An electronic portal imaging device for transit dosimetry

Abstract

An electronic portal imaging device has been designed and constructed. It consists of an array of 128 CsI scintillation crystals coupled to photodiodes which is scanned across the field in 4 seconds. The linac is operated at a dose rate of 400 cGy min-1 and the dose delivered for image acquisition is approximately 27 cGy. The data acquisition controller is a stand-alone STE computer located within the scan arm. Sample images are presented showing contrast and spatial resolution of the system together with a humanoid phantom image and a clinical image of a breast cancer patient. The phantom images show the detector has a contrast resolution of 0.3% (at 15 mm diameter) and a spatial resolution of 2.5-3.2 mm. Images of uniform Perspex blocks have also been calibrated for thickness, indicating the system can measure radiological thickness to an accuracy of 2-3 mm of water. These results indicate the detector may be used for transit dosimetry applications including compensator design.