Dosimetric evaluation of VMAT radiation therapy technique for breast cancer after conservative surgery based on three different types of multileaf collimators

Objective Radiotherapy combined with conservative surgery plays an important role in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) has been introduced into clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dosimetric effects of different multileaf collimators(MLC) on VMAT radiotherapy plans for treating breast cancer.Methods Fifteen breast cancer patients who were treated using a conventional technique in our department were selected to participate in this retrospective analysis. VMAT plans based on three types of Elekta MLCs [Beam Modulator(BM) with 4-mm leaf width, Agility with 5-mm leaf width and MLCi2 with 10-mm leaf width] were independently generated for each patient. Plan comparisons were performed based on dose-volume histogram(DVH) analysis including dosimetric parameters such as the homogeneity index(HI), conformity index(CI), Dmax, Dmin, and Dmean for the planning treatment volume(PTV), in addition to dose-volume parameters for the organs at risk(OARs). The delivery efficiency of the three types of MLCs was compared in terms of the beam delivery time and the monitor units(MUs) per fraction for each plan. Results Both target uniformity and conformity were improved in plans for Agility and BM MLC compared with the plan using MLCi2. The mean HI decreased from 1.14 for MLCi2 to 1.13 for BM and 1.10 for Agility, while the mean CI increased from 0.68 for MLCi2 to 0.73 for BM and 0.75 for Agility. Furthermore, at both low and high dose levels, smaller volumes of ipsilateral lung, heart, contralateral lung, and breast were irradiated with Agility MLC than with the other two types of MLCs. The delivery time with Agility MLC was reduced by 10.8% and 32.1%, respectively, compared with that for MLCi2 and BM.Conclusion Our results indicate that the Agility MLC exhibits a dosimetric advantage and a significant improvement in delivery efficiency for the treatment of breast cancer using VMAT.

Derivation of General Formula for Coupling Loss of Single-mode Fiber Collimators with Gradient-index Rod Lenses

Gradient-index rod lens (GRIN-lens) whose pitch is ordinary value with bevel ferrule coupling system is analyzed, an equivalent method which can be used to analyze this system is put forward, and a general formula for determining the coupling loss with axes mismatch, radial mismatch, and angular mismatch is derived by use of the Gaussian field approximation and mode-field coupling theory. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory prediction. It indicates that these formulas are suitable to analyze the gradient-index rod lens coupling system with pigtail fiber.

Dosimetric comparison of different multileaf collimators in volumetric modulated arc therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma

Objective The aiom of the study was to compare the impacts of two types of multileaf collimators （MLC） [standard MLC with a width of 10 mm （sMLC） and micro-MLC with a width of 5 mm （mMLC）] on volumetric modulated arc therapy （VMAT） planning for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Methods VMAT for ten patients with inoperable malignant pleural mesotheliomas was retrospectively planned with the sMLC and mMLC. Histogram-based dose-volume parameters of the planning target vol- ume （PTV） [conformity index （CI） and homogeneous index （HI）] and organs-at-risk were compared for VMAT plans with sMLC （sMLC-VMAT） and mMLC （mMLC-VMAT）. Results The mMLC-VMAT plans were more efficient （average delivery time： 2.67±1.49 min） than the sMLC-VMAT plans （average delivery time： 4.21 ± 2.03 min; P 〈 0.05）. Moreover, compared to the sMLC plans, the mMLC plans demonstrated advantages in the dose coverage of the PTV （CI 0.75 ± 0.08 vs 0.73± 0.09; HI 1.09 ±0.02 vs 1.10± 0.02）, although the difference was not statistically significant （P 〉 0.05）. In addition, significant dose sparing in the fraction of the ipsilateral lung volume receiving 〉 20 Gy （V20; 54.72± 27.08 vs 58.52 ± 29.30） and 〉 30 Gy （V30; 42.74 ± 27.86 vs 46.86± 31.49） radiation, respectively, was observed for the mMLC plans （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion Comparing sMLC-VMAT and mMLC-VMAT not only demonstrated the higher efficiency and better optimal target coverage of mMLC-VMAT, but also considerably improved the dose sparing of the ipsilateral lung in the VMAT plans for mali qnant pleural mesothelioma.

