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Abstract
Objective. Proton computed tomography (pCT) offers a potential route to reducing range uncertainties for proton therapy treatment planning, however the current trend towards high current spot scanning treatment systems leads to high proton fluxes which are challenging for existing systems. Here we demonstrate a novel approach to energy reconstruction, referred to as ‘de-averaging’, which allows individual proton energies to be recovered using only a measurement of their integrated energy without the need for spatial information from the calorimeter.
Approach. The method is evaluated in the context of the Optimising Proton Therapy through Imaging (OPTIma) system which uses a simple, relatively inexpensive, scintillator-based calorimeter that reports only the integrated energy deposited by all protons within a cyclotron period, alongside a silicon strip based tracking system capable of reconstructing individual protons in a high flux environment. GEANT4 simulations have been performed to examine the performance of such a system at a modern commercial cyclotron facility using a σ ≈ 10 mm beam for currents in the range 10–50 pA at the nozzle.
Main results. Apart from low-density lung tissue, a discrepancy of less than 1% on the Relative Stopping Power is found for all other considered tissues when embedded within a 150 mm spherical Perspex phantom in the 10–30 pA current range, and for some tissues even up to 50 pA.
Significance. By removing the need for the calorimeter system to provide spatial information, it is hoped that the de-averaging approach can facilitate clinically relevant, cost effective and less complex calorimeter systems for performing high current pCTs.
Approach. The method is evaluated in the context of the Optimising Proton Therapy through Imaging (OPTIma) system which uses a simple, relatively inexpensive, scintillator-based calorimeter that reports only the integrated energy deposited by all protons within a cyclotron period, alongside a silicon strip based tracking system capable of reconstructing individual protons in a high flux environment. GEANT4 simulations have been performed to examine the performance of such a system at a modern commercial cyclotron facility using a σ ≈ 10 mm beam for currents in the range 10–50 pA at the nozzle.
Main results. Apart from low-density lung tissue, a discrepancy of less than 1% on the Relative Stopping Power is found for all other considered tissues when embedded within a 150 mm spherical Perspex phantom in the 10–30 pA current range, and for some tissues even up to 50 pA.
Significance. By removing the need for the calorimeter system to provide spatial information, it is hoped that the de-averaging approach can facilitate clinically relevant, cost effective and less complex calorimeter systems for performing high current pCTs.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 055034 |
Journal | Physics in Medicine & Biology |
Volume | 69 |
Issue number | 5 |
Early online date | 29 Feb 2024 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 7 Mar 2024 |
Bibliographical note
This work was supported by EPSRC Grant No. EP/R023220/1.Most of the computations described in this paper were performed using the University of Birmingham's BlueBEAR HPC service, which provides a High Performance Computing service to the University's research community. See https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/bear for more details. Some of the calculations were also performed on the cluster of the School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Lincoln.
Keywords
- medical imaging
- calorimetery
- hadron therapy
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Dive into the research topics of 'OPTIma: simplifying calorimetry for proton computed tomography in high proton flux environments'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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OPTIMA: Optimising proton therapy through imaging
Allport, P. (Researcher) & Price, T. (Principal Investigator)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council
1/05/18 → 30/11/24
Project: Research Councils