Method and apparatus for measuring radiation dose distribution

Abstract

A phantom apparatus for measuring the radiation dose distribution produced by a brachytherapy device used to treat a localized area with radiation. The brachytherapy device includes an insertable probe capable of producing predefined radiation dose geometries about a predefined point. The phantom apparatus includes a tank containing a medium having a radiological equivalent characteristic of the localized area to be treated. The phantom apparatus also includes a radiation sensor for measuring the radiation dose and a positioning system for moving the probe with respect to the radiation sensor. The radiation sensor is also coupled to a positioning system to orient the sensor for optimal dose measurements. The phantom apparatus includes a control system that coordinates the movements of the probe and the radiation sensor to avoid a collision. The control system moves the probe along a predefined path around radiation sensor and records the dose at predefined points along the path. In order to reduce the settling time of the sensor, the path is selected to coincide with the isodose contours of the radiation dose distribution of the probe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.