Calypso’s array attenuation

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-207
Author(s):  
Célia Silva ◽  
Dalila Mateus ◽  
Sandra Vieira ◽  
Milton Rodrigues ◽  
Margarida Eiras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Beam Angle ◽  
Photon Beams ◽  
Beam Path ◽  
Attenuation Effect ◽  
Ion Chamber ◽  
Flattening Filter Free ◽  
Flattening Filter ◽  
Attenuation Values

AbstractIntroductionThe Calypso 4D Localization System gives the possibility to track the tumour during treatment, with no additional ionising radiation delivered. To monitor the patient continuously an array is positioned above the patient during the treatment. We intend to study, for various gantry angles, the attenuation effect of the array for 6- and 10 MV and flattening filter free (FFF) 6- and FFF 10 MV photon beams.Materials and methodsMeasurements were performed using an ion chamber placed in a slab phantom positioned at the linac isocenter for 6 MV, 10 MV, FFF 6 MV and FFF 10 MV photon beams. Measurements were performed with and without array above the phantom for 0°, 10°, 20°, 40° and 50° beam angle for a True Beam STx linac, for 5×5 and 10×10 and 15×15 cm2 field size beams to evaluate the attenuation of the array. A VMAT treatment plan was measured using an ArcCheck with and without the array in the beam path.Results and discussionAttenuation measured values were up to 3%. Attenuation values were between 1 and 2% with the exception of the 30°–50° gantry angles which were up to 3.3%. The ratio values calculated in the ArcCheck for relative dose and absolute dose 10 were both 1·00.ConclusionAttenuation of the treatment beam by the Calypso array is within acceptable limits.

Study of unflattened photon beams shaped by multileaf collimator using BEAMnrc code

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-401
Author(s):  
Ankit kajaria ◽  
Neeraj Sharma ◽  
Shiru Sharma ◽  
Satyajit Pradhan ◽  
Abhijit Mandal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beam Line ◽  
Photon Beam ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Photon Beams ◽  
Multileaf Collimators ◽  
Depth Dose ◽  
Beamnrc Code ◽  
Flattening Filter Free ◽  
Flattening Filter ◽  
Beam Delivery

AbstractPurposeIn our study basic dosimetric properties of a flattening filter free 6 MV photon beam shaped by multileaf collimators (MLC) is examined using the Monte Carlo (MC) method.Methods and MaterialsBEAMnrc code was used to make a MC simulation model for 6 MV photon beam based on Varian Clinic 600 unique performance linac, operated with and without a flattening filter in beam line. Dosimetric features including central axis depth dose, beam profiles, photon and electron spectra were calculated and compared for flattened and unflattened cases.ResultsDosimetric field size and penumbra were found to be smaller for unflattened beam, and the decrease in field size was less for MLC shaped in comparison with jaw-shaped unflattened beam. Increase in dose rate of >2·4 times was observed for unflattened beam indicating a shorter beam delivery time for treatment. MLC leakage was found to decrease significantly when the flattening filter was removed from the beam line. The total scatter factor showed slower deviation with field sizes for unflattened beam indicating a reduced head scatter.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that improved accelerator characteristics can be achieved by removing flattening filter from beam line.

Radiotherapy couches: is kevlar an obstacle? Attenuation study of three different tabletops

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-353
Author(s):  
Célia Silva ◽  
Dalila Mateus ◽  
Sandra Vieira ◽  
Milton Rodrigues ◽  
Margarida Eiras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fibre ◽  
System Integration ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Treatment Quality ◽  
Photon Beams ◽  
Treatment Delivery ◽  
Regular Treatment ◽  
Flattening Filter Free ◽  
Ionisation Chamber ◽  
Flattening Filter

AbstractIntroductionTreatment tabletops are usually made of carbon fibre due to its high mechanical strength and rigidity, low specific density, extremely light and regularly considered radiotranslucent. Our clinic acquired a Calypso 4D Localization System where electromagnetic (EM) frequencies to detect implanted transponders in the patient are used. Carbon fibre is an electrical conductive material which interferes with EM frequencies. Therefore, in order to be able to use the Calypso System the carbon fibre tabletop in the treatment room must be replaced. It is our goal to determine the attenuation of the new, non-carbon fibre, tabletop in treatment delivery.Materials and MethodsMeasurements were performed using an ionisation chamber inserted in a slab phantom positioned at the isocenter for 6, 10 MV, 6 and 10 flattening filter free (FFF) MV photon beams. These measurements were performed with and without tabletop for 0°, 30° and 60° beam angle for a True Beam STx linac, for 5×5 cm2 and 10×10 cm2 field size beams. The attenuation was calculated for each measurement for each tabletop.ResultsAt 0° incidence on the Exact IGRT Couch, the measured attenuation for 10×10 cm2 was 2·8 and 2·1% for 6 and 10 MV beams, respectively. For the same field size was measured 3·3 and 2·6% attenuation for 6 and 10 FFF MV beams, respectively. At the same incidence and regarding the other tabletops, the calculated attenuation is lower. For 10×10 cm2 field, there is 2·0, 1·4, 2·1 and 2·6% attenuation for 6, 10 MV, 6 and 10 FFF MV energy beams on the kVueTM Universal Couch. For the KvueTM Calypso® Couch 10×10 cm2 irradiation field, the measurements were 1·6, 1·3, 1·9 and 1·5%, respectively. This tendency is observed for all gantry angles.DiscussionThe attenuation outputs were definitely higher for the Varian Exact IGRT Couch when compared with the kVue tabletops. The attenuation measurements for the kVue tabletops were closer to each other. Nevertheless kVueTM Calypso® Varian tabletop showed smaller mean attenuation of the beams than kVueTM Universal Tip Insert for all measurements.ConclusionsThere was no loss in treatment quality administration due to beam attenuation in the tabletop when tabletops were exchanged because of Calypso system integration. There is no need to change between kVue tabletops whenever there is a regular treatment or a Calypso System guided treatment.