Results of the Measurement of the Collimator Hole Angulation for Different Collimators of SPECT with Adaptive Quality Control Phantom

The Adaptive Quality Control Phantom (AQCP) is the computer-controlled phantom which positions and moves a radioactive source in the Field of View (FOV) of an imaging nuclear medicine device on a definite path to produce any spatial distribution of gamma rays to perform the QC Tests such as the Collimator Hole Angulation (CHA) of Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography (SPECT). The collimator hole angulation for seven collimators were measured with the method by using a point source and computer-controlled cylindrical positioning. In this method the displacement of the image of a point source examined as the AQCP move point source vertically away from the collimator face. The results of the high-accuracy measurement method of CHA show that the measurement accuracy for absolute angulation errors is better than ±0.024°. The Root Mean Square (RMS) of CHA for LEHR, LEHS, LEUHR, MEGP-250, MEGP-300, MEGP-360 and HEPH collimators of SMV dual heads camera were measured to be 0.290°, 0.292°, 0.208°, 0.194°, 0.181°, 0.177°, 0.150°, respectively. The Root Mean Square (RMS) of CHA for LEGP, MEGP and HEGP collimators of GE Millennium MG were measured to be 0.154°, 0.220° and 0.202° respectively. It is to be added in this connection that the measured RMS of CHA for LEHR collimator with the distance variation from the collimator’s surface +/– 1 mm has been varied +/– 0.04 degree.

Study on direct point spread function measurement of capillary plate collimators with divergent X-ray beams

Purpose The Filed of View(FOV)of eXTP/LAD is limited by lead-glass capillary plate collimators placed in front of the Silicon Drift Detectors(SDDs)for reducing the background contamination caused by the photons of Cosmic X-ray Background(CXB)leaking from outside the FOV.The core quality parameters of lead-glass capillary plate collimators are Open Area Ratio(OAR)and FOV.The performance of lead-glass capillary plate collimators is determined by its design specification such as pore-to-pore misalignment,pore perpendicularity with collimator surface and pore diameter.Since the design specification is the result of a large number of micropores,we use the full width at half maximum(FWHM)and peak value of point spread function(PSF)to characterize the capillary plate collimator performance.In order to quickly evaluate the performances of collimators,we developed a direct PSF measurement method using divergent beams.Methods In this paper,the simulation package of the divergent beamsmeasurement setup is developed based on Geant4.The simulation parameters of scintillator absorption length are corrected by experimental data.We simulate the PSF of collimators with different distribution of pore diameter and misalignment by parallel beams and divergent beams.By comparing the peak value and FWHM of collimators PSF,the feasibility in replacing parallel beams measurement with divergent beams measurement is studied.Results It is verified that the influence of the geometric size of 33μm radius of the micro-focus of X-ray tube can be ignored.The results show that the FWHM of collimators is increased with error root mean square error(RMS)of the distribution of collimators pore diameter and pore inclination angle.The peak value of PSF is mainly influenced by pore non-parallelism of the pores,and it decreases with an increase in pore inclination angle.Comparison of parallel beams PSF and divergent beams PSF shows well consistency of peak value and FWHM of collimator.But,the peak value of the divergent beams PSF is mainly affected by the defects of the pores close to the optical axis and result in difference from the parallel beams results consequently.We have developed capillary plate collimators response function based on the projected area function of a cylindrical pore and the fluorescence broadening of the scintillator and fitted PSF by response function.The capillary plate collimator open area ratio is calculated by using the micropores radius and collimator frame thickness obtained by fitting parameter,and the result is close to the parallel beams PSF.Conclusion The feasibility divergent beams measurement is verified.

Application of movable collimators to the BEPCⅡ

BEPCⅡ is a double ring e＋ecollider with high beam currents and luminosity,so the high beamrelated backgrounds may disturb the detector.In order to have a good quality of data taking,backgrounds should be kept at a level as low as possible.A series of collimators are designed and installed in both the e＋ and erings.Two of the collimators are horizontally movable,each for one ring,about 8 m upstream from the interaction point.Experiments have been done to identify the e-ectiveness of the movable collimators with different apertures and beam currents.The results show that the movable collimators are very effective and can reduce as much as about 50% of beam-related backgrounds.

Calibrating the HXMT collimators using diffuse illumination

We propose a new method to calibrate the HXMT collimators by measuring the optical point spread function(PSF) of the hard X-ray modulation telescope(HXMT).The light transmission of the collimator at different viewing angles with a camera and a diffuse backlight placed behind the collimator is measured.This method is much easier to accomplish than measuring the PSF with a parallel optical beam.The experimental results are very consistent with the simulations.The PSF of the collimator of the high energy X-ray telescope on HXMT is found to be in good agreement with the design,with accuracy better than 1 arcmin.

