Evaluation of lower detection limit and performance analyses related to the incident angle of X-rays and absolute dose using a triple-type dosimeter

Abstract

When using a wearable active-type dosimeter for real-time dosimetry during X-ray fluoroscopic procedures, medical staff should be aware of the potential for an inaccurate exposure dose due to the large angular dependence. To address this issue, our research group has proposed a triple-type active dosimeter. With this device, the incident angle of scattered X-rays can be determined based on the signal difference between two dosimeters placed side-by-side, in which the wedge filters on the entrance windows are arranged symmetrically. In addition, the absolute dose can be determined from the central dosimeter with angular dependence correction. Although the concept of using wedge filters was proven in a previous study, the wedge filter materials have not been sufficiently studied. In this study, therefore, we sought to determine which of several materials was best suited as a wedge filter material for medical applications: aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), or copper (Cu). We analyzed the performance of dosimeters with the different wedge filter materials in terms of estimation accuracy and lower detection limit. Using a clinical fluoroscopic system with a tube voltage of 80 kV, the scattered X-rays generated from an elliptical cylinder water phantom were measured while varying the incident direction of the X-rays from −50° to +50° in 10-degree intervals. The experimental results showed that the incident angles were properly determined when using the Ti filter, but the estimation accuracy was slightly lower when using the Al and Cu filters. The accuracy of absolute dose was evaluated from the standard deviation of the absolute dose data between −50° and +50°. As a result, the accuracies when using the Al, Ti, and Cu filters were 3.6%, 3.9%, and 5.9%, respectively. The lower detection limit when using the Cu filter showed a significantly higher value (0.50 μSv/s), but that with the Ti filter was reasonable (0.07 μSv/s). Based on these experimental evaluations, we concluded that the Ti filter would be suitable for use in a triple-type dosimeter. Finally, we investigated the expected dose rates of scattered X-rays in various interventional radiology (IVR) procedures described in the literature and determined that our dosimeter could be used for actual dose measurement.