Large-Area Plasma Panel Detectors for Particle Beam Radiation Therapy

摘要 美国能源部-国家癌症研究所关于离子束治疗的联合研讨会（2013年1月，马里兰州贝塞斯达）已经确定 一系列雄心勃勃的技术发展需要支持世界级的治疗， 离子束治疗的计划。一个重要的要求是提供检测器的能力， 以高数据速率提供单粒子配准，具有高度的均匀性和最小的 粒子束的干扰这将允许在进行质子或离子CT之前进行质子或离子CT。 治疗和治疗期间的2D质子、离子射线照相，用于综合范围验证，以及 对初级射束具有最小干扰的射束诊断。最后一次讲习班 报告称“确定阻止本领的更好方法，无论是通过质子CT还是 其它手段，将大大增加治疗的精度，特别是当1毫米 需要范围精度。这是进一步研发的一个重要领域。 我们建议开发一种新的探测器类型，等离子体面板传感器（PPS），用于质子和 离子粒子检测和成像。PPS是一种固有的数字化、高增益、新颖的 微图案气体探测器的灵感来自于许多常见的操作和制造原理， 等离子体显示面板PPS由一系列密集的小型等离子体放电气体组成， 电池在一个密封的玻璃面板，并组装从非反应性，本质上 抗辐射材料，如玻璃基板、金属电极和大部分惰性气体 混合物。 我们的方法是在第一阶段SBIR提案中实现以下具体目标： 具体目标1：测试薄玻璃PPS嵌入到 通过构建一个小型原型来实现外部封装。 具体目标2：定义带电粒子束成像和监测的规范 根据临床需要。 具体目标3：使用GEANT 4 Monte Carlo模拟评估潜在系统性能。 具体目标4：开发更高分辨率、更大面积、更薄 根据具体目标1-3所取得的成果，

Abstract A joint DOE-NCI workshop on ion beam therapy (January 2013, Bethesda, MD) has identified an ambitious set of technological developments needed to support a world-class treatment program for ion beam therapy. One important requirement is the ability to provide detectors that afford single-particle registration at high data rates with high degree of uniformity and minimal interference with the particle beam. This would allow performing proton or ion CT prior to treatment and 2D proton, ion radiography during treatment for integrated range verification, and beam diagnostics that have minimal interference with the primary beam. The final workshop report stated "A better method of determining the stopping power, be it through proton CT or other means, would greatly increase the accuracy of the treatment, particularly when 1 mm range precision is desired. This is an important area for further R&D. We propose to develop a novel detector type, the plasma panel sensor (PPS), for proton and ion particle detection and imaging. The PPS is an inherently digital, high gain, novel variant of micropattern gas detectors inspired by many operational and fabrication principles common to plasma display panels. The PPS is comprised of a dense array of small, plasma discharge, gas cells within a hermetically sealed glass panel, and is assembled from non-reactive, intrinsically radiation-hard materials such as glass substrates, metal electrodes and mostly inert gas mixtures. Our approach is to perform the following specific aims for this Phase I SBIR proposal: Specific Aim 1: Test the feasibility and mechanical stability of a thin-glass PPS embedded in an external envelope by building a small prototype. Specific Aim 2: Define specifications for imaging with and monitoring of charged particle beams based on clinical needs. Specific Aim 3: Evaluate potential system performance with GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations. Specific Aim 4: Develop design of a significantly higher resolution, larger area, thinner substrate Phase-II device based on the results achieved under Specific Aims 1-3