Kiyomitsu Shinsho

Two-dimensional “transXend” detector for third-generation energy-resolved computed tomography

The “transXend” detector measures X-rays as electric currents and provides the energy distribution of the measured X-rays after analysis. Capabilities of material distinction, effective atomic number measurement, and low-dose exposure computed tomography (CT) with high K-edge contrast agent from the use of the transXend detector in energy-resolved CT have been demonstrated via the first-generation CT measurements. For application of the principle of the transXend detector to the third-generation CT for human subjects in future work, a method for fabrication of a two-dimensional transXend detector is proposed and demonstrated using a commercial two-dimensional detector and two kinds of strip absorbers. The energy-resolved CT is performed by placing a proposed absorber system in front of a two-dimensional detector, which is used for conventional current measurement CT.

X-ray imaging using the thermoluminescent properties of commercial Al2O3 ceramic plates

This research demonstrated that commercially available alumina is well-suited for use in large area X-ray detectors. We discovered a new radiation imaging device that has a high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, large imaging area, repeatable results, and low operating costs. The high thermoluminescent (TL) properties of Al2O3 ceramic plates make them useful for X-ray imaging devices.

Absorbed dose estimation using LET dependence in glow curve of thermoluminescent phosphor Li3B7O12:Cu in therapeutic carbon beams

ABSTRACT A high temperature ratio (HTR) method has been proposed to correct the linear energy transfer (LET) dependence of thermoluminescent (TL) efficiency. To realize the use of the slab-type thermoluminescence detector (TLD) that based on the phosphor Li3B7O12:Cu for heavy charged particle beam, the HTR method has been considered. To improve the reproducibility of HTR, the slow heating rate method is introduced in this report and the coefficient variations of HTR decreased from 10%–20% to 8%. The relation between TL-efficiency, HTR, and LET for Li3B7O12:Cu was manifested and the TL-efficiency as a function of HTR was derived in an attempt to measure the absorbed dose without LET information. The feasibility of the HTR method in therapeutic carbon beams was evaluated by comparing the dose estimated by Li3B7O12:Cu and by an ionization chamber. The accuracy of dose estimation in carbon beams was improved by using the HTR method, but there is room for further improvement. The use of Li3B7O12:Cu in heavy charged particle beams can be materialized with further improvement of HTR sensitivity.

Thermoluminescent responses of Li3B7O12:Cu to proton beam

A thermoluminescent (TL) phosphor Li3B7O12:Cu was irradiated by a proton beam at NIRS-HIMAC in Japan. Irradiation was performed at different water-equivalent depths using range shifters made of polymethyl methacrylate. The thermoluminescent responses of Li3B7O12:Cu were analysed, focusing on the TL efficiency and glow curve. The irradiated samples were heated from room temperature to 200°C at 0.16°C s(-1). The high-temperature area of the glow curve under proton irradiation changed in comparison with that under (60)Co gamma-ray irradiation. The relative TL efficiency of the main peak slightly varied between 0.8 and 1.1. The relationship between the relative TL efficiency of the main peak and the high-temperature area ratio (HTR) value, the relative TL ratio of the main peak to the high-temperature area, showed approximate linearity for proton dosimetry. Using correction based on the HTR method, the TL phosphor Li3B7O12:Cu can become a useful dosimetric tool for therapeutic proton beams.

Evaluation of base materials of TL slab dosimeter for heavy-ion radiotherapy

In order to measure a three-dimensional dose distribution in X-ray radiotherapy, we developed TL slab dosimeter with new TL phosphor Li3B7O12(Cu), which has Zeff = 7.42 and a density of 1.01 g/cm3 and synthetic resin as binder [ 1]. We can measure a three-dimensional dose distribution easily and reliably using this detector. This detector showed a promising tool for QA/QC in advanced X-ray radiotherapies such as IMRT, etc. In heavy-ion radiotherapies which shape precipitous dose distributions, it is also necessary to measure three-dimensional dose distribution easily. To use TL slab dosimeter in heavy-ion dosimetry, it is essential to measure its LET dependence sufficiently. And it is necessary to evaluate the dosimetric water equivalence of this dosimeter for heavy ions. Previous studies showed that the relative TL efficiency of this TL phosphor decreased to ∼20% at the Bragg-peak of carbon 290 MeV/u beams and the stopping-power ratio of this dosimeter to water for carbon ions was 0.87 [ 2]. These results were not good for application in heavy-ion radiotherapy. It was often reported that there is a relationship between the glow curve shape of general TLDs (such as LiF and BeO) and LET. Using this relationship of glow curve and LET, the relative TL efficiency can be corrected and we could apply TLDs to dose measurement in heavy-ion radiotherapies. In this study, in order to develop better TL slab dosimeter for heavy-ion radiotherapy using TL phosphors with the above characteristics, we evaluated the dosimetric water equivalence of several base materials for TL slab dosimeter. We chose several kinds of ceramics with heating resistance as the base material; ISOPLATON E3, P1, M2, A98 S1 and Machinable Ceramics, TBS N64, N66, N1, N3 (ISOLITE Co., Ltd). We focused attention on stopping power, scattering power and nuclear cross-section of these materials for heavy ions. We calculated these interactions using the Bethe formula, the Gottschalk formula and the Sihver formula. Figure 1 shows the result of theoretical calculation of the water-equivalence ratio, stopping power ratio S/Sw, scattering power ratio T/Tw and nuclear cross-section ratio σ/σw for carbon-ion beam. In these ceramics, ISOPLANTON S1 was the best of base material for TL slab dosimeter for carbon-ion beam. On the basis of this evaluation, we will develop the TL slab dosimeter for heavy-ion radiotherapy. Fig. 1. Water-equivalence ratio of the base materials for TL slab dosimeter.