By Scanna
Scanna discusses the benefits of computed and digital radiography for EOD/IED threat response in CBRNe environments, and introduces their ScanSilc DR and ScanX Scout CR systems.
CBRNe threats pose a significant risk to public safety. Rapid identification of these hazards is critical for effective response. In CBRNe scenarios, responders often encounter suspicious packages, objects, or materials that require careful examination. However, directly handling these materials can be extremely dangerous.
This is where X-ray imaging technology becomes a vital tool. X-ray systems allow CBRNe responders to safely inspect objects from a distance, providing valuable information about their contents and internal structure. This information is crucial for three distinct operational phases: threat identification, risk assessment, and decision-making.
During threat identification, X-rays can help identify suspicious objects, such as IEDs, specific ordnance, ullage level, and chemical or biological containers. Secondly, by analyzing the X-ray image, responders can conduct a thorough risk assessment, assess the potential danger, determine the appropriate course of action, and indicate the quantity of material present to determine the hazard and exclusion area. Finally, X-ray imaging allows for better informed and safer decision-making about how to handle the situation, minimizing risk to responders and the public.
However, the effectiveness of X-ray technology in CBRNe environments depends on the specific equipment used. This article will explore the advantages of portable X-ray systems, particularly focusing on the role of CR (computed radiography) and DR (digital radiography) technologies offered by Scanna. We will discuss how these systems can be used by CBRNe responders to effectively address the challenges of rapid and safe threat identification.
Portable X-ray technology has undergone a revolution in image collection media. Moving from film to digital formats like CR and DR has brought significant advantages. While traditional portable X-rays used film cassettes, these required careful handling, processing with chemicals, and wait times for results. Disposing of used film also presented environmental concerns. Meanwhile, polaroid and self-developing film X-rays required a greatly increased dose compared to other technologies, and dynamic range and image resolution was limited.
These limitations have been overcome by the advent of computed and digital radiography. CR systems introduced reusable cassette plates capturing the X-ray image. These plates were then scanned by a laser reader to convert the data into a digital image. This offered faster turnaround times and reduced waste compared to film. Portable DR systems introduced flat-panel detectors that convert X-rays into digital images, thereby eliminating the need for a secondary approach to the suspect package or a secondary processing step.
Portable X-ray generators have also advanced hugely, moving from “live” sources using a radioactive isotope to quicker and safer electrically generated radiation sources. Commonly used sources now come in two types: pulse based and constant potential.
Pulsed X-ray technology offers several advantages over conventional constant potential X-ray machines or radioactive sources, particularly for field operations. These advantages are improved performance and packaging, safety, and simplicity.
Pulsed technology generates high output voltage using minimal input voltage. This results in small, portable generators with significant penetrating capability. Minimal side and rear X-ray leakage translates to a safe operator stand-off distance of ten feet (three meters) behind the unit.
Choosing the Right Generator and Imaging Technology
The optimal choice depends on your specific CBRNe response priorities. Prioritizing portability and safety, pulsed generators offer a clear advantage and are the favorite choice for security forces across the globe. It is also important to choose the right kV peak for penetration requirements. Scanna offers pulsed generators, including the 150 kV XRS-200/XR150, the 270 kV XRS-3 and the 370 kV XRS-4.
Benefits of Computed Radiography
- Simplicity of operation: CR systems generally require less training to operate compared to DR. This can be beneficial in situations where some responders might have less training and need to prioritize ease of use under pressure.
- Potential for decontamination: CR cassettes might be easier to decontaminate after exposure to CBRNe agents compared to some DR panels. This depends on the specific materials and decontamination procedures, but CR cassettes’ design offers an edge.
- Limited flexibility: DR systems might have limitations in capturing certain angles or specialized views compared to CR cassettes, which offer many plate sizes as well as more flexibility in positioning. Plates can also be modified on-site to allow for special views impossible with a rigid DR system.
- Large target image stitching: In a single CR system, multiple different plate sizes are available, and these can be combined to enable larger targets to be investigated with one firing of the generator.
Benefits of Digital Radiography
- Real-time image viewing: DR’s ability to display images instantly is crucial in CBRNe scenarios. Rapid identification of hazards allows for quicker response and minimizes risk to responders.
- Workflow efficiency: DR eliminates the need for a second processing step and allows for easy image transmission. DR images can be easily shared electronically, enabling remote consultation with specialists for identification. This can be vital when dealing with CBRNe threats when expertise might not be readily available on-site.
- Increased exposure latitude: DR offers greater “grey levels” for image processing to pull details in dark areas.
Advantages for Decontamination
Both CR and DR offer unique advantages for decontamination after use in CBRN environments. CR offers potentially easier decontamination as no cables or wireless connection are needed from the plate to a generator or controller, so simpler covers can be used. These (cheap) covers can also be sacrificial. Furthermore, in case of severe contamination requiring equipment disposal, CR plates are much less expensive to replace than DR panels.
With DR, however, personnel at the incident control point (ICP) can evaluate images remotely, minimizing the number of people requiring entry into the hot zone for image acquisition. This reduces the decontamination burden for personnel.DR’s real-time image viewing can potentially reduce the number of trips required between the hot zone and the ICP. Fewer trips translate to less frequent decontamination needs for the equipment itself.
