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PIN Diodes for Radiation Therapy Use: Their Construction, Characterization, and Implementation

P Jursinic1*, (1) West Michigan Cancer Center, Kalamazoo, MI

Presentations

(Sunday, 7/14/2019)  

Room: ePoster Forums

Purpose: Development and implementation of a diode measurement system that can measure dose on the surface of a patient, which can be compared to dose calculated by a treatment planning system. Measurements are to be possible for static photon and electrons beams and rotational IMRT photon beams. Calibration and use procedures are to be devised that require a minimum set of correction factors.

Methods: Readily available PIN type photodiodes are fabricated into devices that can be used for detection of ionizing radiation. Single PIN diodes and dual PIN diodes are soldered onto flexible shielded cables for static and rotational irradiation use. Diode signals are measured with an electrometer with zero input bias voltage. Diode temperature is determined by operating it as a thermistor. Photon and electron radiation from a clinical accelerator is measured on the surface of the patient or under a bolus if one is used. A commercial treatment planning system is used for calculating dose expected in various test geometries.

Results: The scanning and surface diodes have an intrinsic buildup of 0.3 mm water equivalence and the IMRT a buildup of 1.5 mm. Correction factors are determined for changes in diode sensitivity with the following factors: dose-per-pulse, dose rate, angle of radiation incidence, temperature, and field size. Methods of measurement are described that have correction factors that are not applied since they are <0.5% The surface or IMRT diode detectors agree within 1.0% with Eclipse calculations.

Conclusion: Clinically useable dose detection devices can be fabricated from PIN type photodiodes. These diodes can be used to measure dose at the surface of a patient or under bolus. Correction factors are unnecessary if a surface or IMRT type device is chosen for use with static orthogonal or rotational IMRT delivered beams, respectively.

Keywords

Diodes, In Vivo Dosimetry

Taxonomy

TH- Radiation dose measurement devices: diodes/solid state

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