The RS 2400•Q Sterile Insect Irradiator
Family Planning for Insects™
Our patented x-ray irradiation technology is scientifically proven to deplete harmful pests to prevent disease, restore prosperity to the agricultural industry, and improve the health and well-being of the human population.
See The RS 2400•Q In Action
Family Planning for Insects™
Rad Source designs and manufactures cost-efficient and safe x-ray irradiation instruments specifically designed for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), reducing the burden of pests and vector-borne diseases throughout the world.
Available Components & Accessories
High X-Ray Output – High Throughput
Produces a high x-ray output, and has a large field, providing advantageous configurations for high throughput and dose rate.
Larger Field – Better Uniformity
No need to collimate the beam, and due to the larger field, a better uniformity can be achieved compared to imaging tube x-ray technology.
Beam Hardness – Built-in Filtration
Quastar has filtration built into the design of the x-ray emitter – designed to attenuate weaker non-penetrating x-rays.
Power Efficiency – Increased Life Span
The Quastar emitter runs at less than maximum power which increases lifetime up to 10 years – up to 3X longer than the standard imaging x-ray tube x-ray.
Repairable Energy Source – Low Cost of Ownership
- Engineered to be repairable, lowers the overall cost of ownership. (standard imaging tube x-ray sources require full replacement).
No Radioactive Source – No Ongoing Regulatory Hassles
- Meets safety requirements specified in Fed. Reg. 21 CFR 1020.40
- No Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) License is required.
- No nuclear disposal requirements.
- No additional security requirements for nuclear equipment.
- No additional safety equipment for laboratory staff.
- Direct Replacement for Gamma Irradiator.
- U.S. Government recognized safe, direct alternative for radioactive isotope (gamma) source irradiators.
Patented Carousel Circulation Technology
High capacity, single chamber design with integrated multi-canister carousel technology for maximum throughput.
RS 2400•Q4: (6) 830 mL canisters with spacer (5L total capacity) per cycle.
• 4“ in diameter (10.2 cm)
• Dose rate ~12 Gy / min, 1.3 DUR
RS 2400•Q: (5) 3L canisters (15L total capacity) per cycle.
• 7″ in diameter (17.7 cm)
• Dose rate ~10 Gy / min, 1.5 DUR
One Day Plug & Play Installation
No water or drain connection to the facility is needed, providing improved workflow efficiency with flexible unit placement and saving costs.
Self-Contained Cabinet
All Rad Source irradiators are manufactured as cabinet x-ray devices and conform to the radiation safety guidelines in US CFR 21 1020.40
Intuitive User Interface & Software Design
No previous x-ray experience necessary to operate
Instrument Portability
Mounted on sturdy caster wheels for convenient portability improving product workflow efficiency.
Proven Reliability
For over 20 years and greater than 800 irradiator installs in renowned hospitals, universities, pharma, government, and life science institutions worldwide, Rad Source has provided the world’s leading healthcare providers with reliable products and trusted services.
Electrical
Power: 208/240VAC, Single phase, 50/60Hz, 40 Amp, true earth ground. Wiring: 8 AWG L1, L2/N
Equipment Dimensions (W x D x H)
46.56 x 75.26 x 40.49″ | 118.26 x 191.16 x 102.84 cm
Internal Chamber Dimensions (W x D x H)
22.5 x 25 x 10.25″ | 57.15 x 63.50 x 26.04 cm
Clearance Dimensions (W x D x H)
53 x 40 x 81″ | 134.62 x 101.60 x 205.74 cm
Equipment Weight
2875 lbs. | 1,271 kg
Holds (6) 830 mL canisters for 5L processing volume.
• 4“ in diameter (10.2 cm)
• Dose Rate is 12 Gy/min.
Holds (5) 3L canisters for 15L processing volume.
• 7″ in diameter (17.7 cm)
• Dose Rate is 10 Gy/min.
RS 2400•Q Bugs/Cycle Estimates
MexFly:
• 100,000 pupae (RS 2400•Q4)
• 300,000 pupae (RS 2400•Q)
MedFly:
• 300,000 pupae (RS 2400•Q4)
• 900,000 pupae (RS 2400•Q)
LBAM & NOW:
• 800,000 adult moths (RS 2400•Q4)
• 2,000,000 adult moths (RS 2400•Q)
Installation:
- For the Installation, typically the unit will arrive at your facility in the morning and will be met by our install team.
- All irradiators receive a quality inspection, dose map, and radiation survey prior to shipment and again at installation.
- On-site Training Included at installation
Requires external closed-loop water chiller to be supplied by customer. Contact one of our Rad Source Executives for specifications.
Warranty Information
- 12 months full warranty: Including: Installation, Training, Initial Dose Map, Radiation Survey, 2nd Dose Map and all parts, labor & travel.
- Extended Warranty Program (year 2): Available for purchase anytime within 12 months from date of installation of Irradiator (Includes ALL parts, labor, travel and one PM call and (2) dosimetry reports per annum.
- All irradiators receive a quality inspection, dose map, and radiation survey prior to shipment and again at installation.
- All irradiators are manufactured as cabinet x-ray systems and conform to the radiation safety guidelines in CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. Sec. 1020.40 Cabinet x-ray systems.
- Our device conforms to federal guidelines 21 CFR 1020.40 as a Cabinet X-ray System and meets all radiation safety requirements specified in the Canadian Radiation Emitting Devices Act (REDA).
