Opendosimeter

Open-source project for a low-cost battery-powered personal X-ray dosimeter! Using a custom PCB powered by a Raspberry Pico with an X-ray sensor (LYSO crystal + SiPM assembly)

Overview

OpenDosimeter <a href="https://certification.oshwa.org/se000023"><img src="docs/oshw_certification.png" align="right" width="200"></a>

Our open-source hardware and software dosimeter offers an afordable solution for real-time, self-monitored X-ray radiation exposure. With a total component cost of roughly $90, this device provides an accessible option for radiation monitoring to promote broad access to radiation safety. This project is a derivative of the Open Gamma Detector, with the main new feature being the effective dose calculations (in Sieverts) converted from the detected X-ray spectrum.

<img src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5c1948b8-772a-4dd8-bbd7-d9162b60cefd" width="40%" align="left"> <br> <blockquote> <strong>SAFETY DISCLAIMER:</strong> This is a research project; builders and users assume full responsibility for verifying the accuracy and reliability of measurements obtained from the dosimeters they build. Always follow proper radiation safety protocols and consult with qualified professionals when dealing with radiation exposure. </blockquote> <br clear="both"> <br>

As of December 1, 2025, the paper on OpenDosimeter has been peer reviewed and published in Communications Engineering:

<blockquote>

N. Ger, A. Ku, J. Lopez, N. R. Bennett, J. Wang, G. Ateka, E. Anyenda, M. Rosezky, P. Kilavi, A. S. Wang, & K. Shaker, "OpenDosimeter: Open hardware personal X-ray dosimeter" Commun Eng 4, 207 (2025)

</blockquote>

Please cite the paper above if you want to reference the OpenDosimeter project.

Key Features

<img src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/65f5abfe-b1fb-4192-8f79-10c1414b636d" width="40%" align="right" alt="Cost Breakdown">

• Open Design: Hardware and software designs are fully open-source, enabling reproducibility and customization
• Affordable: Total cost ~$90, see here and cost breakdown →
• Compact: 73 mm x 42 mm x 23 mm (with the case)
• Programmable: Drag and drop firmware files
• Battery powered: Current version has a capacity of up to 20 hours per full charge (<70 mA @ at 3.7V, 1200 mAh battery)
• Accuracy: Currently reliable between around 0.1 µSv/h to 1 mSv/h (±25% accuracy) in the photon counting range
• Buzzer: Built in buzzer allows for optional audible warnings when dose rate exceeds predefined limit (default set to 5 µSv/h)
• Calibratable: Using Am-241 from any household ionization smoke detector for spectral/dose calibration
• Real-time: Direct feedback on radiation exposure, compared to passive dosimeters (e.g., OSL or TLD badges) requiring external readout
• Logging: The last 10 hours of dose values are stored on the device; extracted through USB connection and our web interface here <br clear="right">

How to Make One

This repository has everything you need to create your own OpenDosimeter:

Case: Use this directory to 3D print the case. It contains two sets of .stl files that can be downloaded to print top and bottom components for a case with and without a belt clip.

Docs: This is where you can find the reference images used throughout this repository.

Software: The software directory has everything you need to program your device, whether you are just looking to download the software with default settings or looking to modify the firmware and make changes to the sketch. After programming your device, you will be guided through local calibration of your device and an overview of how to use it.

Hardware: Check out the hardware directory to see the OpenDosimeter board layout in EasyEDA and instructions for ordering it using JLCPCB. This directory contains a breakdown of each component required to assemble the hardware with prices and links to order parts. Furthermore, this is where you can find instructions to assemble your device. Additionally, if you prefer to order directly from the PCB manufacturer, you can download the gerber file also located in the hardware directory or at the OpenDosimeter Kitspace page.

@OpenDosimeter: Finally, head over to our YouTube channel for instructional manuals on ordering the PCB, assembling, programming, and calibrating the device.

