• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2012

In proton therapy, in vivo dose verification is one of the most important parts to fully utilize characteristics of proton dose distribution concentrating high dose with steep gradient and guarantee the patient safety. Currently, in order to image the proton dose distribution, a prompt gamma distribution detection system, which consists of an array of multiple CsI(Tl) scintillation detectors in the vertical direction, a collimator, and a multi-channel DAQ system is under development. In the present study, the optimal design of prompt gamma distribution detection system was studied by Monte Carlo simulations using the MCNPX code. For effective measurement of high-energy prompt gammas with enough imaging resolution, the dimensions of the CsI(Tl) scintillator was determined to be $6{\times}6{\times}50mm^3$. In order to maximize the detection efficiency for prompt gammas while minimizing the contribution of background gammas generated by neutron captures, the hole size and the length of the collimator were optimized as $6{\times}6mm^2$ and 150 mm, respectively. Finally, the performance of the detection system optimized in the present study was predicted by Monte Carlo simulations for a 150 MeV proton beam. Our result shows that the detection system in the optimal dimensions can effectively measure the 2D prompt gamma distribution and determine the beam range within 1 mm errors for 150 MeV proton beam.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.239-245
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• 2014

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to verify the accuracy of dose delivery according to the pitch and roll rotational setup error with 6D robotic couch in Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for pelvic region in patients. Materials and Methods : Trilogy(Varian, USA) and 6D robotic couch(ProturaTM 1.4, CIVCO, USA) were used to measure and analyze the rotational setup error of 14 patients (157 setup cases) for pelvic region. The total 157 Images(CBCT 78, Radiography 79) were used to calculate the mean value and the incidence of pitch and roll rotational setup error with Microsoft Office Excel 2007. The measured data (3 mm, 3%) at the reference angle ($0^{\circ}$) without couch rotation of pitch and roll direction was compared to the others at different pitch and roll angles ($1^{\circ}$, $1.5^{\circ}$, $2^{\circ}$, $2.5^{\circ}$) to verify the accuracy of dose delivery by using 2D array ionization chamber (I'mRT Matrixx, IBA Dosimetry, Germany) and MultiCube Phantom(IBA Dosimetry, Germany). Result from the data, gamma index was evaluated. Results : The mean values of pitch and roll rotational setup error were $0.9^{\circ}{\pm}0.7$, $0.5^{\circ}{\pm}0.6$. The maximum values of them were $2.8^{\circ}$, $2.0^{\circ}$. All of the minimum values were zero. The mean values of gamma pass rate at four different pitch angles ($1^{\circ}$, $1.5^{\circ}$, $2^{\circ}$, $2.5^{\circ}$) were 97.75%, 96.65%, 94.38% and 90.91%. The mean values of gamma pass rate at four different roll angles ($1^{\circ}$, $1.5^{\circ}$, $2^{\circ}$, $2.5^{\circ}$) were 93.68%, 93.05%, 87.77% and 84.96%. when the same angles ($1^{\circ}$, $1.5^{\circ}$, $2^{\circ}$) of pitch and roll were applied simultaneously, The mean values of each angle were 94.90%, 92.37% and 87.88%, respectively. Conclusion : As a result of this study, it was able to recognize that the accuracy of dose delivered is lowered gradually as pitch and roll increases. In order to increase the accuracy of delivered dose, therefore, it is recommended to perform IGRT or correct patient's position in the pitch and roll direction, to improve the quality of treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2006

Magnetic nondestructive testing is very useful far detecting a crack on the surface or near of the surface of the ferromagnetic materials. The distribution of the magnetic flux leakage (DMFL) on a specimen has to be obtained quantitatively to evaluate the crack. The magnetic camera is proposed to obtain the DMFL at the large lift-off. The magnetic camera consists of a magnetic source, magnetic lens, analog to digital converters (ADCs), interface, and computer. The magnetic leakage fields or the distorted magnetic fields from the object, which are concentrated on the magnetic lens, are converted to analog electrical signals tv arrayed small magnetic sensors. These analog signals are converted to digital signals by the ADCs, and are stored, imaged, and processed by the interface and computer. However the magnetic camera has limitations with respect to converting and switching speed, full range and resolution, direct memory access (DMA), temporary storage speed and volume because common ADCs were used. Improved techniques, such as those that introduce the operational amplifier (OP-Amp), amplify the signal, reduce the connection line, and use the low pass filter (LPF) to increase the signal to noise ratio are necessary. This paper proposes the exclusive embedded ADC including OP-Amp, LPF, microprocessor and DMA circuit for the magnetic camera to satisfy the conditions mentioned above.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.201-207
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• 2015

The new function of 3DVH software for dose calculation inside the patient undergoing TomoTherapy treatment by applying the measured data obtained by ArcCHECK was recently released. In this study, the dosimetric accuracy of 3DVH for the TomoTherapy DQA process was evaluated by the comparison of measured dose distribution with the dose calculated using 3DVH. The 2D diode detector array MapCHECK phantom was used for the TomoTherapy planning of virtual patient and for the measurement of the compared dose. The average pass rate of gamma evaluation between the measured dose in the MapCHECK phantom and the recalculated dose in 3DVH was $92.6{\pm}3.5%$, and the error was greater than the average pass rate, $99.0{\pm}1.2%$, in the gamma evaluation results with the dose calculated in TomoTherapy planning system. The error was also greater than that in the gamma evaluation results in the RapidArc analysis, which showed the average pass rate of $99.3{\pm}0.9%$. The evaluated accuracy of 3DVH software for TomoTherapy DQA process in this study seemed to have some uncertainty for the clinical use. It is recommended to perform a proper analysis before using the 3DVH software for dose recalculation of the patient in the TomoTherapy DQA process considering the initial application stage in clinical use.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2012

