Development and implementation of a wireless real-time radiation monitoring system for LINAC beam delivery monitoring
Vo Hong Hai, Phuc Tri Toan Nguyen and Hieu Trung Nguyen
Science & Technology Development Journal 2024, 27():1-7
Abstract:
Introduction: In this work, we developed a wireless, remote, real-time radiation monitoring system designed to oversee beam delivery in a radiation therapy room equipped with a medical linear accelerator (LINAC).
Methods: This system utilizes a Geiger-Müller detector paired with embedded electronic hardware to accurately record radiation count rates in real-time. The data collected by this system are transmitted through LAN/WAN networks to the internet, ensuring instantaneous accessibility. In addition, a web server and mobile application were developed to display, receive, and archive the data from the radiation counter.
Results: Our system was deployed in the radiation therapy room of the Oncology Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, demonstrating a remarkable data reception rate of up to 99.8% over a three-day test period from June 27th to 29th, 2022. The system effectively identified beam-on instances and provided precise measurements of the number and duration of beam-on events.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of remote real-time radiation monitoring in medical settings and highlights the potential for enhancing radiation safety and treatment efficacy in external beam radiotherapy.
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Determining the thickness of a thin aluminum sheet using the transmission measurement of X-rays with varying energies: A comparative analysis between calibration curve fitting and artificial neural network approaches
Nguyen Thi Truc Linh, Nguyen Huynh Duy Khang, Le Thi Ngoc Trang, Huynh Dinh Chuong, Tran Thien Thanh, Huynh Truc Phuong, Hoang Duc Tam
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A
Abstract:
This study proposes an innovative configuration for thickness measurement based on X-ray transmission, intending to improve the precision of measuring thin aluminum sheets. In this configuration, an activation sample containing Zr, Sb, and Ba elements is irradiated by 59.54 keV gamma rays emitted from three 241Am radioactive sources with a total activity of 1.78 GBq. Subsequently, the activation sample emits fluorescent Xrays at energy levels of 15.78 keV (Zr-Kα1,2), 17.67 keV (Zr-Kβ1), 26.36 keV (Sb-Kα1,2), 29.73 keV (Sb-Kβ1), 32.2 keV (Ba-Kα1,2), and 36.38 keV (Ba-Kβ1). These X-rays are collimated into a narrow beam, which then penetrates through an absorbing sample, and is ultimately recorded by a Si(Li) detector. Two different approaches are investigated to determine the thickness of absorbing samples including Calibration Curve Fitting (CCF) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The CCF approach requires constructing linear calibration curves for establishing the relationship between lnR (R is the ratio of the peak areas in measurements with and without absorbing sample) and the thickness of the absorbing sample at each X-ray energy level. The sample thickness is then determined by calculating a weighted average of the measured thicknesses associated with all analyzed energy levels. This approach requires in-depth understanding of radiation physics and proficiency in X-ray spectrum analysis. Meanwhile, the ANN approach uses raw spectra obtained by the Si(Li) detector to predict the thickness of aluminum sheets, facilitating analysis without requiring human intervention. The reliability of these approaches is evaluated through experimental measurements on aluminum sheets with thicknesses ranging from 0.064 cm to 1.074 cm. The results indicate that using X-rays with many different energies leads to superior accuracy in thickness measurements compared to using X-rays with a single energy. Besides, both the CCF and ANN approaches yield relative deviations of less than 3% between the predicted and reference thicknesses. It is important to emphasize that the ANN approach represents a promising solution for automated analysis without the intervention of experts.
