Development of a digital detection system for linear accelerator installation and quality control measurements.

摘要

Linear accelerators used for the treatment of cancer are subject to rigorous testing during installation and ongoing quality control measurements, involving accurate, precise mechanical alignment and characterization of the radiation beam generated. The aim of this project is to develop a system capable of detecting visible light and high energy x-rays with one digital imaging device, enabling an investigator to gather data quickly, and allow for efficient and objective analysis. We found that the overall precision for the radiation-light field agreement test was on the order of 0.5mm, comparable to or better than current methods. We measured the amount by which the collimator assembly drifted during rotation to a precision of one to two tenths of a millimetre, and we measured the separation between the laser crosshair and the centre of the radiation field with similar precision, again comparable to or better than current methods.