Working Principle

<img src="https://github.com/OpenDosimeter/OpenDosimeter/blob/main/docs/Flowchart.png" width="40%" align="right" alt="Flowchart of device principle">

The flow chart below illustrates the operation, using grey boxes to represent hardware components and orange boxes to indicate software functionality (inspired by the Open Gamma Detector flowchart, demonstrating the similarity of the underlying design)

The current software (V.1.0) converts X-ray photons to dose using a photon-counting principle (suitable for low to medium dose rates)

An energy-integrating parallel component (suitable for medium to high dose rates) is under development for an upcoming software upgrade (V.1.1)

<br clear="right">

Troubleshooting and FAQ

Refer to REFERENCE.md for troubleshooting support and guidance in debugging

Future Improvements

1. The current power switch on the OpenDosimeter board is fragile and sometimes breaks. Future iterations of the hardware should replace for a more durable model
2. The power consumption of the current version is quite high (up to 70 mA @ 3.7 V), as it hasn't been optimized for power efficiency. Future hardware and software improvements should be able to improve the power efficiency by at least 2x (i.e., up to 40 hours battery life with a 1200 mAh capacity LiPo).
3. In order to make an even more integrated and compact design, the RP2040 chip from the Raspberry Pi Pico could be incorporated into the OpenDosimeter board

Project Team

Many people have contributed to the realization of this project so far:

• Kian Shaker (Stanford University) [Project lead]
• Alice Ku (Stanford University)
• Jasmyn Lopez (Stanford University)
• Enoch Anyenda (University of Nairobi)
• Norah Ger (Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, Nairobi)
• Grace Ateka (Kenya Bureau of Standards)
• Jia Wang (Stanford University)
• Robert Bennett (Stanford University)
• Adam Wang (Stanford University)
• Matthias Rosezky (https://nuclearphoenix.xyz/)

Contributing

The OpenDosimeter is a living project and we invite people to contribute to future development!

Want to contribute as a developer? Reach out to Kian Shaker (or send an e-mail to opendosimeter@gmail.com)

Submitting Issues and Suggestions

If you encounter any problems, have questions, or want to suggest improvements:

1. Go to our Issues page.
2. Click on "New Issue".
3. Provide as much detail as possible about your issue or suggestion.

Note: You'll need a GitHub account to submit issues. Another option to leave feedback is to contact us through opendosimeter@gmail.com.

License

The OpenDosimeter project is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL3). This means you're free to use, modify, and distribute the project for any purpose, including commercial applications. However, if you distribute software based on OpenDosimeter, you must make your source code available under the same GPL3 license. This ensures that improvements remain accessible to the community. We encourage innovation and commercial development, as we believe this can lead to wider adoption and further enhancements in radiation safety technology. For the full license text, see the LICENSE tab in our repository.

Citation

If your project references OpenDosimeter, or if you use it as a basis for your next cool project, please cite the paper:

<blockquote>

N. Ger, A. Ku, J. Lopez, N. R. Bennett, J. Wang, G. Ateka, E. Anyenda, M. Rosezky, P. Kilavi, A. S. Wang, & K. Shaker, "OpenDosimeter: Open hardware personal X-ray dosimeter" Commun Eng 4, 207 (2025)

</blockquote>

Or directly use the BibTex entry below:

@article{ger2025opendosimeter,
  title={OpenDosimeter: Open hardware personal X-ray dosimeter},
  author={Ger, Norah and Ku, Alice and Lopez, Jasmyn and Bennett, N Robert and Wang, Jia and Ateka, Grace and Anyenda, Enoch and Rosezky, Matthias and Kilavi, Pamela and Wang, Adam S and others},
  journal={Communications Engineering},
  volume={4},
  number={1},
  pages={207},
  year={2025},
  publisher={Nature Publishing Group UK London}
} 

Acknowledgements

Inspiration: The basis for our hardware and software is the fantastic Open Gamma Detector project, check it out! Much of its detailed documentation is relevant to the OpenDosimeter as well (SiPM behavior, X-ray counting concept etc.)

Funding support: King Center on Global Development at Stanford University, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (PI: Kian Shaker)

Files in this package

• CAD source: Case (bottom).stl, Case (top).stl
• Images: Board 3D rendering, bottom.png, Board 3D rendering, top.png, Flowchart.png, OpenDosimeter logo.png, Thumbnail 1.png, Thumbnail 2.png, Thumbnail 3.png, Thumbnail 4.png, Thumbnail 5.png, board-overview.png, device-overview.jpg, oshw_certification.png
• Documents: Board overview.pdf, Case assembly.pdf, Cost breakdown.pdf, Software states.pdf, X-ray detection signals.pdf, X-ray sensor.pdf, schematic.pdf

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Source & license

• Original author: OpenDosimeter
• Source repository: https://github.com/OpenDosimeter/OpenDosimeter
• License: GPL-3.0

Imported into the CommunityCAD Archive with attribution preserved. All rights remain with the original author under the stated license.