Contact Our Experts
Product Literature
The RS 2400•Q Sterile Insect Irradiator Brochure
FAQs
ARE YOU PROVIDING DOSIMETERS FOR DOSIMETRY?
We do not provide dosimeters for dosimetry.
We recommend using the Gafchromic film, generally HD 810.
DO I NEED SPECIAL LICENSING TO OWN THE RS 2400?
No, Rad Source is listed as a cabinet x-ray device manufacturer. The client does not need any special licenses for domestic purchases; they need only register their tube/emitter with the state, which is free or very inexpensive in many cases.
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS COOLING WATER FLOW AND ITS TEMPERATURE CONTROL?
An external water chilling unit provides the water that cools the x-ray tube.
It is temperature-controlled, and if it exceeds an identified temperature, the unit will fault and shut off to keep from damaging itself.
VENTILATION REQUIRED OR NOT?
Ventilation is required for the water chiller.
WHAT ABOUT X-RAY ON POWER FAILURE?
If there is a complete power failure, the unit will shut off, and the onboard battery would retain the processing information for that cycle. We can modify the unit to have any additional power generation protection you desire.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF USING THIS TECH?
- Rad Source irradiators are self-shielded in lead, which x-rays cannot penetrate through. The instrument does not emit radiation, and users do not need to wear protective equipment.
- You receive more radiation from taking a domestic flight or lying outside in the sun for an hour than you do from using our equipment.
- The instrument comes with fail-safes and locking mechanisms that cannot be operated with the door open.
- Because our technology uses x-ray instead of nuclear isotopes, when the RS 2400 Insect Irradiator is turned off, it is immediately off, and there is no lingering radiation. Like a standard lightbulb.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT INTERLOCKS PROVIDED FOR THE SAFETY OF PRODUCTS AND PERSONNEL?
The RS 2400 is shielded very well.
Should personnel attempt to open the X-ray door during operation, the unit will immediately fault and shut off.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICATIONS/CONFIGURATIONS? CAPACITY?
- Details of the two models are listed on the 2400 flyer (there is a 5L and 15L version – each has a different DUR and # of canisters).
- We cannot say the capacity because each customer deals with a different insect (they are different sizes, shapes, weights). One model can do 5L of product, and the other can do 15L of product.
- If the customer wants to know exactly how many insects can fit in the machine, I will need to do calculations based on species and life stage information.
- The 5L model can hold roughly 20,000 Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae in it at one time, one of the most common mosquitoes currently worked with. We are working on figuring out how many at the adult stage will fit.
WHAT COMES WITH A PURCHASE? WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED?
- Warranty – 12 Month Parts, Travel, and Labor warranty on unit less Quastar Emitter.
- The lessor of 1 year or 2,400 operational hours Quastar Emitter warranty. Installation, on-site dose mapping, radiation survey, and training included.
- One preventative maintenance visit included.
- *Requires external water chiller to be supplied by customer*
WHAT DOES CDRH STAND FOR?
CDRH stands for the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). Performance Standards for Ionizing Radiation Emitting Products can be found at CDRH 21CFR1020.40.
WHAT IS THE ACQUISITION/DELIVERY PROCESS LIKE?
- The current delivery time is between 6-8 weeks.
- Delivery varies based on where the customer is located – we can easily ship to almost anywhere in the world.
WHAT TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS USE THE RS 2400?
USDA ARS, USDA APHIS, IAEA, Lee County Mosquito Control District, etc.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF USING THIS TECH?
- Rad Source irradiators are self-shielded in lead, which x-rays cannot penetrate through. The instrument does not emit radiation, and users do not need to wear protective equipment.
- You receive more radiation from taking a domestic flight or lying outside in the sun for an hour than you do from using our equipment.
- The instrument comes with fail-safes and locking mechanisms that cannot be operated with the door open.
- Because our technology uses x-ray instead of nuclear isotopes, when the RS 2400 Insect Irradiator is turned off, it is immediately off, and there is no lingering radiation. Like a standard lightbulb.
WHY IS X-RAY BETTER THAN GAMMA FOR SIT?
- Significantly cheaper than gamma irradiators.
- Unlike gamma
- You do not need to wear protective equipment when using the instrument.
- When the instrument is turned off, it is truly off; radiation lingers.
- Our instrument is more compact and mobile.
- You do not need special licenses.
- Nuclear isotopes decay slowly over time, so every time the researchers use the gamma instrument, they have to perform calculations to make sure they administer the proper dose (x-ray does not decay/weaken). No calculation needs to be done; just select what you want and push the button).
- X-ray is very low energy (unlike gamma) and better suited to radiate sensitive living organisms. The dose can be better controlled, and the insects can be exposed to the radiation more delicately.
- It has been theorized that less radiation is needed to thoroughly sterilize insects when using x-ray as opposed to gamma (a theory that Lee County has proved).
Interesting Industry Links
How to Control Insect Pests Using Radiation
Insect pests spread diseases. Mosquitoes, for example, are responsible for the spread of malaria, which affected 247 million people in 2021 alone and caused over 600 000 deaths. Parasitic insect pests, such as parasitic flies,...
Successful Suppression of an Aedes aegypti Field Population in Cuba
The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a species-specific and environment-friendly method of insect control that relies on the release of large numbers of sterile insects. Mating released sterile males with wild females leads to...
Looking Skyward to Take on Major Pest of the Nut Industry
ARS is rebooting an old farming technique to fight the navel orangeworm An Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist in California is developing a new use for a tool that farmers have had in their kit for over 100 years —...