Scintillation-based optical fiber dosimeters for high dose rate and low dose rate brachytherapy

J. Van Erps*, Agnieszka Gierej, Tigran Baghdasaryan, Michael Martyn, Peter Woulfe, Owen Mc Laughlin, Kevin Prise, Geraldine Workman, Sinead O'Keeffe, Kurt Rochlitz, Sergey Verlinski, Agnese Giaz, Romualdo Santoro, Massimo Caccia, Francis Berghmans

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Scintillation-based fiber dosimeters are a powerful tool for minimally invasive localized real-time monitoring of the dose rate during Low Dose Rate (LDR) and High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT). This paper shows the design, fabrication and characterization of such dosimeters, consisting of scintillating sensor tips attached to polymer optical fiber (POF). The scintillating sensor tips consist of inorganic scintillators, dispersed in a polymer host. We present the design, fabrication and characterization of those sensor tips. The manufacturing is done by means of a custom compression and transfer moulding process implemented on a commercially available hot embossing machine. We show the manufacturing of 237 sensor tips, which are subsequently attached to the end of the POF using UV-curable adhesive. Finally, we perform dosimetry experiments in water phantoms which show a great potential for in-vivo dosimetry for brachytherapy.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOptical sensing and detection VIII
EditorsFrancis Berghmans, Ioanna Zergioti
PublisherSPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
ISBN (Electronic)9781510673175
ISBN (Print)9781510673168
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jun 2024
EventSPIE Photonics Europe 2024 - Strasbourg, France
Duration: 07 Apr 202411 Apr 2024

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE
Volume12999
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceSPIE Photonics Europe 2024
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityStrasbourg
Period07/04/202411/04/2024

Keywords

  • brachytherapy
  • compression moulding
  • inorganic scintillators
  • optical fiber sensors
  • plastic optical fiber
  • radiation sensor
  • transfer moulding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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