Physics design of collimators to reduce lost particle background at the CEPC

At the CEPC （Circular Electron Positron Collider）, which is proposed by the Chinese high energy physics community, the dominant background comes from radiative Bhabha scattering and the beamstrahlung effect according to preliminary research. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate a collimator system to intercept particles that may be lost near the interaction region （IR）. In this paper, we introduce some limitations in choosing the position and width of the collimators. A certain parameter range is determined which is confined by the β function and the width of the collimators. A suitable choice of the half width is made by exploring this parameter range. A simulation of the particle loss rate in the IR and the hit density in the vertex detector with and without the collimators shows that the set of parameters of the collimators we designed is appropriate and effective.

Assessment of Monitor Units and Gamma Pass Rate for 6 MV and Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beams in Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)

Background: In linear accelerators, the treatment field’s uniform intensity is achieved by including a flattening filter in the beam. However, to produce more conformal dose distributions, contemporary radiotherapy practice now frequently uses fluence and aperture modifying techniques, such as volumetric modulated arc therapy. In these circumstances, the flattening filter in the beam manufacturing process is no longer required. It is therefore necessary to compare the monitor units of 6 MV and flattening filter free plans and how it influences the gamma pass rates to determine which is best for treating cervical cancer with pelvic lymph node metastasis. Methods: VMAT plans for fifteen patients with cervical cancer with pathological pelvic lymph node metastasis were included in this study. Each patient had two VMAT plans using conventional 6 MV beam with flattening filter and one with flattening filter free beam (FFF). The VMAT plans were made using two arcs, and then recalculated to give the planned dose distribution to the detectors in a Delta4 phantom. The VMAT plans were irradiated on the Delta4 phantom using an Elekta linear accelerator (6 MV). Results: The mean monitor unit for the 6 MV plans was 506.3 MU and a standard deviation of 48.6 while that of the FFF plans had a mean MU of 701.5 with a standard deviation of 87.6. The total monitor units (MUs) for the FFF plans were significantly greater than the 6 MV plans (p = 6.1 × 10-5). Conclusion: Flattening filter free (FFF) plans require more numbers of monitor units in comparison to conventional 6 MV filtered beams for external radiation of cervical cancer with pelvic lymph nodes involvement.

Assessment of Modeling Collimator Designs for Gamma-Ray Transmission of Uranium Oxide Spectrometry Using HPGe Detectors

Many scientific domains use gamma-ray spectrometry, but non-destructive gamma scanning and gamma emission tomography of radioactive fuel in particular. In the experimental setting, a collimator is frequently employed to focus on a particular location of interest in the fuel. Predictive models for the transmitted gamma-ray intensity through the collimator are required for both the optimization of instrument design and the planning of measurement campaigns. Gamma-ray transport accuracy is frequently predicted using Monte Carlo radiation transport methods, but using these tools in low-efficiency experimental setups is challenging due to the lengthy computation times needed. This study focused on the full-energy peak intensity that was transmitted through several collimator designs, including rectangle and cylinder. The rate of photons arriving at a detector on the other side of the collimator was calculated for anisotropic source of SNM (U3O8). Some geometrical assumptions that depended on the source-to-collimator distance and collimator dimensions (length, radius or length, height, and width) were applied to achieve precise findings.

瓦里安21EX直线加速器多叶准直器维护与维修

0引言 配备多叶准直器（mulli-leaf collimator,MLC）系统的直线加速器能使照射野最大限度地接近肿瘤形状,从而达到最大限度地杀死肿瘤细胞,同时最小程度影响正常组织的目的[1]。由于MLC比挡铅的操作方法更简单快速[2],目前配有MLC的直线加速器在全国各地的放疗科应用越来越广泛[3]。因多叶准直器被安装在医用电子直线加速器的照射机头上,所以部件受辐射比较严重,

医科达Precise医用直线加速器多叶准直器(MLC)维修2例

随着计算机技术的飞速发展和加速器设备的改进,三维适形放射治疗逐渐得到普及,使得靶区和邻近的危及器官的剂量分布有了较大的改善,最大限度地将照射剂量集中到病变（靶区）内,杀灭肿瘤细胞,使周围正常组织和器官减少或免受照射,从而提高了放射治疗的治疗增益比[1]。采用多叶准直器（multileaf collimator，MLC）的调强适形放射治疗（intensity modulated radiation therapy．IMRT）是当前放疗的主流技术之一^[2]。

医科达Synergy直线加速器光学系统故障分析与维修

采用多叶准直器（multileaf collimator,MLC）的调强适形放射治疗（intensity modulated radiation therapy,IMRT）是当前放射治疗的主流技术之一,其通过光学监视系统来影响多叶准直器的控制,最大精度将照射剂量集中到病变内,移除肿瘤细胞,且周围正常组织和器官减少或免受照射。

