Collection efficiency of a monitor parallel plate ionization chamber for pencil beam scanning proton therapy

The collection efficiency of monitor parallel plate ionization chambers is the main uncertainty in the beam control of pencil beam scanning systems.Existing calculation methods for collection efficiency in photon or passive scattering proton systems have not considered the characteristics of non-uniform charge density in pencil beam scanning systems.In this study,Boag’s theory was applied to a proton pencil beam scanning system.The transverse distribution of charge density in the ionization chamber was considered to be a Gaussian function and an analytical solution was derived to calculate collection efficiency in the beam spot area.This calculation method is called the integral method and it was used to investigate the effects of beam parameters on collection efficiency.It was determined that collection efficiency is positively correlated with applied voltage,beam size,and beam energy,but negatively correlated with beam current intensity.Additionally,it was confirmed that collection efficiency is improved when the air filling the monitor parallel plate ionization chamber is replaced with nitrogen.

Reformatted method for two-dimensional detector arrays measurement data in proton pencil beam scanning

The spatial resolution of a commercial two-dimensional(2D)ionization chamber(IC)array is limited by the size of the individual detector and the center-to-center distance between sensors.For dose distributions with areas of steep dose gradients,inter-detector dose values are derived by the interpolation of nearby detector readings in the conventional mathematical interpolation of 2D IC array measurements.This may introduce significant errors,particularly in proton spot scanning radiotherapy.In this study,by combining logfile-based reconstructed dose values and detector measurements with the Laplacian pyramid image blending method,a novel method is proposed to obtain a reformatted dose distribution that provides an improved estimation of the delivered dose distribution with high spatial resolution.Meanwhile,the similarity between the measured original data and the downsampled logfilebased reconstructed dose is regarded as the confidence of the reformatted dose distribution.Furthermore,we quantify the performance benefits of this new approach by directly comparing the reformatted dose distributions with 2D IC array detector mathematically interpolated measurements and original low-resolution measurements.The result shows that this new method is better than the mathematical interpolation and achieves gamma pass rates similar to those of the original low-resolution measurements.The reformatted dose distributions generally yield a confidence exceeding 95%.

Evaluation of Single Field Uniform Dose (SFUD) Proton Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) Planning Strategy for Lung Mobile Tumor Using a Digital Phantom

Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate four different Proton SFUD PBS initial planning strategies for lung mobile tumor. Methods and Materials: A virtual lung patient’s four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) was generated in this study. To avoid the uncertainties from target delineation and imaging artifacts, a sphere with diameter of 3 cm representing a rigid mobile target (GTV) was inserted into the right side of the lung. The target motion is set in superior-inferior (SI) direction from ?5 mm to 5 mm. Four SFUD planning strategies were used based on: 1) Maximum-In-tensity-Projection Image (MIP-CT);2) CT_average with ITV overridden to muscle density (CTavg_muscle);3) CT_average with ITV overridden to tumor density (CTavg_tumor);4) CT_average without any override density (CTavg_only). Dose distributions were recalculated on each individual phase and accumulated together to assess the “actual” treatment. To estimate the impact of proton range uncertainties, +/?3.5% CT calibration curve was applied to the 4DCT phase images. Results: Comparing initial plan to the dose accumulation: MIP-CT based GTV D98 degraded 2.42 Gy (60.10 Gy vs 57.68 Gy). Heart D1 increased 6.19 Gy (1.88 Gy vs 8.07 Gy);CTavg_tumor based GTV D98 degraded 0.34 Gy (60.07 Gy vs 59.73 Gy). Heart D1 increased 2.24 Gy (3.74 Gy vs 5.98 Gy);CTavg_muscle based initial GTV D98 degraded 0.31 Gy (60.4 Gy vs 60.19 Gy). Heart D1 increased 3.44 Gy (4.38 Gy vs 7.82 Gy);CTavg_only based Initial GTV D98 degraded 6.63 Gy (60.11 Gy vs 53.48 Gy). Heart D1 increased 0.30 Gy (2.69 Gy vs 2.96 Gy);in the presence of ±3.5% range uncertainties, CTavg_tumor based plan’s accumulated GTV D98 degraded to 57.99 Gy (+3.5%) 59.38 Gy (?3.5%), and CTavg_muscle based plan’s accumulated GTV D98 degraded to 59.37 Gy (+3.5%) 59.37 Gy (?3.5%). Conclusion: This study shows that CTavg_Tumor and CTavg_Muscle based planning strategies provide the most robust GTV coverage. However, clinicians need to be aware that the actual dose to OARs at distal end of target may increase. The study also indicates that the current SFUD PBS planning strategy might not be sufficient to compensate the CT calibration uncertainty.

