereas guaranteeing compliance with nationwide rules. The 3D-printed packaging works alongside digital monitoring methods to offer real-time monitoring info.
“We’re methods to allow good expertise to stick with the package deal all through the lifetime of the cargo. This ensures monitoring and monitoring stays with the package deal even because it modifications arms from the maker to the supply service to the ultimate recipient,” mentioned Mingyan Li, co-leader of the challenge at ORNL.
The analysis group consists of consultants from varied disciplines working collectively on completely different features of the expertise. Kunal Mondal and Ryan Karkkainen, who each joined ORNL in 2023, concentrate on creating and testing superior supplies for nuclear transportation containers. In the meantime, Oscar Martinez leads a group growing packages that may defend towards safety threats by way of built-in sensing expertise.
The system makes use of ORNL’s T-STAR expertise to securely transmit information by way of the cloud to a command middle. Cybersecurity measures make sure the community connectivity of the electronics stays protected against potential hackers. The expertise limits location info to approved personnel solely, serving to forestall lacking or delayed packages whereas guaranteeing protected supply of those important medical supplies.
Supply: ornl.gov
