Non-invasive Gas Jet In-Vivo Profile Dosimetry for Particle Beam Therapy (JetDose)

在强子束治疗中，对束流特性的详细了解对于确保有效地向患者提供剂量是至关重要的。目前的临床设置使用截取电离室，这需要日常校准，并且响应时间较慢。随着使用超高剂量率的新的和新兴的治疗技术的出现，对快速、非侵入性和无需校准的新型束流监测器的发展有了需求。目前进行这种表征的方法需要多个系统，每个系统在粒子束通过时对其施加轻微的干扰。这种干扰可能会改变射束的预期横向剂量分布，最终造成与患者治疗计划的轻微偏差。QA方法大多是破坏性的测量，根本不允许在进行过程中进行治疗。JetDose将开发一种新的体内剂量测量系统，该系统基于对提议小组开创的技术的重新应用。支撑技术最初是为用于低能反质子束而开发的，最近被用于为欧洲核子研究中心的大型强子对撞机的高亮度升级而进行的气体喷射轮廓分析。在这个系统中，一股超音速气体喷射穿过大型强子对撞机上的高强度质子束。气体分子对质子束几乎没有影响，而质子束激发气体分子，这种激发可以成像，从而提供了完整的无创的质子束二维轮廓图像。JetDose将通过针对治疗设施中发现的不同挑战进行优化，将这项技术重新定向到医疗加速器部门。这种产生档案图像的非侵入性方法将允许监护仪在进行治疗操作的同时在线运行。由于图像中的强度直接取决于射束强度，因此，使用该系统收集的图像提供了射束传递给患者的体内剂量图。该项目的重点将是与已建立的临床和商业合作伙伴一起设计、开发和测试优化的医疗版本的系统。测试和优化将与长期的研究合作伙伴克莱特布里奇癌症中心和意大利的Fondazione CNAO密切合作进行。设计、开发和未来的商业化将与总部位于英国的加速器束诊断公司D-Beam Ltd合作进行，该公司毕业于STFC CERN BIC，最近被认定为STFC IAA的成功案例。商业化计划将与领先的OEM制造商IBA一起推进。JetDose将生产一种新的监测系统，以满足世界各地医疗机构对体内剂量测量日益增长的需求。这项技术还显示出在其他高强度、高能粒子加速器中应用的良好前景，这一更广泛的市场将作为即将开发的商业计划的一部分进行评估。

In hadron beam therapy, knowledge of the detailed beam properties is essential to ensure effective dose delivery to the patient. Clinical settings currently implement interceptive ionization chambers which require daily calibration and suffer from slow response times. With new and emerging treatment techniques using ultra high dose rates, there is a demand for the development of novel beam monitors, which are fast, non-invasive and calibration-free. Current methods to carry out this characterization require multiple systems each imparting a slight disturbance to the particle beam as it passes by. This disturbance can alter the intended transverse dose profile of the beam, ultimately creating slight deviations from a patient's treatment plan. QA methods are mostly disruptive measurements and do not allow treatment to take place at all whilst they are being conducted.JetDose will develop a new in-vivo dosimetry system based on the re-application of technologies pioneered by the proposer's group. The underpinning technology was originally developed for use with low energy antiproton beams and most recently adapted for gas jet profiling for the high luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. In this system, a supersonic gas jet is fired across the high intensity proton beam at the LHC. The gas molecules have little-to-no effect on the proton beam, however the proton beam excites the gas molecules; this excitation can be imaged, which is turn provides a complete non-invasive two-dimensional profile image of the proton beam. JetDose will redirect this technology at the medical accelerator sector, by optimizing it for the different challenges found in a treatment facility. The non-invasive means of producing a profile image will allow the monitor to be run online alongside treatment operation. As the intensity in the images directly depends upon the beam intensity, and therefore the dose, an image collected with this system provides an in-vivo dose map of the beam being delivered to the patient.The focus of the project will be the design, development, and testing of an optimized medical version of the system with established clinical and business partners. Testing and optimization will be done in close collaboration with long-standing research partners Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Fondazione CNAO in Italy. The design, development, and future commercialization will be conducted in collaboration with the UK-based accelerator beam diagnostics company D-Beam Ltd, STFC CERN BIC graduate and recently identified as an STFC IAA success story. Commercialization plans will be progressed with leading OEM manufacturer IBA. JetDose will produce a novel monitoring system which addresses the growing need for in-vivo dosimetry in medical facilities across the world. This technology also shows good promise for application at other high intensity, high energy particle accelerators and this wider market will be assessed as part of the business plan that will be developed.