A 2D strip ionization chamber array with high spatiotemporal resolution for proton pencil beam scanning FLASH radiotherapy Journal Article


Authors: Yang, Y.; Shi, C.; Chen, C. C.; Tsai, P.; Kang, M.; Huang, S.; Lin, C. H.; Chang, F. X.; Chhabra, A. M.; Choi, J. I.; Tome, W. A.; Simone, C. B. 2nd; Lin, H.
Article Title: A 2D strip ionization chamber array with high spatiotemporal resolution for proton pencil beam scanning FLASH radiotherapy
Abstract: Purpose: Experimental measurements of two-dimensional (2D) dose rate distributions in proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) FLASH radiation therapy (RT) are currently lacking. In this study, we characterize a newly designed 2D strip-segmented ionization chamber array (SICA) with high spatial and temporal resolution and demonstrate its applications in a modern proton PBS delivery system at both conventional and ultrahigh dose rates. Methods: A dedicated research beamline of the Varian ProBeam system was employed to deliver a 250-MeV proton PBS beam with nozzle currents up to 215 nA. In the research and clinical beamlines, the spatial, temporal, and dosimetric performances of the SICA were characterized and compared with measurements using parallel-plate ion chambers (IBA PPC05 and PTW Advanced Markus chamber), a 2D scintillator camera (IBA Lynx), Gafchromic films (EBT-XD), and a Faraday cup. A novel reconstruction approach was proposed to enable the measurement of 2D dose and dose rate distributions using such a strip-type detector. Results: The SICA demonstrated a position accuracy of 0.12 ± 0.02 mm at a 20-kHz sampling rate (50 μs per event) and a linearity of R2 > 0.99 for both dose and dose rate with nozzle beam currents ranging from 1 to 215 nA. The 2D dose comparison to the film measurement resulted in a gamma passing rate of 99.8% (2 mm/2%). A measurement-based proton PBS 2D FLASH dose rate distribution was compared to simulation results and showed a gamma passing rate of 97.3% (2 mm/2%). Conclusions: The newly designed SICA demonstrated excellent spatial, temporal, and dosimetric performances and is well suited for commissioning, quality assurance, and a wide range of clinical applications in proton PBS clinical and FLASH-RT. © 2022 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
Keywords: scanning; radiotherapy; calibration; dosimetry; quality assurance; clinical research; dose rate; proton therapy; ionization; ionization chambers; proton beams; proton beam therapy; pencil beam scanning; pencil beam; dose rate monitoring; flash-rt; strip ionization chamber; ultrahigh dose rate; nozzles; beam-scanning; dose rate distributions; flash-radiation therapy
Journal Title: Medical Physics
Volume: 49
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0094-2405
Publisher: American Association of Physicists in Medicine  
Date Published: 2022-08-01
Start Page: 5464
End Page: 5475
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/mp.15706
PUBMED: 35593052
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 September 2022 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Charles Brian Simone
    191 Simone
  2. Jehee Isabelle Choi
    70 Choi
  3. Haibo Lin
    20 Lin