Development of a Portable Monitor

Constellation Technology recently marketed a portable portal monitor for use by emergency response personnel and others needing a temporary means to screen people for contamination. The monitor consists of two-detector panels and frame hardware to hold the panels erect. Partsa re designed so that one person can move and set up the monitroerl atively quickly. The presentation traces the development of the monitor from the original prototype delivered to Health Canada. Detector, electronics, and firmware selections are discussed on a basis of building a practical and sensitive instrument that meets customer needs. Testing, both environmental and radionuclide detection, was a key part of the development process. Decisions during the design process necessarily involve cost and performance tradeoffs. It is essential that these tradeoffs impact the monitor's performance as little as possible while keeping the cost within reason. Test results show the performance of the \"final\" product.