• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.1016-1023
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• 2022

In proton therapy, a highly conformal proton dose can be delivered to the tumor by means of the steep distal dose penumbra at the end of the beam range. The proton beam range, however, is highly sensitive to range uncertainty, which makes accurately locating the proton range in the patient difficult. In-vivo range verification is a method to manage range uncertainty, one of the promising techniques being prompt gamma imaging (PGI). In earlier studies, we proposed gamma electron vertex imaging (GEVI), and constructed a proof-of-principle system. The system successfully demonstrated the GEVI imaging principle for therapeutic proton pencil beams without scanning, but showed some limitations under clinical conditions, particularly for pencil beam scanning proton therapy. In the present study, we upgraded the GEVI system in several aspects and tested the performance improvements such as for range-shift verification in the context of line scanning proton treatment. Specifically, the system showed better performance in obtaining accurate prompt gamma (PG) distributions in the clinical environment. Furthermore, high shift-detection sensitivity and accuracy were shown under various range-shift conditions using line scanning proton beams.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권9호
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• pp.3140-3149
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• 2023

In theory, the sharp dose falloff at the distal end of a proton beam allows for high conformal dose to the target. However, conformity has not been fully achieved in practice, primarily due to beam range uncertainty, which is approximately 4% and varies slightly across institutions. To address this issue, we developed a new range verification system prototype: a multi-slit prompt-gamma camera (MSPGC). This system features high prompt-gamma detection sensitivity, an advanced range estimation algorithm, and a precise camera positioning system. We evaluated the range measurement precision of the prototype for single spot beams with varying energies, proton quantities, and positions, as well as for spot-scanning proton beams in a simulated SSPT treatment using a phantom. Our results demonstrated high accuracy (<0.4 mm) in range measurement for the tested beam energies and positions. Measurement precision increased significantly with the number of protons, achieving 1% precision with 5 × 10⁸ protons. For spot-scanning proton beams, the prototype ensured more than 5 × 10⁸ protons per spot with a 7 mm or larger spot aggregation, achieving 1% range measurement precision. Based on these findings, we anticipate that the clinical application of the new prototype will reduce range uncertainty (currently approximately 4%) to 1% or less.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.144-148
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• 2017

When a high density metallic implant is placed in the path of the proton beam, spatial heterogeneity can be caused due to artifacts in three dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) scans. These artifacts result in range uncertainty in dose calculation in treatment planning system (TPS). And this uncertainty may cause significant underdosing to the target volume or overdosing to normal tissue beyond the target. In clinical cases, metal implants must be placed in the beam path in order to preserve organ at risk (OARs) and increase target coverage for tumors. So we should introduce Ti-mesh. In this paper, we measured the lateral dose profile for proton beam using an EBT3 film to confirm dosimetric impact of Ti-mesh when the Ti-mesh plate was placed in the proton beam pathway. The effect of Ti-mesh on the proton beam was investigated by comparing the lateral dose profile calculated from TPS with the film-measured value under the same conditions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권9호
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• pp.3422-3428
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• 2022

The prompt gamma imaging (PGI) technique is considered as one of the most promising approaches to estimate the range of proton beam in the patient and unlock the full potential of proton therapy. In the PGI technique, a dedicated algorithm is required to estimate the range of the proton beam from the prompt gamma (PG) distribution acquired by a PGI system. In the present study, a new range estimation algorithm was developed for a multi-slit prompt-gamma camera, one of PGI systems, to estimate the range of proton beam with high accuracy. The performance of the developed algorithm was evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations for various beam/phantom combinations. Our results generally show that the developed algorithm is very robust, showing very high accuracy and precision for all the cases considered in the present study. The range estimation accuracy of the developed algorithm was 0.5-1.7 mm, which is approximately 1% of beam range, for 1×10⁹ protons. Even for the typical number of protons for a spot (1×10⁸), the range estimation accuracy of the developed algorithm was 2.1-4.6 mm and smaller than the range uncertainties and typical safety margin, while that of the existing algorithm was 2.5-9.6 mm.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.80-87
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• 2022

Purpose: Proton therapy has different relative biological effectiveness (RBE) compared with X-ray treatment, which is the standard in radiation therapy, and the fixed RBE value of 1.1 is widely used. However, RBE depends on a charged particle's linear energy transfer (LET); therefore, measuring LET is important. We have developed a LET measurement method using the inefficiency characteristic of an EBT3 film on a proton beam's Bragg peak (BP) region. Methods: A Gafchromic EBT3 film was used to measure the proton beam LET. It measured the dose at a 10-cm pristine BP proton beam in water to determine the quenching factor of the EBT3 film as a reference beam condition. Monte Carlo (MC) calculations of dose-averaged LET (LET_d) were used to determine the quenching factor and validation. The dose-averaged LETs at the 12-, 16-, and 20-cm pristine BP proton beam in water were calculated with the quenching factor. Results: Using the passive scattering proton beam nozzle of the National Cancer Center in Korea, the LET_d was measured for each beam range. The quenching factor was determined to be 26.15 with 0.3% uncertainty under the reference beam condition. The dose-averaged LETs were measured for each test beam condition. Conclusions: We developed a method for measuring the proton beam LET using an EBT3 film. This study showed that the magnitude of the quenching effect can be estimated using only one beam range, and the quenching factor determined under the reference condition can be applied to any therapeutic proton beam range.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.112-119
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• 2019

