SU-E-T-216: Investigation of the System Performance of An Online Dose Verification Device

Abstract

Purpose: To measure the detector response function of an online dose verification device and to validate our measurement by applying the detector response to Monte Carlo (MC) derived incident fluence. Methods: A transmission detector array (IBA Dosimetry, Schwarzenbruck, Germany) was recently developed as an IMRT quality assurance tool. To understand the detector system performance for verification of IMRT fluence, the detector response function at 6MV of a single ion chamber in the detector was measured with a narrow slit collimator. The narrow slit was formed by two 24 × 72 × 152 mm3 lead blocks, which provided a slit of 0.25 × 10 mm2. The LSF of the detector was obtained by laterally translating it in 0.25 mm steps underneath the slit. Two head-and-neck IMRT fields were also measured using the device. The same fields were simulated in our BEAMnrc MC model, and the MC incident fluence was convolved with the 2D detector response to obtain calculated dose. The measured and calculated dose distributions were then quantitatively compared using chi comparison (3%/3mm) for in-field points (defined as those above 10% maximum dose). Results: The FWHM of the measured detector response for a single chamber is 4.3 mm which is comparable to the chamber diameter of 3.8 mm. For both examined IMRT fields, the Chi comparison between measured and calculated data show good agreement with 100% of in-field points below a chi of 1.0 (chi <0.6 for IMRT field 1 and <0.12 for IMRT field 2). Conclusions: The detector response function for a new novel online detector has been measured at 6 MV using a narrow slit technique. The good comparison shown between measured and calculated dose of the two IMRT fields is a validation of our response function measurement.