The New STTR Experience

Transcription

1 The New STTR Experience Ionizing particle beam fluence and position micropattern detector array with multi-coordinate readout Our first-time journey that lead us to, and is taking us through with the US DOE SBIR / STTR program. Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC, Arizona State University, and Mayo Clinic E. Galyaev, R. Alarcon, M. Bues, J. Holmes, D. Blyth, B. Fox

2 The Micromegas Our Project Path with the STTR The aims of this talk: To share our experience with the DOE SBIR / STTR program To describe our path and to discuss the individual aspects of what a path to commercialization may be To showcase some of our project highlights and to get the word around To put ourselves out to establishing new possible collaborations In this talk: Getting the idea the beginnings and the early work on it Looking for the like minded establishing and expanding collaboration Getting traction through enthusiasm the preliminary R&D efforts The scouring for resources early funding and the need for the SBIR / STTR The Company that moment of getting proactive From the idea to the prototype more focused R&D effort and the proposal The pursuits, trials, and setbacks getting our initial STTR Phase I funding Our exciting and creative experience so far and the future outlook! 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 2

3 0. The Background MS, Moscow State University (Russia) Scintillating fiber hodoscopes Lead-Scintillator Calorimeter Spark chamber Ionization Chamber MS, PhD, University of Notre Dame (IN) Scientific detector applications Silicon Pixel Tracker Transition Radiation Tracker Time Projection Chamber The Micromegas Detector 1/12/2018 Scintillating fiber tracker Muon (Scintillator, Drift Tubes) Industrial and Medical applications & Silicon Diode arrays Proportional Ion Chambers Micro-cavity Ion Chamber array Scanning water tank Radiation Treatment planning E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 3

4 1. The Micromegas Detector Micro-MEsh Gaseous Structure the basic principle is not unlike the multi-wire proportional ionization chamber built in 1968, Georges Charpak, Nobel Prize in 1992: ionization charge produced in working gas medium by radiation particles, is amplified across the high-voltage (HV) potential gap and collected locally by highly segmented conductive structures Ionization charge avalanche, Amplification gain few 100 s to few 1000 s An example implementation: Another example implementation 250 mm Backing with the readout leads / connector: - Pads structure is essentially a common Printed Circuit Board - Cylindrical symmetry - Pads are really concentric strips Various shapes & readout configurations possible! 5 mm 2 mm 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 4 Mich. State U. PAT-TPC

5 2. The Idea (1) A few basic technical requirements have emerged: Detector capable of high rates (pulse mode) / fluence (current) measurement High (< 300um) planar (X-Y) resolution High radiation tolerance: capable of working in direct proton / ion beam (Some) fluence imaging capability in a medical physics application Attempt to control / reduce / negate the disadvantages of gas filled detectors Micro-Pattern Gas Arrays The Micromegas!... How do we improve on the Micromegas? High Resolution Small Pads Lots of Readout channels Very expensive Multi-wire Proportional Chambers! 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 5

6 2. The Idea (2) X-Y Line readout: few channels, but resolution of complex fluence structure is lost Individual readout: high number of There readout are channels Y X several ways to solve the reconstruction problem Example - Diode arrays, individual pads X-Y-Stereo: Compromise Resolves ambiguity in each coordinate using two other directions Y X Only 20 channels 100+ channels but best resolution Very good resolution with 30 channels using convolved info Micromegas are much more rad-hard and stable than semiconductors or scintillators Much more mechanically stable than wires! 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 6

7 3. The Collaboration Looking for the like-minded allies Past professional technology ties: Michigan State U CEA CENBG (France) Individual professional CEA IRFU (France) contributors: Former and present colleagues help Independent contractors Former acquaintances from the industry and healthcare: Cancer treatment specialists Accelerator specialists Treatment systems commissioning and QA service engineers 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 7

8 4. The Initial R&D efforts This stage of the project is forming the grounds and global direction: Who is it for? Is there a good demand? What would the performance specs be to make it competitive? Will we be able to build this? Will we be able to sell this? Semi-technical the broad strokes outline of a prototype What would it have to do to be a useful POC? Conceptualization and rough on-the-lap calculations Initial materials research How would we be funding this development? 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 8

