MINIATURE FIBEROPTIC IN VIVO RADIATION DOSIMETER

ACCURATE DETERMINATION OF ABSORBED DOSE DURING RADIATION THERAPY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN INSURING THAT THE MAXIMUM RADIATION DOSE IS DELIVERED TO A CANCEROUS REGION WITH MINIMUM DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING TISSUE, AT PRESENT, THE DOSE IS DETERMINED THEORETICALLY AND VERIFIED USING THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSIMETERS (TLDS). HOWEVER, USE OF TLDS ONLY PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT ABSORBED DOSE AFTER THE PATIENT HAS BEEN IRRADIATED. IDEALLY, IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE TO HAVE AN IN VIVO DOSIMETER THAT IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING REAL-TIME DOSE-RATE INFORMATIONALLOWING FOR ONLINE DOSE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RADIOTHERAPY. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, QUANTEX CORPORATION WILL EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF FABRICATING MINIATURE RADIATION SENSOR PROBES USING ITS PATENTED STORAGE PHOSPHOR MATERIALS. THESE MATERIALS CAN BE ATTACHED TO THE END OF A THIN OPTICALFIBER TO PRODUCE A MINIATURE SENSOR SUITABLE FOR REAL-TIME IN VIVO RADIATION DOSIMETRY.