Robustness Evaluation of a Novel Proton Beam Geometry for Head and Neck Patients Treated with Pencil Beam Scanning Therapy

Background: To evaluate the robustness of head and neck treatment using proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) technique with respect to range uncertainty (RU) and setup errors (SE), and to establish a robust PBS planning strategy for future treatment. Methods and Materials: Ten consecutive patients were planned with a novel proton field geometry (combination of two posterior oblique fields and one anterior field with gradient dose match) using single-field uniform dose (SFUD) planning technique and the proton plans were dosimetrically compared to two coplanar arc VMAT plans. Robustness of the plans, with respect to range uncertainties (RU = ± 3% for proton) and setup errors (SE = 2.25 mm for proton and VMAT), in terms of deviations to target coverage (CTV D98%) and OAR doses (max/mean), were evaluated and compared for each patient under worst case scenarios. Results: Dosimetrically, PBS plans provided better sparing to larynx (p = 0.005), oral cavity (p < 0.001) and contralateral parotid (p = 0.004) when compared to VMAT. CTV D98% variations were higher from SE than from RU for proton plans (-1.1% ± 1.3 % vs -0.4% ± 0.7% for nodal CTV and -1.4% ± 1.2 vs -0.4% ± 0.5% % for boost CTV). Overall, the magnitudes of variation of CTV D98% to combined SE and RU were found to be similar to the impact of the SE on the VMAT plans (-1.6% ± 1.9% vs -1.7% ± 1.4% for nodal CTV and -1.9% ± 1.6% vs -1.3% ± 1.5% for boost CTV). Compared to VMAT, a larger range of relative dose deviations were found for OARs in proton plans, but safe doses were maintained for cord (41.8 ± 3.6 Gy for PBS and 41.7 ± 3.9 Gy for VMAT) and brainstem (35.2 ± 8.4 Gy for PBS and 36.2 ± 5.1 Gy for VMAT) in worst case scenarios. Conclusions: Compared to VMAT, proton plans containing three SFUD fields with superior-inferior gradient dose matching had improved sparing to larynx, contralateral parotid and oral cavity, while providing similar robustness of target coverage. Evaluation of OAR dose robustness showed higher sensitivities to uncertainties for proton plans, but safe dose levels were maintained for cord and brainstem.

Pencil Beam Grid Antenna Array for Hyperthermia Breast Cancer Treatment System

In this paper, efficient, high gain and pencil beam grid antenna array is proposed for hyperthermia breast cancer therapy system. The proposed antenna bandwidth extends from 4.8 GHz to 4.9 GHz at resonant frequency of 4.86 GHz. This frequency band has been reported for the breast cancer hyperthermia therapy. The grid long and short sides are responsible for the undesired cross-polarized radiation and desired copolarized radiation, respectively. The unsuitability of the conventional grid antenna array is ensured by investigating its radiation properties. The proposed grid antenna array short side width is varied and its long side width is kept wide as possible to enhance the radiation properties and to reduce the losses. Also, a reflector has been used for gain enhancement purpose. The proposed grid antenna array achieves side lobe level and 3 dB beam width of —27.9 dB and 25.9° for the E-plane and —27.9 dB and 26.3° for the H-plane, respectively. The breast phantom is irradiated by both proposed and conventional grid antenna arrays for 10 minutes. The proposed grid antenna array achieves 8°C temperature increase within the breast phantom area compared to 2°C temperature increase for conventional one. The proposed grid antenna array is highly efficient, high gain and light weight, and it has a very suitable radiation property for hyperthermia breast cancer therapy.

Photon Dose Calculation Method Based on Monte Carlo Finite-Size Pencil Beam Model in Accurate Radiotherapy

This study mainly focused on the key technologies,the photon dose calculation based on the Monte Carlo Finite-Size Pencil Beam(MCFSPB)model in the Accurate Radiotherapy System(ARTS).In the MCFSPB model,the acquisition of pencil beam kernel is one of the most important technologies.In this study,by analyzing the demerits of the clinical pencil beam dose calculation methods,a new pencil beam kernel model was developed based on the Monte Carlo(MC)simulation and the technology of medical accelerator energy spectrum reconstruction.which greatly improved the accuracy of calculated result.According to the axial symmetry principle,only part of simulation results was used for the data of pencil beam kernel,which greatly reduced the data quantity of the pencil beam and reduced calculated time.Based on the above studies,the MCFSPB method was designed and implemented by the Visual C++development tool.With several tests including the comparisons among the American Association of Physicists in Medicine(AAPM)No.55 Report sample and the ion chamber measurement of lung-simulating inhomogeneous phantom in clinical treatment plan,the results showed that the maximum error of most calculated point was less than 0.5%in the homogeneous phantom and less than 3%in the heterogeneous phantom.This method met the clinical criteria,and would be expected to be used as a fast and accurate dose engine for clinic TPS.

