Tests of an electron monitor for routine quality control measurements of electron energies

Evaluation of the depth-ratio and backscattering-factor methods in quality control measurements of electron beam energies

Sensitivities of two different methods for evaluating electron beam energy have been investigated. One of them uses the ratio of ionization at two depths corresponding to two different points on the depth curve of ionization. The other one uses the magnitude of backscattering by lead as a measure of the electron beam energy. The depth-ratio method was found to be sensitive and practical for a routine quality control program. The sensitivity of the backscattering effect was found to be insufficient for electron energies higher than 12 MeV.

A design study for a spiral staircase ionization chamber for the quality control of electron beams

In order to verify that the energies of electron beams used for external beam therapy remain constant, IPEM 81 recommends a constancy check based on the ratio of ionization chamber measurements at two depths along the central axis. Such measurements for a range of electron energies can be a time consuming process. The purpose of this study was to design a device that would use several ion chambers simultaneously to measure electron depth dose curves, and hence the electron energy. A design was developed for a device consisting of ten independent ionization chambers, shaped and arranged in a solid phantom like the steps of a spiral staircase, the axis of the staircase being coincident with the axis of the electron beam. Measurements were carried out to test the design of individual chambers and to optimize the radius of the spiral and both the depth intervals and the lateral spacing between adjacent chambers. For ranges of electron energy from 6-12 MeV and 12-20 MeV the radii of the spirals needed were found to be 36.5 mm and 30.9 mm, the angular separations between edges of the chambers were 52 degrees and 30 degrees and chamber depths were found to be 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 mm and 20, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 mm, respectively.

An automated procedure for the quality assurance of electron beam output and energy

In this article, we report on the development of a simple and accurate method for quality assurance of electron beam output and energy. Aluminum disks of thicknesses d(max) or d50 of the particular electron energy are positioned sequentially over a parallel-plate ion chamber and the ratio of the two signals is compared to the standard. The positioning of the aluminum disks is carried out remotely and automatically to eliminate the necessity of multiple setups. One method utilizes the remote control feature of the treatment couch and another employs a motor-driven carousel. The superior sensitivity over a commercially available energy monitor is illustrated.

Electron energy constancy verification using a double-wedge phantom

Routine constancy checks of electron energy are often time consuming because of the necessity to measure a dose at two depths. A technique is described that uses a double-wedge shaped phantom positioned on a Profiler diode array for measuring an electron energy constancy metric similar to R(50). The double-wedge electron profiles are invariant to phantom alignment in the wedge direction, unlike single wedge techniques, and the sensitivity of the technique is similar to water-based depth-dose measurements over an energy range of 6 to 20 MeV. Reproducibility results ranging from 0.01 to 0.03 cm were achieved for measurements taken over the course of 1.5 yrs. The technique is efficient in that only one phantom setup is required for all electron energies.

Stability of electron-beam energy monitor for quality assurance of the electron-beam energy from radiotherapy accelerators

Information on electron energy is important in planning radiation therapy using electrons. The Geske 3405 electron beam energy monitor (Geske monitor, PTW Nuclear Associates, Carle Place, NY, USA) is a device containing nine ionization chambers for checking the energy of the electron beams produced by radiotherapy accelerators. We wondered whether this might increase the likelihood of ionization chamber trouble. In spite of the importance of the stability of such a quality assurance (QA) device, there are no reports on the stability of values measured with a Geske monitor. The purpose of this paper was therefore to describe the stability of a Geske monitor. It was found that the largest coefficient of variation (CV) of the Geske monitor measurements was approximately 0.96% over a 21-week period. In conclusion, the stability of Geske monitor measurements of the energy of electron beams from a linear accelerator was excellent.

Detecting electron beam energy shifts with a commercially available energy monitor

Routine electron beam quality assurance requires an accurate, yet practical, method of energy characterization. Subtle shifts in beam energy may be produced by the linac bending magnet assembly, and the sensitivity of a commercially available electron beam energy-monitoring device for monitoring these small energy drifts has been evaluated. The device shows an 11% change in signal for a 2 mm change in the I50 energy parameter for low energy electron beams (in the vicinity of 6 MeV) and a 2.5% change in signal for a 2 mm change in the I50 energy parameter for high energy electron beams (in the vicinity of 22 MeV). Thus the device is capable of detecting small energy shifts resulting from bending magnet drift for all clinically relevant electron beams.