Seeing radiation: Applications of an imaging survey meter in radiation oncology
Abstract
Background and purpose: Radiation shielding surveys require location and evaluation of radiation hotspots in shielding barriers. This process is normally done by using a conventional survey meter and slowly moving the survey meter manually across the face of the barrier. It would be advantageous to have a radiation image of the barrier showing hot spots. This would hasten the process, potentially reveal hidden hot spots and provide clear and unprecedented documentation for a variety of radiation sources, including HDR afterloaders, linacs, Gamma Knife and CT simulators. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new survey instrument that can superimpose radiation "heat" maps on optical images, allowing the user to "see" the radiation distribution.
Methods: A new survey instrument, the RAVIN (manufactured by M3D, Inc. Ann Arbor MI) has been evaluated for potential use in shielding surveys of linac vaults, HDR suites, Gamma Knife, CT simulators, and the search for lost radioactive seeds. This instrument also provides a NIST traceable calibrated measurement of the exposure rate or the air-kerma rate. In addition, the instrument can show the spectrum of the measured radiation and can identify a wide range of commonly used isotopes. Comparisons have been made with conventional survey meters.
Results: Heat maps have been acquired for the open door of a linac vault, linac head activation, an HDR afterloader, a Gamma Knife, the entrance to a CT simulator and an I-125 seed. The…
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