UOIT professor receives $116,500 in grants to create prototype of radiation detecting triage mask

OSHAWA, ON. - Emergency medical service (EMS) responders may soon have another life-saving device added to the tools of their trade - a radiological triage mask (RTM) that has the ability to quickly identify radiation contaminants in patients, including individuals who may be the victims of radiological dispersal devices, which are also known as dirty bombs. The RTM, which is the result of two years of research conducted by Dr. Ed Waller, a professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), has received $116,500 in grants to date. UOIT's Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization (OTTC) has filed for patent protection in the United States and a full worldwide patent application will be filed this fall.

A key concern with the release of a dirty bomb is the ability to quickly identify and treat those who have been exposed to radioactive isotopes. If a largely populated area, such as a stadium, is targeted, hospitals may become overloaded with individuals who may not be contaminated and may impede the immediate diagnosis of someone who has been affected.

To date, the project has been awarded a number of grants, including $74,500 from the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), and $25,000 and $10,000 awards from the Ontario Partnership for Innovation and Commercialization (OPIC). The grants will be used to further develop the prototype into a marketable product, which is expected to be completed in the next year. In addition, as part of a thesis project, a team of students was awarded $3,500 from the OCE Connections program. The award was matched by the Department of National Defence (DND).

"We are extremely pleased with the funding that this project has received," said Dr. Waller. "This mask holds immense potential to save lives and ultimately, tax dollars, by providing EMS workers with a valuable life-saving tool that can eliminate unnecessary hospitalization."

The main benefits of the RTM are its ease of use and quick screening capability. Currently only trained professionals can operate radiation detectors, which can slow down the detection process. The RTM's design is based on that of oxygen masks, a device quite familiar to EMS responders, and is a straightforward tool that will ensure accurate readings. The device is placed over the patient's nose and mouth and detects radiation from material present on the face, which is in direct proportion to the amount inhaled. The RTM determines the type of exposure and amount inhaled, providing the ability to quickly establish a course of treatment.

"This design is another shining example of the innovative research conducted at UOIT," said Dr. Mike Szarka, manager of UOIT's OTTC. "Given the great potential impact the RTM could make in treating the victims of attacks, such as in the release of dirty bombs, the OTTC is excited to be actively working with Dr. Waller on the patents and commercialization of the mask for the betterment of society."

Dr. Waller, who is a Canadian delegate involved in a NATO working group investigating radiation bio-effects and countermeasures for the last four years, has been researching radiological dispersal devices and their effects for many years. His first sketches of the mask were created in June 2006 and he began developing the prototype a little over a year ago with the help of the thesis students.

Andrew Fitchett, Michael Labriola and Alan Tung worked on the RTM as part of their fourth-year Nuclear Engineering thesis project and entered it in the OCE's Discovery student competition event. The team placed third against 12 other Ontario universities.

UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in over $18 million in research awards, grants and prestigious Canada Research Chairs. This funding provides opportunities for UOIT students to collaborate with their professors on significant research and commercialization projects. UOIT's market-driven mandate is a key differentiator between Ontario's first laptop-based university and traditional higher-learning institutions.

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