Dose Monitoring In Hadron Therapy Research Articles

Simultaneous neutron and gamma imaging system for real time range and dose monitoring in Hadron Therapy and nuclear security applications

GN-Vision is a novel dual γ-ray and neutron imaging system, which aims at imaging, simultaneously to the prompt gammas, the spatial origin of the slow and thermal neutron dose (<100 eV) generated during hadron therapy treatments. The proposed device can also be of interest for industrial applications as well as in nuclear security. The GN-Vision system has been designed following the technical developments of the iTED detector, an array of high efficiency Compton cameras intended for neutron-capture experiments, in which γ-ray energies span up to 5-6 MeV, similar to the energies encountered in hadron therapy. This manuscript presents the evolution of the i-TED detector towards the GN-Vision system and the first conceptual study of the simultaneous neutron and γ-ray imaging capability. Last, it reviews the status of the development and first results of the promising performance of this device for PG imaging in proton therapy, based on MC simulations.

Design of a tracking device for on-line dose monitoring in hadrontherapy

Hadrontherapy is a technique for cancer treatment that exploits ion beams (mostly protons and carbons). A critical issue is the accuracy that is achievable when monitoring the dose released by the beam to the tumor and to the surrounding tissues. We present the design of a tracking device, developed in the framework of the INSIDE project [1], capable of monitoring in real time the longitudinal profile of the dose delivered in the patient. This is possible by detecting the secondary particles produced by the interaction of the beam in the tissues. The position of the Bragg peak can be correlated to the charged particles emission point distribution measurement. The tracking device will be able to provide a fast response on the dose pattern by tracking the secondary charged fragments. The tracks are detected using 6 planes of scintillating fibers, providing the 3D coordinates of the track intersection with each plane. The fibers planes are followed by a plastic scintillator and by a small calorimeter built with a pixelated Lutetium Fine Silicate (LFS) crystal. A complete detector simulation, followed by the event reconstruction, has been performed to determine the achievable monitoring spatial resolution.

First Images of a Three-Layer Compton Telescope Prototype for Treatment Monitoring in Hadron Therapy.

A Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy is under development at IFIC. The system consists of three layers of LaBr3 crystals coupled to silicon photomultiplier arrays. 22Na sources have been successfully imaged reconstructing the data with an ML-EM code. Calibration and temperature stabilization are necessary for the prototype operation at low coincidence rates. A spatial resolution of 7.8 mm FWHM has been obtained in the first imaging tests.

Detector characterization and first coincidence tests of a Compton telescope based on LaBr3 crystals and SiPMs

A Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy consisting of several layers of continuous LaBr3 crystals coupled to silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays is under development within the ENVISION project. In order to test the possibility of employing such detectors for the telescope, a detector head consisting of a continuous 16mm×18mm×5mm LaBr3 crystal coupled to a SiPM array has been assembled and characterized, employing the SPIROC1 ASIC as readout electronics. The best energy resolution obtained at 511keV is 6.5% FWHM and the timing resolution is 3.1ns FWHM. A position determination method for continuous crystals is being tested, with promising results. In addition, the detector has been operated in time coincidence with a second detector layer, to determine the coincidence capabilities of the system. The first tests are satisfactory, and encourage the development of larger detectors that will compose the telescope prototype.

First tests in the application of silicon photomultiplier arrays to dose monitoring in hadron therapy

Abstract A detector head composed of a continuous LaBr3 crystal coupled to a silicon photomultiplier array has been mounted and tested, for its use in a Compton telescope for dose monitoring in hadron therapy. The LaBr3 crystal has 16 mm×18 mm×5 mm size, and it is surrounded with reflecting material in five faces. The SiPM array has 16 (4 ×4) elements of 3 mm×3 mm size. The SPIROC1 ASIC has been employed as readout electronics. The detector shows a linear behavior up to 1275 keV. The energy resolution obtained at 511 keV is 7% FWHM, and it varies as one over the square root of the energy up to the energies tested. The variations among the detector channels are within 12%. A preliminary measurement of the timing resolution gives 7 ns FWHM. The spatial resolution obtained with the center of gravity method is 1.2 mm FWHM. The tests performed confirm the correct functioning of the detector.