Method and apparatus for measuring radiation dose distribution
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring a radiation dose distribution at points disposed about a radiation source positioned in a tissue-equivalent volume, comprising:
- a container defining an interior region for holding a tissue equivalent fluid medium,radiation measuring means disposed in said interior region for measuring radiation incident along a sensing axis,source positioning means for selectively positioning the radiation source within said interior region,sensor positioning means for selectively positioning said radiation measuring means within said interior region,control means for controlling said sensor positioning means and said source positioning means and to relatively position said radiation source with respect to said radiation measuring means wherein said sensing axis is directed substantially at said source at predetermined orientations about said source.
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Abstract
A phantom apparatus for measuring the radiation dose distribution produced by a brachytherapy device used to treat a localized area with radiation. The brachytherapy device includes an insertable probe capable of producing predefined radiation dose geometries about a predefined point. The phantom apparatus includes a tank containing a medium having a radiological equivalent characteristic of the localized area to be treated. The phantom apparatus also includes a radiation sensor for measuring the radiation dose and a positioning system for moving the probe with respect to the radiation sensor. The radiation sensor is also coupled to a positioning system to orient the sensor for optimal dose measurements. The phantom apparatus includes a control system that coordinates the movements of the probe and the radiation sensor to avoid a collision. The control system moves the probe along a predefined path around radiation sensor and records the dose at predefined points along the path. In order to reduce the settling time of the sensor, the path is selected to coincide with the isodose contours of the radiation dose distribution of the probe.
76 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring a radiation dose distribution at points disposed about a radiation source positioned in a tissue-equivalent volume, comprising:
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a container defining an interior region for holding a tissue equivalent fluid medium, radiation measuring means disposed in said interior region for measuring radiation incident along a sensing axis, source positioning means for selectively positioning the radiation source within said interior region, sensor positioning means for selectively positioning said radiation measuring means within said interior region, control means for controlling said sensor positioning means and said source positioning means and to relatively position said radiation source with respect to said radiation measuring means wherein said sensing axis is directed substantially at said source at predetermined orientations about said source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of measuring the radiation dose distribution of a radiation source used to apply a predefined dose of radiation to a target area, said radiation source including means for producing predefined radiation dose distribution geometries with respect to a predefined location in said target area, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) positioning a radiation measuring device and said radiation source in a medium having a radiological equivalent characteristic of said target area, B) moving said radiation source with respect to said radiation measuring device along a predefined path from a first predefined position to at least one other predefined position C) recording the radiation dose at each of said predefined positions, and D) producing a representation of the radiation dose distribution about said radiation source. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification