
This paper presents the design, implementation, and testing of an integrated system for improving dose homogeneity in total body irradiation (TBI). TBI is a radiation therapy technique that consists in delivering a uniform X-ray dose to the entire body of the patient. Because of variations in patient's tissues thickness and density, achieving a uniform dose over the entire body is one of the major challenges in TBI. The system proposed in this paper, whose main goal is to compensate for tissues heterogeneities, is made up of a translating bed, a linear accelerator, a vision system for body thickness assessment, a dynamically controlled water filter, and a main control unit. The water filter, placed between the X-ray source and the patient, is made up of an array of 70 small water containers (cells). The water level in each cell is controlled in real time, so as to modify the dose distribution both in the transverse direction and in the longitudinal direction. A prototype of the water filter system was implemented and tested, achieving good results in terms of dose uniformity.
water body irradiation, Water, Radiotherapy Dosage, Beds, Equipment Design, Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted, Equipment Failure Analysis, Systems Integration, total body irradiation; level control; X-ray, water compensator; water body irradiation, Body Burden, Radiometry, water compensator, Relative Biological Effectiveness, Whole-Body Irradiation
water body irradiation, Water, Radiotherapy Dosage, Beds, Equipment Design, Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted, Equipment Failure Analysis, Systems Integration, total body irradiation; level control; X-ray, water compensator; water body irradiation, Body Burden, Radiometry, water compensator, Relative Biological Effectiveness, Whole-Body Irradiation
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 5 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
