penMesh-Monte Carlo Radiation Transport Simulation in a Triangle Mesh Geometry

• Published in: IEEE transactions on medical imaging Vol. 28; no. 12; pp. 1894 - 1901
• Main Authors: Badal, A., Kyprianou, I., Diem Phuc Banh, Badano, A., Sempau, J.
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.12.2009; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Aplicacions de la informàtica; Aplicacions informàtiques a la física i l‘enginyeria; Ciències de la salut; Computational modeling; Computer Simulation; Computer-aided design; Design automation; Diagnostic Imaging; Diagnòstic per la imatge; Finite Element Analysis; Geometry; Humans; Imaging phantoms; Informàtica; Medical simulation; Medicina; Models, Biological; Monte Carlo; Monte Carlo Method; Monte Carlo, Mètode de; NCAT; PENELOPE; penMesh; Phantoms, Imaging; Physics; Radiation Dosage; Radiografia mèdica; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Ray tracing; Scattering, Radiation; Shape; Software; Software Validation; Solid modeling; triangle mesh; Whole Body Imaging - instrumentation; Whole Body Imaging - methods; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
• ISSN: 0278-0062; 1558-254X
• DOI: 10.1109/TMI.2009.2021615

We have developed a general-purpose Monte Carlo simulation code, called penMesh , that combines the accuracy of the radiation transport physics subroutines from PENELOPE and the flexibility of a geometry based on triangle meshes. While the geometric models implemented in most general-purpose codes-such as PENELOPE's quadric geometry-impose some limitations in the shape of the objects that can be simulated, triangle meshes can be used to describe any free-form (arbitrary) object. Triangle meshes are extensively used in computer-aided design and computer graphics. We took advantage of the sophisticated tools already developed in these fields, such as an octree structure and an efficient ray-triangle intersection algorithm, to significantly accelerate the triangle mesh ray-tracing. A detailed description of the new simulation code and its ray-tracing algorithm is provided in this paper. Furthermore, we show how it can be readily used in medical imaging applications thanks to the detailed anatomical phantoms already available. In particular, we present a whole body radiography simulation using a triangulated version of the anthropomorphic NCAT phantom. An example simulation of scatter fraction measurements using a standardized abdomen and lumbar spine phantom, and a benchmark of the triangle mesh and quadric geometries in the ray-tracing of a mathematical breast model, are also presented to show some of the capabilities of penMesh.