Purpose: The advantages of ocular proton therapy are that it spares the optic nerve and delivers the minimal dose to normal surrounding tissues. In this study, it developed a solid eye phantom that enabled us to perform quality assurance (QA) to verify the dose and beam range for passive single scattering proton therapy using a single phantom. For this purpose, a new solid eye phantom with a polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) wedge was developed using film dosimetry and an ionization chamber. Methods: The typical beam shape used for eye treatment is approximately 3 cm in diameter and the beam range is below 5 cm. Since proton therapy has a problem with beam range uncertainty due to differences in the stopping power of normal tissue, bone, air, etc, the beam range should be confirmed before treatment. A film can be placed on the slope of the phantom to evaluate the Spread-out Bragg Peak based on the water equivalent thickness value of PMMA on the film. In addition, an ionization chamber (Pin-point, PTW 31014) can be inserted into a hole in the phantom to measure the absolute dose. Results: The eye phantom was used for independent patient-specific QA. The differences in the output and beam range between the measurement and the planned treatment were less than 1.5% and 0.1 cm, respectively. Conclusions: An eye phantom was developed and the performance was successfully validated. The phantom can be employed to verify the output and beam range for ocular proton therapy.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.207-213
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• 2023

전산화단층촬영(computed tomography, CT) 영상은 양성자 브레그 피크 위치 추정 및 치료 계획 시뮬레이션의 기초로 사용된다. Hounsfield Unit(HU) 기반의 양성자 저지능비(stopping pwer ratio, SPR) 예측 과정에서 환자의 밀도와 원소 구성의 작은 차이로 양성자 빔의 경로를 따라 브레그 피크 위치의 불확실성이 발생한다. 본 연구에서는 브레그 피크 위치 예측 불확실성 감소를 위하여 이중에너지 전산화단층촬영 영상 기반의 양성자 저지능비 예측 정확도의 잠재력을 연구를 하였다. 양성자 빔의 저지능비를 추정하기 위해 전산화단층촬영 시스템(Somatom Definition AS, Siemens Health Care, Forchheim, Germany)을 이용하여 전자밀도팬텀(CIRS Model 062M electron density phantom, CIRS Inc., Norfolk, VA, USA)의 단일에너지 및 이중에너지 영상을 획득하였다. 이를 검증하기 위해 미국 국립 표준기술 연구소(National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST)에서 제공하는 표준 데이터를 통하여 추정한 실제 저지능비와 비교하였다. 그 결과 잡음이 제거된 이중에너지 영상 기반 방법을 통한 양성자 빔의 저지능비 예측에서 정확도 개선 가능성을 확인할 수 있었으며, 인체의 다양한 밀도와 원소 구성을 가진 대체물을 더욱 다양하게 제작하여 저지능비를 예측 할 경우 더욱 향상된 양성자의 브레그 피크 위치 예측이 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국자기공명학회논문지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 2017

The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and atomic magnetic resonance (AMR) plays a fundamental role in achieving a high accuracy of magnetic field measurements. Magnetic field unit (T) was realized based on the shielded proton gyromagnetic ratio (${\gamma}^{\prime}_P$), helium-4 gyromagnetic ratio (${\gamma}_{4He}$) and related techniques. The magnetic field standard system has been disseminated by the NMR magnetometer and electromagnet, a Helmholtz coil system, and AMR magnetometer in the nonmagnetic laboratory. A magnetic field standard below 1 mT has been developed by using Cs and Cs- $^4He$ AMR with automatic compensation of an external magnetic field noise. The standards serve for the calibration of magnetometers and support the test of sensors and materials in the range from $5{\mu}T$ to 2.0 T with (1 to 50) ${\mu}T/T$ uncertainty (k=2).

• 전자공학회논문지SC
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.172-180
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• 2003

본 연구에서는 자기공명영상(MRI)에서 수소 원자핵의 공명주파수(PRF) 방법을 기반으로 인체 종아리 근육 외부의 열원에 의해 근육 내부로 열원이 전달되는 과정을 비침습적으로 관찰하는 방법을 제시한다. 열전달과정을 온도 변화로 측정하였는데 온도 영상의 안정성 및 보정 실험은 phantom을 이용하였고 온도의 변화는 phantom과 인체 모두에서 측정하였다. Phantom 실험은 agarose gel을 중탕하여 약 50℃까지 가열시킨 후 1시간의 냉각과정 동안 매 3분마다 데이터를 획득하였다. 인체 실험에서는 지원자의 종아리(the calf)에 hot pack을 이용하여 열을 전달하였다. Hot pack을 발열시키기 전에 기준 데이터를 1번 획득하고, 발열시킨 후부터 매 2분마다 30분 동안 데이터를 획득하였다. 획득된 영상 데이터는 위상차 영상으로 재구성된 다음 각 ROI에서의 평균 위상차를 관측하였다. 온도를 34.2∼50.2℃의 범위에서 변화시켰을 때 phantom의 위상차는 온도 변화에 대해 선형적으로 변하였다. 이 범위에서 측정된 온도의 해상도는 0.0457 radian/℃(0.0038 ppm/℃)였다. 인체 실험에서는 각 영상에서 hot pack과 가까운 위치의 평균 위상차가 hot pack과 먼 위치의 평균 위상차보다 작은 값을 나타냈다 이를 통해 같은 영상 단면에서도 열원(heat source)과의 거리에 따라서 온도 변화가 다르게 나타나는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 본 연구를 통해 PRF방법을 이용하여 MRI에서도 비침습적으로 인체 내부의 열전달과정을 관측하였고 이로서 온열치료 시 MRI가 임상적 이용 가능성이 있음을 확인하였다.