Comparison of pencil beam and Monte Carlo calculations with ion chamber array measurements for patient-specific quality assurance

Objective:To determine under what conditions and criteria comparisons between calculations made with the current clinical treatment planning system(Syngo)and an in-house built TPS(TIMPS)would allow skipping of in-beam portal-specific measurements.Methods:Measurements were made with an array of 24 ion chambers in a water phantom for 227 proton and 313 carbon ion portals with and without a range shifter(RS).These measurements were compared with calculations performed with Syngo and TIMPS using metrics of average dose difference and Gamma index.Results:For proton portals without RS,if a Gamma comparison between TIMPS and Syngo passed using criteria of 90%of tested points being within 3%and 3 mm,then 74%of measurements would agree with both TIMPS and Syngo.For proton portals with RS,more than 80%of measurements would agree with both calculations using the same criteria.For carbon ion portals without RS,if a Gamma evaluation between TIMPS and Syngo passed with criteria of 90%of tested points being within 2%and 2 mm,85%of measurements would agree with both cal-culations.For carbon ion portals with RS,if a Gamma evaluation between TIMPS and Syngo passed with criteria of 90%of tested points being within 3%and 3 mm,60%of measurements would agree with both calculations.Conclusions:Both the pencil beam algorithm in Syngo and the FDC algorithm in TIMPS can provide accurate dose calculations in water for most clinical portals.For about 75%of portals,physicists can perform comparisons of calculations instead of phantom measurements to verify Syngo calculations thereby saving a large amount of beam time.There are some portals,however,such as for low-energy protons without RS and high-energy carbon ions,where agreement between the two calculations and measurements are not yet satisfactory to allow the elimination of all measurements.

锥形闪烁体探测器在笔形束扫描式质子放疗系统质控中的应用

笔形束扫描式(Pencil Beam Scanning,PBS)质子系统使得质子调强技术得到了广泛的应用。该技术能更好地实现对危及器官的保护,但也给质子系统的质控带来了更大的挑战。为提高质控效率,评估了XRV-124锥形闪烁体探测器在PBS系统质控中的应用可行性。该探测器实现了单次摆位同时完成对束斑大小的测量、束流影像中心一致性的验证、Star-shot测试以及机械性能的检测等质控工作。对XRV-124探测器各项测量数据的结果进行了详细分析并与传统质控方法进行了对比,结果显示其在满足质控需求的同时,将质控时间缩短了2/3。该方法已成功应用于合肥离子医学中心Varian ProBeam质子放疗系统质控中,表明XRV-124探测器可广泛应用于国内同类型质子放疗系统,提升质控效率,降低频繁摆位引入的人为误差。

笔形束质子放疗系统质控中束斑大小测量方法对比研究

目的 研究对比笔形束质子放疗系统质控中束斑大小的测量方法。方法 使用Matrixx One二维平面电离室矩阵、Lynx-PT平面闪烁体探测器及XRV-124锥形闪烁体探测器-三种不同种类、不同形状的探测器对质子放疗系统中不同能量的质子束斑大小进行测量,并将测量结果与加速器验收时束斑大小结果进行对比。结果 Matrixx One的束斑大小测量结果与验收结果相比偏差较大,其中230 MeV时的最大偏差达到41.25%。而Lynx-PT和XRV-124的束斑测量结果与验收结果相比,最大偏差分别为-7.35%和3.69%,Lynx-PT测量结果相较于验收结果系统性偏小。结论 Lynx-PT和XRV-124均适用于质子放疗系统束斑大小的测量,Matrixx One适用于束斑尺寸较大的质子放疗系统,相较于Lynx-PT和Matrixx One, XRV-124在旋转治疗室单能单点束斑尺寸测量中更有优势。

