Design and characterization of an economical 192Ir hemi-brain small animal irradiator. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grams, Michael P.; Wilson, Zachary C.; Sio, Terence T.; Beltran, Chris J.; Tryggestad, Erik J.; Gupta, Shiv K.; Blackwell, Charles R.; McCollough, Kevin P.; Sarkaria, Jann N.; Furutani, Keith M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of radiation biology. Volume 90:Number 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 936
• Page End: 942
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Radiation -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Radiobiology -- Periodicals; 571.45
• DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2014.922719
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-3002

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Purpose</italic>: To describe the design and dosimetric characterization of a simple and economical small animal irradiator.</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods</italic>: A high dose rate (HDR) ¹⁹²Ir brachytherapy source from a commercially available afterloader was used with a 1.3 cm thick tungsten collimator to provide sharp beam penumbra suitable for hemi-brain irradiation of mice. The unit was equipped with continuous gas anesthesia to allow robust animal immobilization. Dosimetric characterization of the device was performed with Gafchromic film measurements.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The tungsten collimator provided a sharp penumbra suitable for hemi-brain irradiation, and dose rates on the order of 200 cGy/minute were achieved. The sharpness of the penumbra attainable with this device compares favorably to those measured experimentally for 6 MV photons, and 6 and 20 MeV electron beams from a linear accelerator, and was comparable to those measured for a 300 kVp orthovoltage beam and a Monte Carlo simulated 90 MeV proton beam.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: Due to its simplicity and low cost, the apparatus described is an attractive alternative for small animal irradiation experiments requiring steep dose gradients.</p> </abstract>