Monte Carlo study on mucosal dose in oral and naval cavity using photon beams with small field

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C.L. Chow ◽  
Amir M. Owrangi
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Beam Energy ◽  
Field Size ◽  
Small Field ◽  
Beam Angle ◽  
Photon Beams ◽  
Dose Ratio ◽  
Dose Enhancement ◽  
Bone Interface ◽  
Energy Beam

AbstractWe study how mucosal dose in the oral or nasal cavity depends on the irradiated small segmental photon fields varying with beam energy, beam angle and mucosa thickness. Dose ratio (mucosal dose with bone underneath to dose at the same point without bone) reflecting the dose enhancement due to the bone backscatter was determined by Monte Carlo simulation (EGSnrc-based code), validated by measurements. Phase space files based on the 6 and 18 MV photon beams with small field size of 1 × 1 cm2, produced by a Varian 21 EX linear accelerator, were generated using the BEAMnrc Monte Carlo code. Mucosa phantoms (mucosa thickness = 1, 2 and 3 mm) with and without a bone under the mucosa were irradiated by photon beams with gantry angles varying from 0 to 30°. Doses along the central beam axis in the mucosa and the dose ratio were calculated with different mucosa thicknesses. For the 6 MV photon beams, the dose at the mucosa-bone interface increased by 44.9–41.7%, when the mucosa thickness increased from 1 to 3 mm for the beam angle ranging from 0 to 30°. These values were lower than those (58.8–53.6%) for the 18 MV photon beams with the same beam angle range. For both the 6 and 18 MV photon beams, depth doses in the mucosa were found to increase with an increase of the beam angle. Moreover, the dose gradient in the mucosa was greater for the 18 MV photon beams compared to the 6 MV. For the dose ratio, it was found that the dose enhancement due to the bone backscatter increased with a decrease of mucosa thickness, and was more significant at both the air-mucosa and mucosa-bone interface. Mucosal dose with bone was investigated by Monte Carlo simulations with different experimental configurations, and was found vary with the beam energy, beam angle and mucosa thickness for a small segmental photon field. The dosimetric information in this study should be considered when searching for an optimized treatment strategy to minimize the mucosal complications in the head-and-neck intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

scholarly journals Comparative investigation of beam quality index Q on flattening filter and flattening filter free 6 and 15 MV photon beams of an medical linear accelerator

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-290
Author(s):  
Michael Schaks ◽  
Johannes Zähle ◽  
Martin Janich ◽  
Patrick Hübsch ◽  
Nico Homonnay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Accelerator ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Beam Quality ◽  
Comparative Investigation ◽  
Central Axis ◽  
Photon Beams ◽  
Medical Linear Accelerator ◽  
Flattening Filter Free ◽  
Flattening Filter ◽  
Beam Quality Correction Factor

AbstractAn Elekta Synergy LINAC was used to investigate the beam quality index Q and the beam quality correction factor kQ, which is used for absolute dosimetry, in off-axis photon fields. It was found that the beam quality index Q of the photon energies with flattening filter decreases with increasing distance to the central axis, at 6 MV by 4.27% and at 15 MV by 3.98% inside a range of 15 cm off-axis. The beam quality index for flattening filter free photon fields also decreases with increasing distance to the central axis. In this case Q changed only by 1.01% inside the above range.

SU-DD-A1-03: Dosimetric Properties of Photon Beams From a Flattening Filter Free Clinical Accelerator

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (6Part2) ◽  
pp. 1896-1896 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Vassiliev ◽  
U Titt ◽  
S Kry ◽  
F Poenisch ◽  
M Gillin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photon Beams ◽  
Flattening Filter Free ◽  
Flattening Filter

TH-E-224A-06: Dosimetric Properties of 8 and 10 MV Photon Beams From a Flattening Filter Free Clinical Accelerator

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (6Part23) ◽  
pp. 2292-2292 ◽  
Author(s):  
O Vassiliev ◽  
U Titt ◽  
M Gillin ◽  
R Mohan
Keyword(s):  
Photon Beams ◽  
Flattening Filter Free ◽  
Flattening Filter
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