Exploring the Potential of IoT Technologies for Real-Time Radiation Monitoring in Nuclear Medicine

Abstract

The expanding scope of nuclear medicine, particularly with the rise of theranostics and personalized dosing regimens, demands a paradigm shift in radiation safety management. Traditional monitoring methods, while foundational, are often characterized by data latency and spatial gaps, failing to provide the dynamic and comprehensive oversight required in modern clinical environments. Methods: This perspective article synthesizes and conceptually analyzes current Internet of Things (IoT) architectures, wireless sensor technologies, and data processing frameworks. These technological capabilities were mapped onto the specific operational and safety requirements of a nuclear medicine department to propose a novel monitoring ecosystem. Results: A three-tier IoT enabled framework is proposed, comprising a perception layer of networked smart sensors, a network/ edge layer for data aggregation and immediate analysis, and an application layer for centralized visualization and analytics. This system conceptually enables real-time dose mapping, predictive exposure alerts, and enhanced workflow intelligence, as illustrated by hypothetical clinical use cases. Conclusion: The integration of IoT principles into radiation monitoring holds transformative potential. It can elevate safety protocols from passive, compliance-driven exercises to active, intelligent systems that support advanced therapeutic applications, optimize departmental operations, and provide unprecedented levels of safety assurance for staff and patients.

Introduction

The text discusses the transformation of nuclear medicine from primarily diagnostic imaging to advanced theranostic applications involving high-activity radionuclide therapies. While these developments improve diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness, they also increase the complexity of radiation safety management and make adherence to the ALARA principle more challenging. Traditional radiation monitoring methods—such as TLD/OSL badges, handheld survey meters, and fixed area monitors—are largely retrospective, fragmented, and labor-intensive, limiting real-time awareness and proactive safety interventions.

The study proposes integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into nuclear medicine departments to overcome these limitations. IoT enables continuous, real-time radiation monitoring through interconnected sensors, wireless communication, edge computing, and cloud-based analytics. Wearable dosimeters, environmental sensors, and asset-integrated detectors can provide comprehensive spatial and temporal coverage, while edge and cloud processing support immediate alerts, trend analysis, and predictive safety insights.

A three-tier IoT-enabled monitoring architecture is presented: (1) a perception layer with wearable, environmental, and asset sensors; (2) a network and edge intelligence layer with gateways for local processing and secure data transmission; and (3) an application and cloud analytics layer offering dashboards, automated reporting, and predictive decision support for Radiation Safety Officers. Compared to traditional approaches, the IoT paradigm enables real-time data integration, automated alerts, improved workflow context, and proactive risk management.

Illustrative use cases demonstrate benefits such as end-to-end radiopharmaceutical tracking, dynamic management of high-dose therapies, and long-term operational analytics for safety optimization. However, the implementation faces challenges related to sensor accuracy and power efficiency, network reliability in shielded environments, workflow integration, regulatory approval, data security, and economic feasibility. The text concludes that phased implementation and further research are essential to realize the potential of IoT-enabled radiation monitoring in nuclear medicine.

Conclusion

The integration of IoT technology into the field of nuclear medicine makes sense as it is a logical step toward improving the management of radiation safety in diverse nuclear medicine facilities. This analysis shows how an IoT platform can create a comprehensive system with extensive sensing capabilities, superior connection capabilities, and advanced data synthesis techniques that can overcome the deficiencies associated with traditional monitoring methods. This IoT solution allows healthcare professionals to access and respond to real-time information on radiation safety to the radiation professionals. Therefore, using IoT for radiation safety management can change the traditional method of radiation monitoring and safety.[14] The proposed framework supports a safe and efficient method of radiation monitoring and safety, specifically in the rapidly developing field of theranostics. This framework provides Radiation Safety Officers with real-time situational awareness, supplies staff with instant feedback to ensure they remain compliant with (as low as reasonably achievable), and produces the required data-based insights necessary to improve departmental design and workflow analysis. Although there are numerous technical, regulatory, and economic challenges that must be confronted before achieving the proposed framework, these challenges can be met through concentrated inter-professional cooperation between physicians, physicists, scientists, and technologists working in nuclear medicine. A proposed path to achieving this goal includes conducting carefully designed pilot studies, developing interoperable standards, and working together to adopt new technologies used in all facets of medicine to help contribute to a safety culture related to the use of nuclear medicine and the people who work in this field.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Alok Kumar Yadav, Neeraj Sharma, Sanjiv Kumar. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.