CT机Collimator详析

X -CT的品牌、型号较多,但不管是什么厂家什么型号的CT ,其Collimator的结构都是大同小异,本文将详细剖析单层CT机的Collimator的结构,讨论一些常见故障,并提出相应解决方法。

Numerical simulation of metal evaporation based on the kinetic model equation and the direct simulation Monte Carlo method

Metal evaporation on the basis of the kinetic model equations(BGK and S-model) and the direct simulation Monte Carlo(DSMC) method was investigated computationally under the circumstances of collimators existing or not. Numerical data of distributions of number density, bulk velocity and temperature were reported over a wide range of evaporation rate.It was shown that these results reached a good agreement for the case of small evaporation rate, while the deviations became increasingly obvious with the increase of evaporation rate, especially when the collimators existed. Moreover, the deposition thickness over substrate obtained from the kinetic model equations were inaccurate even though the evaporation rate was small. All of the comparisons showed the reliability of the kinetic model equations, which require less computational cost at small evaporation rate and simple structure.

An Alternative Model to Radon Transform for Gamma Ray Emission Tomography

The Radon transform fits badly Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT). However, Thin Holes Collimator (THC) and Radon model are widely used. The CACAO project has been proposed to enhance the quality of SPECT images. CACAO is a short hand notation for computer aided collimation tomography. The main idea of this project is to use collimators with much larger holes to increase the sensitivity, and slightly longer holes to increase the spatial resolution. The acquisition sequence includes a translation. The Radon projection is replaced by a 2D sum. A dedicated reconstruction algorithm has been developed. If the physical advantage of the project in terms of sensitivity and spatial resolution is generally admitted, a question remains unanswered: Would the ill-posedness of the inverse problem ruin the quality of the reconstructed images? In this article, a representation of the 2D direct problem matrix is derived. This allows us to compare the two inverse problems (CACAO versus THC). The condition number was used for this comparison. We studied the variation of these condition numbers with several parameters. For a proper set of parameters, the CACAO inverse problem may appear easier to solve and more accurately than the THC one.

铅适形挡块、手动多叶光栅——谁更适合临床适形放疗？

适形放疗是目前开展最活跃的一种放射治疗方法。它可以有效提高肿瘤的靶区剂量．明显减轻靶区周围正常组织的放射性损伤。要实现适形照射野放疗主要有两种方法：利用低熔点铅制作符合肿瘤投照形状的适形铅挡块（Block）．或使用多叶准直器（multi leaf collimator—MLC）形成适形照射野。MLC又分为手动MLC和电动MLC两种。由于电动MLC价格昂贵，维修复杂，目前国内难以普及。作为电动MLC的过渡产品，手动MLC使用手工操作叶片．省去了驱动操作叶片的电子设备，大大降低了成本。近年来手动MLC的使用日渐广泛．有逐渐取代铅挡块技术的趋势。笔者通过实际工作比较认为手动MLC不具备电动MLC的迅捷方便的操控性，也不具备铅块的良好重复性．并存在难以克服的缺陷。

Thermodynamic analysis and simulation for gas baffle entrance collimator of EAST-NBI system based on thermo-fluid coupled method

The world's first full Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST) is designed with the auxiliary heating method of neutral beam injection(NBI)system. Beam collimators are arranged on both sides of the beam channel for absorbing the divergence beam during the beam transmission process in the EAST-NBI system.The gas baffle entrance collimator(GBEC) is a typical high-heat-flux component located at the entrance of gas baffle. An efficient and accurate analysis of its thermodynamic performance is of great significance to explore the working limit and to ensure safe operation of the system under a high-parameter steady-state condition. Based on the thermo-fluid coupled method, thermodynamic analysis and simulation of GBEC is performed to get the working states and corresponding operating limits at different beam extraction conditions. This study provides a theoretical guidance for the next step to achieve long pulse with highpower experimental operation and has an important reference to ensure the safe operation of the system.

Glycerol effects on optical,weight and geometrical properties of skin tissue

Complex study of glycerol effects on the skin tissue was performed.The change in optical,weight and geometrical parameters of the rat skin under the action of the glycerol solutions was studied ex vivo.Possible mechanisms of the skin optical clearing under the action of glycerol solutions of different concentrations were discussed.The results can be helpful for refinement of models developed to evaluate the effective diffusion coefficients of glycerol in tissues.