Development of a novel multi-point plastic scintillation detector with a single optical transmission line for radiation dose measurement

The goal of this study was to develop a novel multi-point plastic scintillation detector capable of measuring the dose accurately at multiple positions simultaneously using a single optical transmission line. This study demonstrates the practical feasibility of multi-point plastic scintillation detector. This type of detector could be very useful for pre-treatment quality assurance applications as well as an accurate tool for real-time in vivo dosimetry.

PHYSICS IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY
F.Therriault-Proulx, L.Archambault, L.Beaulieu, S.Beddar | Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, Département de Physique, de Génie Physique et d’Optique, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada, Département de Radio-Oncologie, Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada

Review of plastic and liquid scintillation dosimetry for photon, electron, and proton therapy

While scintillation dosimetry has been around for decades, the need for a dosimeter tailored to the reality of modern radiation therapy-in particular a real-time, water-equivalent, energy-independent dosimeter with high spatial resolution-has generated renewed interest in scintillators over the last 10 years. This topical review is intended to provide the medical physics community with a wide overview of scintillation physics, related optical concepts, and applications of plastic scintillation dosimetry.

PHYSICS IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY
L Beaulieu (1,2), S Beddar (3,4) | 1- Département de physique, génie physique et optique, et Centre de recherche sur le cancer, Université Laval, Québec, CA , 2- Département de radio-oncologie et Axe Oncologie du CRCHU de Québec, QC, CA, 3- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, 4- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

Water-equivalent plastic scintillation detectors for high-energy beam dosimetry: II. Properties and measurements

The properties of a new scintillation detector system for use in dosimetry of high-energy beams in radiotherapy have been measured. The most important properties of these detectors are their hgh spatial resolution and their nearly water-equivalence.

PHYSICS IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY
A.S. Beddar, T.R. Mackie, F.H. Attix | Depanment of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wl, USA

Water-equivalent plastic scintillation detectors for high-energy beam dosimetry: I. Physical characteristics and theoretical consideration

A minimally perturbing plastic scintillation detector has been developed for the dosimetry of high-energy beams in radiotherapy. The detector system consists of two identical parallel sets of radiation-resistant optical fibre bundles, each connected to independent photomultiplier tubes.

PHYSICS IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY
A.S. Beddar, T.R. Mackie, F.H. Attix | Depanment of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wl, USA

A method to correct for temperature dependence and measure simultaneously dose and temperature using a plastic scintillation detector

Plastic scintillation detectors work well for radiation dosimetry. However, they show some temperature dependence, and a priori knowledge of the temperature surrounding the plastic scintillation detectors is required to correct for this dependence.

PHYSICS IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY
F.Therriault-Proulx, L.Wooton, S.Beddar | Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Dosimetric Characterization of the ARIEL 10 MV X-Ray Ultrahigh Dose-Rate (FLASH) Irradiation Platform at TRIUMF

The purpose was to characterize the beam delivery capabilities and dose rates achievable on the new ultrahigh dose-rate 10MV x-ray irradiation platform at TRIUMF. Beam commissioning and dosimetry have been conducted on the ARIEL x-ray FLASH irradiation platform using film doses and scintillators. Measured dose rates support that the 10MV x-ray beam may be used as a UHDR source compatible with FLASH radiobiological experiments.

2022 AAPM ANNUAL MEETING
N.Esplen (1), L.Egoriti (2), T.Planche (3), A.Hart (1), B.Paley (3), C.Hoehr (3), A.Gottberg (3), M.Bazalova-Carter (1) | 1- University of Victoria, BC ,CA, 2- University of British Columbia, BC, CA, 3- TRIUMF, BC, CA

Evaluation of scintillation detectors for ultrahigh dose-rate x-ray beam dosimetry

FLASH-Radiotherapy is an emerging ultrahigh dose rates radiotherapy technique, and animal studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the technique in cancer treatment. A reliable real-time dosimeter system is crucial for the characterization of the so-called ‘FLASH-effect’, and an accurate beam delivery. This study aims to benchmark the performance of optical fiber inorganic scintillating detectors (ISDs) with plastic scintillating detectors (PSDs) for an ultrahigh dose-rate x-ray beam irradiation. Measurements includes : relative scintillator output, signal linearity with dose and dose rate, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal stability and reliability.

The PSDs resulted in the highest reliability for a UHDR beam measurement with a CV of <0.1% while the Gd2O2S:Tb showed excellent repeatability (coefficient of variation (CV) <0.1%) compared to other detectors. All detectors showed good linearity with tube current (R2 < 0.975) and shutter exposure (R2 >0.999).

Proc Spie
Shahirah Shaharuddin (1), Alexander Hart (2), Magdalena Bazalova-Carter (2), Luc Beaulieu (3), Cloe Giguere (3), Christoph Kleefeld (1), Mark J. Foley (1) | 1. National University of Ireland, Galway (Ireland), 2. University of Victoria (Canada), 3 University Laval (Canada)

Real-time dosimetry of ultrahigh dose-rate x-ray beams using scintillation detectors

FLASH radiation therapy using an ultrahigh dose-rate beam is found to eradicate tumours whilst significantly reducing radiation-induced tissue toxicity. A real-time dosimetry system is required for the technique to be implemented clinically and for further preclinical studies. This study aimed to optimize the design of scintillating detectors using inorganic materials for real-time dosimetry in ultrahigh dose-rate radiation applications. Inorganic scintillator detectors were fabricated using phosphor-based scintillating materials (Gd2O2S:Tb, La2O2S:Tb, and La2O2S:Eu) coupled with optical fibers. The initial results in ultrahigh dose-rate x-ray irradiation showed excellent linearity with signal independent of the dose rate and dose delivered. A hyperspectral approach is adopted in this study to account for the stem effect that occurs within the high energy typically used in radiotherapy.

IEEE
Shahirah Shaharuddin (1), Alexander Hart (2), Daniel D. Cecchi (2), Magdalena Bazalova-Carter (2), Mark Foley (1) | 1. School of Physics, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland, 2. Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Victoria, Canada