PBS质子治疗系统快速日检QA方案的应用研究

目的:通过分析IBA Sphinx Compact设备在迈胜紧凑型笔形束扫描质子治疗系统上的日检QA测量结果,评价该方案在质子治疗中的临床应用价值。方法:采用Sphinx Compact设备对迈胜S250i质子治疗系统进行连续30 d的日检QA测量,分析测量结果。结果:30 d内摆位激光灯与影像中心平均偏差为(0.42±0.27)mm;高能和低能笔形束的近端及远端深度误差均在0.50 mm以内;测量的所有光斑位置偏差不超过1.00 mm,尺寸偏差不超过7.5%;影像中心与射束中心偏差不超过0.75 mm;矩形射野平坦度相对偏差在0.5%左右;方野输出剂量偏差在1.0%以内。结论:Sphinx Compact设备能准确并快速测量AAPM TG-224号报告推荐的质子系统日检QA项目,提供实用且高效的解决方案,具有很好的临床实用价值。

国内首台迈胜PBS质子治疗系统的束流特性分析

目的:介绍并讨论国内第一台迈胜S250i紧凑型笔形束扫描质子治疗系统的束流特性。方法:利用平行板电离室测量输出剂量;利用大半径布拉格峰电离室测量从最高能量227 MeV下降到28 MeV共19档能量下的积分深度剂量,以表征质子束特性;利用Phoenix平板探测器测量射束中心轴上空气束斑曲线,并测量多点束斑验证输出位置精度;测量自适应多叶光栅叶间泄漏和半影减少效果,以表征其性能。结果:该质子系统被校准为最高能量为227 MeV,(10×10)cm^(2)均匀方野在水下5 cm深度处输出剂量为1 Gy。该系统能够将质子束射程调制到患者体表,原始布拉格峰在所有能量下具有恒定的80%-80%宽度8.6 mm。最高能量射束在空气中等中心处的束斑尺寸约为4 mm,束斑投射位置精度在1 mm以内。自适应多叶光栅对最高能量射束的叶间漏率小于1.5%,并能显著减小射野半影。结论:迈胜S250i质子治疗系统具有独特的设计和束流特性,在布拉格峰形状、束斑大小随能量的变化以及自适应光栅的半影锐化效应上均有体现,在TPS建模和计划设计时需要考虑这些差异,以执行精准质子治疗。

高电流密度实心电子束均匀磁场聚焦电子枪的设计

针对W波段小型化扩展互作用器件对电子枪及其对电子束的需求,设计了采用均匀磁场聚焦的高电流密度实心电子束电子枪。首先考虑现阶段阴极发射能力和扩展互作用器件对电子束的需求下完成了静电电子枪的设计;在此基础上,将电子枪分为静电聚焦区、过渡区和均匀磁场区三个部分,通过理论计算得出了理想的均匀聚焦磁场分布。在此基础上建立了高电流密度实心电子束均匀磁场聚焦电子枪的三维粒子仿真模型,工作电压为17 kV,阴极发射电流为19.3 A/cm2的条件下得到了压缩比为33,束电流为668 mA,平均束半径为0.182 mm,平均束电流密度为642.4 A/cm2的高电流密度实心电子束。仿真结果表明,该电子束在半径为0.25 mm的电子通道内的流通率达到了100%,理论计算和三维粒子仿真的结果符合得很好。

用解卷积方法提取笔射束核的实现

本研究论述了在三维放疗计划的剂量计算中,如何用解卷积方法从测量的宽平行射束离轴比数据中提取笔射束卷积核,并且用这个核重建其它尺寸射野的射束分布,与实际测量的相同尺寸射野的射束分布进行比较,取得了较好的一致性,从而为进一步的实际应用奠定了理论基础。

PBC算法与AAA算法在肺癌调强放疗中的剂量学比较

目的:分析、比较笔形束卷积算法(PBC)和各向异性解析算法(AAA)在非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)调强放疗计划设计中的剂量学差异。方法:随机选择7例NSCLC患者,采用Eclipse version 7.3.10计划系统提供的PBC算法和AAA算法对每例NSCLC进行IMRT的计划设计,比较靶区及危及器官的剂量分布、DVH等指标。结果:两种算法获得治疗计划的靶区剂量均匀性和适形度均无明显差别,食管、心脏、脊髓等危及器官的受量也基本相同。结论:对于NSCLC,剂量计算应采用受呼吸时相影响更小的AAA算法。

