Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF MAY 10, 2002 FBO #0159
SOLICITATION NOTICE

A -- PALM PILOT CZT SPECTROMETER

Notice Date

5/8/2002
 

Notice Type

Solicitation Notice
 

Contracting Office

Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory (DOE Contractor), Los Alamos, PO Box 1663 MS: C334, Los Alamos, NM, 87545
 

ZIP Code

87545
 

Solicitation Number

LAUR02-2678
 

Response Due

6/5/2002
 

Archive Date

6/20/2002
 

Point of Contact

Kathleen Herrera, Licensing Associate, Phone 505-667-5844, Fax 606-665-6127, - Kathleen Herrera, Licensing Associate, Phone 505-667-5844, Fax 606-665-6127,
 

E-Mail Address

kaherrera@lanl.gov, kaherrera@lanl.gov
 

Description

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has developed a hand-held CZT isotope detector capable of identifying gamma and neutron radiation emitted by radioactive materials. In real time, this device produces high quality data in a portable device that is not sensitive to extreme variations in temperature or environment. The detector hardware includes a CZT detector housed within the charge-sensing preamplifier, read-out electronics to conduct the measurements of any radioactive materials present and to provide the analysis of those samples, as well as a multi-channel analyzer (MCA)/microcomputer. This device allows users operating the device to identify if a radiation source is near, how close that source of radiation is, what the radiation source is, as well as how much of the radiation source there is based on the data collected by the detector and analyzed by an on-board microcomputer. This device uses Palm Pilot? REDEYE software (a registered Palm Application). REDEYE communicates with the embedded microcomputer in the CZT spectrometer to control the operation of the CZT spectrometer. Three modes are currently available: a Search mode for detecting radiation, a Scan mode for locating the hot spot, and an Identification mode for determining the type of material. Additional modes, analysis or language options can be easily added to the Palm Pilot?. 3 Lithium Manganese dioxide (LiMnO2) batteries provide power to the system currently providing approximately 8-10 hours of continuous operation of the handheld device. The CZT Palm Pilot? Spectrometer is completely self-contained in a waterproof, rugged anodized high strength aluminum enclosure that consists of a detector module mounting the front of the main body with a top mounting microcomputer. The three main assemblies contained in the hand-held device are the electron-only charge-sensing preamplifier, a battery power supply, and a MCA/microcomputer. Advantages 1. The device developed at LANL permits real-time detection of radiation sources in a durable, hand-held device. 2. State-of the art electronics are incorporated into the device making it suitable for field measurement and analysis of radioactive sources. 3. The LANL technology is better than status quo scintillator technology because it provides superior resolution. 4. The LANL technology is better than status quo HPGe (high-purity germanium) detector technology because of its ruggedness and durability as well as the environments in which the CZT Palm Pilot? can be operated and by whom the Palm Pilot? CZT Spectrometer can be operated (HPGe technology suffers too much from the fragility and cooling requirements of the detector and the complexity of the spectrum analysis required by HPGe detectors requires significant training on the part of the user to obtain quality data. 5. The LANL technology would allow for less expensive devices to be made than status quo HPGe detectors. Status The University of California, as operator of Los Alamos National Laboratory, has filed a patent application on this technology in the United States only. Foreign patent rights may still be available. The University has also developed and integrated software that is necessary to operate the patent pending hardware. The University plans to offer this technology for license on a non-exclusive basis. However, license proposals for field-of-use exclusive license rights will be evaluated and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Reference Number(s) U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) S Number: S-94,954 U.S. patent application number: 09/930,434
 

Place of Performance

Address: P.O. Box 1663, MS C334, Los Alamos, NM

Zip Code: 87545

Country: USA
 

Record

SN00073433-W 20020510/020508213110 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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