방사선의학 웹진

바로가기  >

Abstract
Background: C-arm fluoroscopy is a widely used imaging technique in surgical procedures, but it exposes medical personnel to ionizing radiation, increasing the need for effective radiation monitoring. Conventional dosimeters used for measuring radiation exposure have limitations, such as being difficult to integrate into real-time monitoring systems. Therefore, developing a compact, cost-effective, and efficient real-time personnel dosimeter is critical to enhance radiation safety.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a real-time personnel dosimeter based on an amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar cell integrated with scintillating materials to monitor radiation exposure during fluoroscopic procedures. The goal is to evaluate its performance and potential for use in clinical settings.

Methods: A prototype dosimeter was designed by combining an a-Si thin-film solar cell with a scintillator screen. The system was calibrated and tested using a C-arm device to evaluate energy dependency, linearity, beam current response, angular dependency, stability over time, and reproducibility across multiple devices. The dosimeter's ability to provide real-time measurements was assessed through various fluoroscopic exposures.

Results: The solar cell-based dosimeter demonstrated minimal energy dependence, with variations within 2.0%, and an excellent linear response to radiation dose, achieving an R-square value exceeding 0.9990. It exhibited stable performance over time, with good reproducibility across multiple devices. The system also showed a small angular dependency, with a decrease in signal at higher incident angles, but it remained within an acceptable range for clinical use.

Conclusion: The thin-film solar cell-based dosimeter offers a promising alternative to traditional dosimeters, providing a portable, cost-effective, and reliable system for real-time monitoring of radiation exposure. Its performance in energy dependence, stability, and reproducibility makes it suitable for use in monitoring radiation exposure for medical personnel during C-arm fluoroscopy, potentially improving radiation safety in clinical settings.

Affiliations

Seonghoon Jeong 1, Kwang Hyeon Kim 2, Hae-Won Koo 1, Se Byeong Lee 3, Byung-Jou Lee 1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, South Korea.
2Clinical Research Support Center, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, South Korea.
3Proton Therapy Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.