Product Literature & Links

RS 3400 Product Brochure (Model 2019)

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Domestic United States

International

RS 3400 Product Brochure (Model 2021)

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Domestic United States

International

RS 3400 Accessories Brochures

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Rs3400 Cannister

RS 3400 Syringe Holder

Useful Industry Links

Preventing a Dirty Bomb: Case Studies and Lessons Learned

Preventing a Dirty Bomb: Case Studies and Lessons Learned tells the stories of major urban areas and institutions in the United States that have made the decision to remove and replace medical and research devices containing cesium-137 with equally effective alternatives that do not pose the security risks associated with high-activity radiological materials.

Laura S. H. Holgate, Ambassador (ret.)
Vice President, Materials Risk Management
October 1, 2019

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21

CDRH stands for the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). Performance Standards for Ionizing Radiation Emitting Products.

Literature & References

Why Non-nuclear over Ultraviolet Irradiation?

It’s 2016, Non-nuclear Irradiation is a modern technology compared to UV (Ultraviolet) Irradiation technology that is not as effective. Since 1997 we are leading the industry with Non-nuclear Irradiation supporting many industries such as medical, universities, laboratories, food and more! Our products are shipped and deployed around the world to provide a better method for irradiation.

A Sample of Rad Source Customers

What is Ionizing Radiation?

Ionizing radiation consists of subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves that are energetic enough to detach electrons from atoms or molecules, ionizing them.

Two of the most common forms of ionizing radiation are gamma rays and x-rays. Both forms of ionizing radiation are almost identical with exception to their source of origination.

How is Ionizing Radiation Generated?

Ionizing radiation comes from radioactive sources such as cobalt 60 and cesium 137 and non-radioactive sources such as x-ray tubes. Radioactive sources are unstable materials where gamma rays originate from the nucleus. x-rays originate in the electron fields surrounding the nucleus or are machine-produced.

What is Ionizing Radiation Used for?

Because of the penetrating properties of ionizing radiation and their ability to kill microorganisms, ionizing radiation is used to sterilize or reduce the microbial load of many different types of products such as medical devices, packaging, cosmetics, foods, and agricultural products. It is also used to alter the properties of many different polymers through recombination, cross-linkage, and cross scission.

Why use x-ray versus gamma produced Ionizing radiation?

Gamma ionizing radiation is produced by radioactive sources such as cobalt 60 or cesium 137 and is dangerous requiring heavy shielding and high levels of security to protect. The unstable material is constantly decaying and cannot be turned off. x-ray ionizing radiation is produced by a x-ray tube therefore it can be turned off when it is not being used and it requires much less shielding. At the end the of unit’s lifecycle, the unit does not have any radioactive source and therefore does not require the expensive disposal costs associated with radioactive sources that continue to degrade over hundreds of years.

Does the RS 3400 require external cooling?

No, the RS 3400 uses a self-contained water to air exchange system.

Is the RS 3400 Blood Irradiator cleared by the FDA for GVHD?

Yes, the RS 3400 was cleared by the USFDA for marketing for the irradiation of blood for the prevention of graft verses host disease (GVHD).

How does the RS 3400 differ from other x-ray irradiators?

The RS 3400 is designed to have the blood bags rotate around the Quastar™ x-ray emitter using our patented carousel and therefore delivers superior uniformity.
Unlike other x-ray blood irradiators, the RS 3400 is completely self-contained and requires no external water supply for tube cooling.
The RS 3400 is engineered for extreme reliability as it uses the proven Quastar™ x-ray emitter.
The RS 3400 has only ONE x-ray tube and ONE power supply.

How does the RS 3400 differ from a Cs-137 gamma irradiator??

The RS 3400 uses a Rad Source patented Quastar™ x-ray emitter and therefore contains NO radioactive isotopes. It can be turned on and off, similar to a light bulb. As a result, there is no Nuclear Site License, Homeland Security issues, or room shielding requirements.

While gamma rays have been a reliable source, the isotopes, primarily cobalt-60 and cesium-137, used to generate these gamma rays have come under heavy scrutiny worldwide in recent years. To quote the abstract of a recent publication, “Recent fears of terrorism have provoked an increase in delays and denials of transboundary shipments of radioisotopes. This represents a serious constraint to sterile insect technique (SIT) programs around the world as they rely on the use of ionizing radiation from radioisotopes for insect sterilization (A New Generation of X Ray Irradiators for Insect Sterilization, T. Mastrangelo, Oct 21, 2009).”

In addition to the terrorism fears, disposal options have become a real concern. In the United States as many as 36 states do not have disposal options for isotopes that have reached the end of their useful service lives (Sealed Source Disposal and National Security: Problem Statement and Solution Set, Deliverable […] December 2009 Table 2, page 12).

Sealed Source Disposal and National Security – Problem Statement and Solution Set