9 5. RDI as a Company and Early Funding Early development was purely enthusiasm-driven Very low initial resources Started off as a side project to similar research Proton range detector at ASU R. Alarcon, M. Bues, J. Holmes, D. Blyth Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC was founded and incorporated in Arizona Seed funding with help from Mayo Clinic Arizona! as a need for a legal vehicle grew higher 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 9

10 6. The SBIR / STTR Route Project funding gradually becoming more and more of a pressing issue Research for funding was widening its scope Too early stage to have any interest from venture capital Not exactly the right profile for crowd funding Although a great case for super-angel support! still, need something to show for it Government grants! Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) SBIR / STTR 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 10

11 7. The STTR Phase I Project (1) 2015 Application Deadline mix-up too late SBIR / STTR Well, we ve got another year to make it a good strong application! Prototype detector design started as a hobby side project Several key contributors joined in with their regular efforts! Jason Holmes, David Blyth, Benjamin Fox Lincoln Jolley 1/12/2018 Individual contributor Mechanical design E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 11

12 7. The 2016 STTR Phase I Project (2) Spring 2015 Application Bump! Awarded STTR Phase I Fall 2015 Application DOE SBIR / STTR 2016 SBIR / STTR The following new proposal has been recommended by the SBIR and STTR Programs Office within the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science for negotiation of a financial award: Proposal Title: A novel ionizing particle beam fluence and position detector array using the Micromegas technology with multicoordinate readout 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 12

13 7. The 2016 STTR Phase I Project (3) Designing, building, and testing our detector prototype in 9 months! 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 13

14 8. The STTR Phase II Project (1) Based on our Phase I results, we have been given a chance to take our project to STTR Phase II! Building a scientific instrument demonstrator for a DOE project! Initially thought candidate is tracking test detector for Dark Light Development of a new proprietary data acquisition electronics Well, actually TWO DAQ systems, one for current sampling mode in a medical detector array, and another is for pulse mode for a particle tracking detector Making our array manufacturing techniques scalable and robust Completing the data reconstruction software Coming up with a robust response calibration process There are some ideas, requires securing some additional joint IP A great chance to take a much more thorough approach to detector optimization! Adjustments learned from the first Phase I prototype Additional, more thorough design through simulation approach Studying and optimizing some materials we are using. And a lot more! 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 14

15 8. The STTR Phase II Project (2) The Micromegas has proven to be a robust and fast tracking detector We do believe that our x3 readout plane will work well in tracking situations as well as it will prove useful in its current sampling mode We will have timing information along all three directions Just like the proportional multi-wire chamber 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 15

16 8. The STTR Phase II Project (3) Building newer (improved process) iterations of the array Building our own clean corner 1/12/2018 Working on array assembly improvements Ongoing much more detailed, systematic simulation studies E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 16

17 The Challenges Our most challenging items: Manpower! We do have (IMO) a reasonable vision, know what to do, do have the ideas and know-how to the main technical problems Need more bandwidth to turn the crank! Delegating more!... Looking and attracting more help! To attend both tracking and current mode sub-flavors proportionately At this point the current mode (medical QA proto) is being worked on more Not a great worry as if optimization is done well for one, means we do have all the tools and knowledge to crank out the optimum configuration for the other To have the bandwidth to be looking for ways to attract future funding To (complete) formation of the Board of Advisors Already do have: a board certified radiation oncology specialist, senior detector scientist Have already had preliminary conversations with several candidate contributors Materials scientist, systems engineer, senior industrial physicist, electronics engineer 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 17

18 The Outlook It s alive!!! We know now it works! We now have to make sure it works well! Incredible pressure and sense of urgency We truly enjoy what we do! The core team is intact, and expanding and morale is great! Enough craziness behind gives good hopes for more to come! We are learning! The business end is tricky! But we love to learn! We ve been getting through so far! We are hoping! but it is Hope is a great motivator! Great to find it within the team if on the outside the day looks grim! 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 18

19 Summary and WORK IN PROGRESS! 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 19

20 It is not the possession of truth, but the success which attends the seeking after it, that enriches the seeker and brings happiness to him Max Ludwig Planck Thank you! 1/12/2018 E. Galyaev - Radiation Detection and Imaging (RDI) Technologies LLC 20