On-line radiotherapy imaging with an array of fiber-optic image reducers

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 1477 - 1484
• Main Authors: Wong, John W., Binns, W.Robert, Cheng, Abel Y., Geer, Lewis Y., Epstein, John W., Klarmann, Joseph, Purdy, James A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.06.1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fiber Optic Technology - instrumentation; Humans; Medical sciences; Models, Anatomic; Models, Structural; On-line portal imaging; Online Systems; Optical Fibers; Radiotherapy - instrumentation; Radiotherapy - methods; Radiotherapy treatment verification; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Software Validation; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments. Material. Instrumentation; Tongue Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Radiotherapy treatment verification; On-line portal imaging; Dose repartition; Human; Image processing; Biophysics; Image; Radiotherapy; Design; Reduction; Radiobiology; Quality control; Computerized processing; Medical imagery; Apparatus; Dosimetry; Technique; Treatment planning; Test object; Optical fiber; Biomedical engineering
• ISSN: 0360-3016; 1879-355X
• DOI: 10.1016/0360-3016(90)90324-D

In the optical approach for on-line radiotherapy imaging, a large metal sheet-fluorescent screen combination is used to convert the radiation intensity distribution into a visible light image. Data are then captured via a mirror with a camera located out of the beam. Although usable portal images can be acquired, presence of the large mirror renders the system impractical in many treatment geometries. We have overcome this limitation by replacing the mirror with an array of 16 by 16 bundles of plastic fiber-optic image reducers. Each bundle, in turn, is made up of 16 by 16 individual optical fibers. The total of 256 by 256 fibers spans an input area of 40 cm by 40 cm with each individual fiber viewing an area of 1.6 mm by 1.6 mm. Within a height of 12 cm, each fiber is reduced to an area of 0.1 mm by 0.1 mm. The reduced portal image is then turned and “piped” d to a final 3.0 cm by 3.0 cm output area. For data acquisition and digitization, the fiber output is directly coupled to the sensor of a TV camera interfaced to a small computer via a 512 by 512 frame grabber. In this initial evaluation, the imaging system has been characterized in terms of its line spread function, noise and resistance to radiation damage. Adequate phantom and patient images are presented.