LINAC Radiosurgery & The Gamma Knife Phantoms

Spherical Phantom

Dependable Aid for Demonstrating Degree of Accuracy and System Stability

RSD’s Spherical Phantom is a reliable aid to check mechanical and domestic treatment parameters. Comes with truncated cone for TLD (or Film Dosimetry) and TLD Dosimetric Cylinder. Also includes two spare nylon assembly rods and two spare blind nylon nuts. Optional: Truncated Cone for Ion Chamber (including molding or machining to install Ion Chamber to User’s specification at the center of the sphere) and Film Dosimetric Cylinder.

Applications

• Homogenous dry water phantom with precise spherical shape, 16 cm diameter
• Displacement of maximum dose from center of sphere shows degree of accuracy and stability of the system
• Checks the dose-calculation algorithm for a homogenous sphere

Modalities

• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
• Gamma Knife
• CyberKnife
• CT
• Cone Beam CT
• Dosimetry in the Spherical Phantom

When the center of the sphere is used as the target for testing the treatment unit, it must indicate the relationship between the point of maximum dose and the target. These should closely coincide for an accurate system.

A three-dimensional dosimetry cylinder at the center of the sphere measures both the deviation of the maximum dose from the target and the gradient of the dose along the three orthogonal axes of the sphere.

The TLD dosimetric cylinder is a stack of dry-water disks of 44 mm in diameter. Seven of the disks have concentric rings of holes for TLD rods, 1 mm in diameter and 3 mm long. Disk #4 is in the central plane of the cylinder. A smaller target disk is at the center of this disk. It has a Hounsfield number of about 130 for visibility in a CT scan.

The disks are assembled tightly by two nylon rods and round, blind nuts, which locate the cylinder precisely, linearly and angularly, in both sphere and head.

The Film Dosimetric Cylinder: This is an optional cylinder, interchangeable with the TLD cylinder. It is built up of 11 film disks and 12 dry-water disks with the same nylon assembly rods and blind nuts. A simple fixture is supplied so the user can punch the film disks from film sheets.

Standard Cone: This is a dry-water cone, which fits precisely in a recess in the sphere. It accepts the dosimetric cylinder (TLD or film). It houses the dosimetric cylinder at the center of the sphere.

Optional Cone: This is molded to locate the measuring volume of an ion chamber at the center of the sphere. This cone is custom molded to suit the particular ion chamber specified by the customer.

Head Phantom for Stereotactic Surgery

Total System Quality Assurance with Verification of Treatment Accuracy

RSD’s Head Phantom for Stereotactic Surgery serves to check accuracy of treatment for quality assurance. Comes with TLD Dosimetric Cylinder and one solid piece plus the Dry Water Cylinder to fill the other cavity. Also includes two spare nylon assembly rods and two spare blind nylon nuts. Optional: Truncated Cone for Ion Chamber (including molding or machining to install Ion Chamber to User’s specification at the center of the sphere) and Film Dosimetric Cylinder.

Applications

• Total system quality assurance
• Checks the dose calculation algorithm with and without correction for tissue heterogeneities
• Measures the dose delivered to intracranial lesions

Modalities

• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
• Gamma Knife
• CyberKnife
• CT
• Cone Beam CT
• Dosimetry in the Head Phantom

Provisions are made for installation of the dosimetric cylinder at two locations in the cranium. One is on the CC axis of the head close to the apex. The other is near one side of the head at about ear level. Both cylinders are perpendicular to the transverse planes of the head.

Since the dose at only one location is to be measured at a time, the other location is filled with a dry-water cylinder with no dosimetric provisions. The target can be located uniquely by an initial CT scan.