The tangential breast intensity modulated radiotherapy (T-B IMRT) technique, which uses the same tangential fields as conventional 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) plans with physical wedges, was analyzed in terms of the calculated dose distribution feature and dosimetric accuracy of beam delivery during treatment. T-B IMRT plans were prepared for 15 patients with breast cancer who were already treated with conventional 3D-CRT. The homogeneity of the dose distribution to the target volume was improved, and the dose delivered to the normal tissues and critical organs was reduced compared with that in 3D-CRT plans. Quality assurance (QA) plans with the appropriate phantoms were used to analyze the dosimetric accuracy of T-B IMRT. An ionization chamber placed at the hole of an acrylic cylindrical phantom was used for the point dose measurement, and the mean error from the calculated dose was $0.7{\pm}1.4%$. The accuracy of the dose distribution was verified with a 2D diode detector array, and the mean pass rate calculated from the gamma evaluation was $97.3{\pm}2.9%$. We confirmed the advantages of a T-B IMRT in the dose distribution and verified the dosimetric accuracy from the QA performance which should still be regarded as an important process even in the simple technique as T-B IMRT in order to maintain a good quality.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.1789-1793
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• 2008

전자파표면유속계는 홍수유속측정을 위하여 개발된 기기로 평 갈수기에는 유속측정이 불가하여 프로펠러 유속계를 이용하고 있다. 현재 보급된 전자파표면유속계는 하천의 흐름방향에 나란하게 설치하였을 때에만 유속을 측정할 수 있는 기기의 구조상의 한계성 때문에 교량이 없는 지점에서는 유속측정이 불가하여 유량산정을 할 수가 없다. 또한 편각측정이 불가능하여 기기를 각 측선마다 이동 설치하여야 하기 때문에 유속측정시 효율성 떨어진다. 이에 홍수시 유량측정의 효율성을 증대시키고 전자파표면유속계의 활용도를 높이고자 편각측정이 가능하도록 전자파표면유속계의 성능을 개선하는 것이 본 연구의 주된 목적이다. 전자파표면 유속계에서의 편각 측정은 하천의 유속방향을 기준으로 정면에서 측정하면 수평 편각이 0도가 되며 좌우로 안테나를 회전하여 움직인 각도가 측정 편각으로 결정된다. 현장에서 전자파표면유속계의 사용시 편의성을 높이고 유량측정을 효율적으로 하기 위해서는 가급적 편각을 크게 해서 측정을 해야 하지만, 편각이 증가하면 전자파의 물리적 특성 때문에 반사된 신호의 수신 크기가 감소하여 측정이 불가능하게 된다. 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위해서는 유속 측정시 전자파 출력을 기존의 시스템보다 높게 물표면에 발사하여야 하며 안테나를 포함한 RF 모듈의 수신감도 및 지향성이 개선되어야 한다. 이에 편각측정이 가능하도록 이러한 사항에 주안점을 두어 새로운 시스템을 구성하였다. 수신감도 향상을 위해서는 물표면에 반사되어 돌아오는 신호를 가장 먼저 수신하는 안테나의 특성이 중요하며 그 다음 수신용 증폭기, IF 증폭기 순으로 개선이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 안테나의 형태를 기존 파라볼릭 안테나에서 위상 배열 평면안테나로 변경하였으며, 이에 따른 이점으로는 송수신부를 분리하여 하나의 평면에 두 개의 안테나를 구성할 수 있다는 사항이다. 즉 외형적으로는 하나의 안테나로 보이지만 두 개의 안테나가 하나로 구성된 것이다. 송수신부를 분리하는 형태는 기존 파라볼릭 안테나에선 불가능한 구조로 변경에 따른 수신감도 향상은 수치적으로 10dB 이상 개선하였다. 송수신부 분리가 수신감도에 영향을 미치는 이유는 물표면으로 발사된 송신 신호의 일부가 수신단으로 유입되는 현상으로 누설되는 송신 신호를 최대한 차단하는 분리도가 수신 신호 검출에 직접적인 양향을 주기 때문에다. 평면 안테나를 적용하면 기존 파라볼릭 안테나에서 사용하던 써큘레이터라는 부품을 삭제할 수 있으며, 안테나의 구조적인 분리를 통해서 수신감도를 개선할 수 있었다. 안테나의 지향성은 발사하는 전자파의 빔폭 성능과 일치하며 각도 단위로 표시한다. 각도 값이 작을수록 전자파의 에너지가 한 곳에 집중된다고 말할 수 있다. 즉 빔폭이 크면 측정시 반사면적이 커져 정확한 지점의 유속을 측정하기 어려운 문제가 발생한다. 본 연구를 통해 빔폭은 기존 안테나 대비2도를 개선하였으며 25%의 개선 효과를 얻었다. 또한 수신감도 및 지향성 개선과 더불어 전자파의 출력을 기존 장비 대비하여 1.6배를 증가하여 편각측정을 위한 전자파표면 유속계의 성능을 개선하였다.