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Abstract

A dosimeter for an x-ray brachytherapy system permits in situ monitoring and control of radiation treatment via a miniaturized energy transducer within a human body. The dosimeter comprises a scintillating optical fiber having a distal end which is placed at the treatment site and a proximal end which is coupled to a dosimeter measurement unit. Utilizing energy supplied by an energy source, the miniaturized transducer generates x-ray photons. The scintillating optical fiber absorbs x-ray photons, converts the x-ray photons into light photons, and conveys the light photons to a dosimeter measurement unit. The light photons are converted into an electrical current which is representative of the intensity of the x-ray photons. The dosimeter measurement unit utilizes the electrical current to calculate and display the instantaneous and accumulated radiation dose, and radiation dose parameters are utilized to adjust energy levels, which are sent to the miniature energy transducer. Use of the miniaturized energy transducer in combination with the dosimeter eliminates most of the problems related to the methods based on the use of radioactive sources and offers a method for efficient, accurate, and controllable radiation treatment.

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First Claim