小野条件下肺介质中光子剂量算法的比较研究

目的评估用于放疗剂量计算的笔形束(PB)算法、卷积叠加(CS)算法在小野条件下肺介质中的计算精度。方法建立一包含肺介质的水模体,分别用PB算法、CS算法和蒙特卡罗(MC)模拟计算1 cm×1 cm到7 cm×7 cm射野条件下该模体中的深度剂量和离轴比,并以MC模拟为标准比较深度剂量和离轴比曲线的扩展半影(自定义为10%￣90%等剂量线之间的宽度)。结果 CS算法和MC模拟的深度剂量一致性很好,在射野大于3 cm×3 cm时,差异在2%以内。PB算法高估了深度剂量,射野越小越明显;CS算法和MC计算的离轴比是一致的,均呈发散状,且射野越大越发散,而PB算法相对内收,且随射野变化不明显。结论 CS算法在肺介质中的计算精度很高,笔形束算法计算精度一般,在射野很小的情况下要慎用。

基于蒙特卡罗方法对光子束剂量沉积核的研究

用蒙特卡罗的程序BEAMnrc模拟西门子加速器6 MV光子束,由BEAMdp子程序分析得到不同射野的能谱分布和平均能量,并建立相应模拟源(能谱源与单能源),由DOSXYZnrc子程序使用模拟源笔形束,在标准水模体中计算最大剂量深度处的剂量沉积核,以比较不同源对剂量沉积的影响。结果表明,不同射野下获得的能谱源对剂量沉积的差异较小,最大百分剂量差1.47%;使用平均能量的单能源剂量差别较大,最大达6.28%。而对于利用同一射野下能谱源和单能源计算的剂量核进行比较,最大百分剂量差在9%以上,甚至达到13.2%。由此可见,剂量沉积核具有光子能量依赖性,由于加速器产生的光子束是具有能谱分布的,只利用某一单能源来进行剂量计算会造成较大的误差,使用能谱源计算剂量沉积核会更为准确。

笔形束剂量算法中物理学参数的计算

高能电子束具有有限的射程,因而可以有效地避免靶区后深部组织的照射,在治疗体表肿瘤和体内浅部肿瘤方面,具有不可替代的作用.研究了基于Hogstrom笔形束电子剂量计算算法中的物理学参数计算问题,分析了物理学参数的基本原理,并根据实际的临床条件,讨论了物理学参数的计算方法.实验结果表明,Hogstrom算法能够有效地解决电子束的剂量计算问题.

AAA算法和PBC算法在食管癌调强放疗中的验证评估

目的比较食管癌调强放疗各向异性分析算法(anisotropic analytical algorithm,AAA)与光子笔形束卷积算法(pencil beam convolution,PBC)的剂量学差异。方法应用瓦里安Eclipse 8.6治疗计划系统,对9例食管癌患者设计5野逆向调强计划,分别应用AAA算法和PBC算法计算,并应用COMPASS剂量验证系统进行验证。应用剂量体积直方图比较靶区、肺、心脏和脊髓照射剂量和体积的差异。结果 AAA算法GTV、PTV、双肺、心脏的γ通过率高于PBC算法,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。GTV Dmean、V100%、HI及PTV的HI,AAA算法均优于PBC算法,差异均有统计学意义。2种算法双肺各指标间比较差异有统计学意义,但AAA算法的差异较小。心脏Dmean、V30、V402种算法差异值相近(P>0.05)。2种算法脊髓D01计划值均高于测量值[(1.56±0.25)%、(4.48±1.13)%]。结论食管癌调强放疗中AAA算法比PBC算法更准确。

Lynx-2D在质子点扫描系统中的运用

束斑的位置及其特性的快速测量,是质子笔型束扫描系统调试与质检中的关键问题。本文主要介绍了比利时IBA公司商用Lynx-2D在国内首台质子放疗示范装置点扫描系统中的使用情况。在点扫描照射系统调试中,Lynx-2D最主要的功能就是获得束斑信息,相比胶片其在线测量的优势极大提高测量效率。由于Lynx-2D自身软件无法对测量所得数据分析和获取照射束斑的位置信息,我们基于MATLAB开发了相应的分析工具,分别采用高斯分布拟合法和灰度重心法定义照射图像束斑的位置点,并测试了两种方法的有效性。

高功率激光系统鬼光束光控制技术研究

通过理论计算与实验研究,详细分析了鬼光束(ghost beam)的传输与变换规律。研究了高功率激光系统中鬼光束聚焦形成的鬼点(ghost image)的位置与规避方法,在某高功率激光装置预放大系统中通过角度倾斜与透镜迎光面的选择等措施,成功避开了鬼点对各种光学元件带来的损伤,同时融合了笔形光束与反激光的控制技术,提高了系统输出信噪比,获得了稳定可靠的系统输出特性。