If decontamination procedures are well-established and prioritize ease of decontamination, CR might be a suitable choice. On the other hand, DR offers advantages in minimizing overall decontamination needs through fewer required trips and remote evaluation. The benefit of potentially less overall equipment exposure to contamination can outweigh the potential advantage of easier decontamination for individual CR cassettes. Ultimately, the choice between CR and DR in a hot-line scenario depends on specific decontamination procedures and capabilities, budgetary constraints, and the value placed on real-time decision making and minimizing responder exposure. Scanna offers two solutions: ScanSilc DR and ScanX Scout CR.
ScanSilc DR
- Innovative “CR” storage mode: This innovative feature allows capturing up to 300 images in the hot zone and storing them “offline” on the onboard memory similar to a CR plate for later analysis at the ICP. This can significantly reduce the number of trips required between the hot zone and the ICP, minimizing responder exposure to contamination.
- No change in standard operating procedure: The storage mode can allow teams trained on CR usage to quickly change to the ScanSilc DR solution in necessary scenarios.
- IP67: It is water and dust resistant, designed to allow for most decontamination procedures.
- Ruggedized: It is 1m drop tested, extensively field tested for rugged reliability, and hardened against many decontamination procedures.
ScanX Scout CR
- Ruggedized design: Both our CR and DR systems have been designed for EOD and CBRNe responders, and the ruggedized systems can withstand the rigors of extensive field use.
- Reliable: Thousands of systems are in use worldwide by defense, security, and public safety teams.
- Flexible imaging cassettes: These flexible ScanX Scout cassettes come in a variety of sizes and offer more flexibility in positioning compared to DR panels, allowing for easier X-ray acquisition from various angles in tight spaces.
- Stitching capability: The ability to stitch together images from multiple CR plates in a single exposure can be valuable for capturing large objects or scenes that wouldn’t fit within a single frame. Stitching can be achieved on DR systems but requires multiple firings of the X-ray generator.
- Versatility in confined spaces: Flexible CR plates can be bent and manipulated to fit into tight spaces or around corners. This allows CBRNe responders to capture X-ray images of objects even when direct line-of-sight isn’t possible. Imagine a suspicious package wedged under debris or a container partially buried in a collapsed structure. Flexible plates can be maneuvered to acquire X-rays from various angles, providing valuable information about the object’s contents without needing to move it.
- Reduced risk of disturbing evidence: Moving a suspicious package in a CBRNe environment can disrupt potential forensic evidence or accidentally trigger a device. Flexible cassettes allow for X-ray imaging without disturbing the object’s position, minimizing the risk of compromising the scene or causing harm.
- Multiple angles, enhanced analysis: The ability to bend the cassettes and capture images from different angles can be crucial for a comprehensive analysis. This can reveal details hidden from a single viewpoint, potentially aiding in identifying the object’s nature and internal structure more effectively.
Reduced Dead Area and its Impact
In both CR cassettes and DR panels, there is a small inactive border around the active imaging area. This is the “dead area” where X-rays are not captured. Generally, DR panels have a larger dead area compared to CR cassettes due to the electronics required for real-time image conversion. This has implications for X-ray operations in tight spaces as responders might need to capture X-rays of objects positioned very close to walls, corners, or other structures. The almost non-existent dead area of CR can be beneficial in such scenarios.
Seeing the Unseen in Confined Spaces
Imagine a suspicious package nestled tightly in a corner of a room or a container partially embedded in a wall. With a DR panel, the larger dead area might cut off a small portion of the object’s edge closest to the corner or wall. This “unseen” section could potentially hold crucial information about the object’s contents or structure.
The reduced dead area of CR cassettes allows for capturing a slightly larger image area, potentially revealing a bit more of the object at the edges that might be obscured with a DR panel. This additional information could be vital for CBRNe responders in identifying the nature of the threat. Furthermore, although DR panels are designed with one or two reduced dead areas, with CR imaging plates there is virtually no dead area around the entire imaging plate.
CBRNe Response with Scanna’s Systems
Equipping response vehicles with both CR and DR systems provides EOD/IEDD teams with the flexibility to address the specific demands of each situation while leveraging the strengths of both systems. Having both CR and DR capabilities, EOD/IEDD teams can optimize their response to any CBRNe threat they encounter, ultimately enhancing their ability to protect themselves and ensure public safety. Scanna offers attractive packages of Combo CR and DR systems so that your team can respond to every threat they encounter.
Global risks to our security and safety are forever increasing and evolving, making security and threat screening a priority. SCANNA is a globally recognized leader in counter-terrorism and threat detection technology, specializing in high performance portable security x-ray systems and mailroom security x-ray scanners. Our wider product range includes metal detectors, baggage x-ray scanners, people scanners, and vehicle screening solutions. SCANNA has over 30 years of experience in understanding and supporting security and defense markets for a broad range of business, government and military customers and is now able to offer this technology to support the inspection needs of the NDT marketplace.
