Optical Attenuators Extend Dynamic Range but Alter Angular Response of Planar Ultraviolet-C Dosimeters. 2022

Alison Su, and Alisha Geldert, and Samantha M Grist, and Amy E Herr
University of California, Berkeley - University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA.

Effective ultraviolet-C (UV-C) decontamination protocols of N95 respirators require validation that the entire N95 surface receives sufficient dose. Photochromic indicators (PCIs) can accurately measure UV-C dose on nonplanar surfaces, but often saturate below doses required to decontaminate porous, multilayered textiles like N95s. Here, we investigate the use of optical attenuators to extend PCI dynamic range while maintaining a near-ideal angular response-critical for accurate measurements of uncollimated UV-C. We show analytically that tuning attenuator refractive index, attenuation coefficient, and thickness can extend dynamic range, but compromises angular response unless the attenuator is an ideal diffuser. To investigate this tradeoff empirically, we stack PCIs behind model specular (floated borosilicate) and diffuse (polytetrafluoroethylene) attenuators, characterize the angular response, and evaluate on-N95 UV-C measurement accuracy within a decontamination system. Both attenuators increase PCI dynamic range >4×, but simultaneously introduce angle-dependent transmittance, which causes location-dependent underestimation of UV-C dose. PCI-borosilicate and PCI-polytetrafluoroethylene stacks underreport true on-N95 dose by (1) 14.7% and 3.6%, respectively, when near-normal to the source lamp array, and (2) 40.8% and 19.8%, respectively, in a steeply sloped location. Overall, we demonstrate that while planar attenuators can increase PCI dynamic range, verifying near-ideal angular response is critical for accurate UV-C measurements.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011138 Polytetrafluoroethylene Homopolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. Nonflammable, tough, inert plastic tubing or sheeting; used to line vessels, insulate, protect or lubricate apparatus; also as filter, coating for surgical implants or as prosthetic material. Synonyms: Fluoroflex; Fluoroplast; Ftoroplast; Halon; Polyfene; PTFE; Tetron. FEP,Fluon,Politef,Polytef,TFE,Teflon,Expanded PTFE,Fluoroplast,GORE-TEX,Goretex,PTFE,Tarflen,GORE TEX,PTFE, Expanded
D003666 Decontamination The removal of contaminating material, such as radioactive materials, biological materials, or CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS, from a person or object.
D000072232 Radiation Dosimeters Devices that measure exposure to IONIZING RADIATION. Dosimeters,Radiation Dosimeter,Dosimeter,Dosimeter, Radiation,Dosimeters, Radiation
D062645 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention A family of percutaneous techniques that are used to manage CORONARY OCCLUSION, including standard balloon angioplasty (PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY), the placement of intracoronary STENTS, and atheroablative technologies (e.g., ATHERECTOMY; ENDARTERECTOMY; THROMBECTOMY; PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL LASER ANGIOPLASTY). PTCA was the dominant form of PCI, before the widespread use of stenting. Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization,Coronary Intervention, Percutaneous,Coronary Interventions, Percutaneous,Coronary Revascularization, Percutaneous,Coronary Revascularizations, Percutaneous,Intervention, Percutaneous Coronary,Interventions, Percutaneous Coronary,Percutaneous Coronary Interventions,Percutaneous Coronary Revascularizations,Revascularization, Percutaneous Coronary,Revascularizations, Percutaneous Coronary

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