A MOSFET-Based Method for Measuring Peak Kilovoltage (kVp) in Diagnostic X-Ray Beams

Abstract

Peak kilovoltage (kVp) is an X-ray tube parameter that can influence the radiograph image quality and therefore, if the kVp is different from the nominal value, it can provide an unnecessary radiation dose to the patient if the examination has to be repeated. Therefore, some radiation protection institutions and health organizations (ICRP, IAEA) make recommendations to monitor kVp in medical diagnostic X-ray equipment in clinics and hospitals. There are some methods for measuring kVp in diagnostic X-ray beams, and the most common is the well-known two-sensor method, which uses two filters to attenuate the radiation beam, and it is based on the measurement of each identical sensor. The purpose of this article is to present a method for non-invasive measurement of kVp in medical diagnostic X-ray beams using the MOSFET device. Actually, MOSFET is well known as a detector for ionizing radiation dosimetry mainly in radiotherapy beams. Recently, MOSFET has also been used as dosimeter in diagnostic X-ray beams. In this work it will be shown a kVp measurement technique with MOSFET, which does not use the attenuation factor of the radiation filters, but instead takes advantage of the effect of the device package itself, known as the buildup cap effect. The results show that even with damage to the device exposed to radiation, MOSFET can be used as sensor for kVp measurement.