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Huynh Dinh Chuong, Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, Nguyen Thi My Le, Hoang Duc Tam
Applied Radiation and Isotopes Available online 29 April 2020, 109197
Abstract:
This study proposes an approach to determine the density of a liquid based on the gamma scattering method. The liquids used to determine density were poured in a cylindrical tube. This approach requires that the ratio R (the ratio of area under a single scattering peak for a liquid to that for water) increase linearly with an increase in the density of the liquid. In a certain range of density, a linear relationship was obtained between the ratio R and density, as described by a linear calibration curve with coefficients of slope and intercept, for the investigated tube diameters. In particular, the values of the slope and intercept could be expressed as mathematical functions of the diameter of the tube. For a given tube, the coefficients of slope and intercept of the linear calibration curve were obtained based on these functions, which helped determine the density of the liquid. The reliability of the proposed approach was evaluated by using it to calculate the densities of five liquids—n-hexane, diethyl ether, acetonitrile, toluene, and glycerol—using tubes with inner diameters of 1.8 cm, 2.25 cm, and 2.68 cm. The results show that the maximum relative deviation between the reference and the measured densities was 4.3%.
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Determining the appropriate ratio of fly ash as cement replacement in concrete and evaluating the radiation dose of the fly ash concrete
Lam Duy Nhat, Vu Tuan Minh, Ho Van Doanh, Le Huu Loi, Le Quang Vuong, Phan Long Ho, Tran Thien Thanh, Hoang Duc Tam
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Abstract:
This study uses fly ash (FA) as a cement replacement in concrete and evaluates the radiological safety of this concrete sample. Different fly ash mixing ratios were investigated and found that with a mixing ratio of 35%, the compressive strength of FA concrete is the highest (from 38 to 48 MPa). Next, we evaluate the radiation safety of the FA concrete by analyzing the isotopes 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K using two low background gamma spectrometers. The obtained results showed that the use of FA in concrete production is entirely feasible as it meets both construction and radiation safety-related requirements.
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Huynh Truc Phuong, Tran Pham Ngoc Trinh, Dinh Thanh Binh, Nguyen Thi Truc Linh, Truong Thi Hong Loan, Tran Tuan Anh, Ho Manh Dung, Nguyen Van Dong
Science & Technology Development Journal, 22(4):370-377
Abstract:
Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer resulting in death. Trace elements of Fe, Se and Zn can play a key role in the onset and prevention of breast cancer. Trace elements in the fingernails may be used as bioindicators for breast cancer diagnosis. The purpose of this work is to determine the concentrations of Fe, Se, and Zn in the fingernails of women with breast cancer and healthy women, which used to find the difference and correlation of these elements in the fingernail.
Methods: This research was approved by the Ethics Committee of Dong Nai General Hospital. The fingernail collected from 29 women with breast cancer and 30 healthy women, who are the same age and living in Dong Nai province, Vietnam. The concentrations of Fe, Se, and Zn in the fingernails were determined using the k0-INAA method. The analytical data were evaluated using some statistical analysis for the correlation of trace elements in the fingernails of both groups.
Results: As a result, the mean concentrations of Fe, Se and Zn in fingernails of women with breast cancer were 102.87 ug/g, 0.75 ug/g and 65.49 ug/g, respectively, while those of healthy women were 69.74 ug/g, 0.78 ug/g and 107.75 ug/g. The assessment of these elements in fingernails for both two sample groups, including t-test and correlation coefficients, was also carried out in this study. As a result, the significant difference (p < 0.05) was found for the Fe and Zn in fingernails of women with breast cancer, while those of Se was not found. The correlation between Se and Zn was found in both groups. The correlation between Fe and Zn was found in fingernails of healthy women, but it disappears in the women with breast cancer.
Conclusions: From our finding, it can be concluded that Fe and Zn significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer, while Se is not associated.
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Determination of some elements in the nails in patients with colon cancer using total reflection X-ray fluorescence
Huynh Truc Phuong, Nguyen An Son, Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha, Nguyen Thi Minh Sang, Nguyen Thi Truc Linh, Dinh Thanh Binh, Truong Thi Hong Loan, Ho Manh Dung, Tran Tuan Anh, Nguyen Van Dong
Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy 182 (2021) 106234
Abstract:
Sixty-two subjects (31 men with colon cancer) participated in this study. The analysis of elements in the nails was performed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) technique. The results showed that fifteen elements were quantifed, including the following: S, P, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, and Br. We have found that there were significant differences in the concentrations of elements Ca, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Se between normal subjects and men with colon cancer (p < 0.05). We conclude that TXRF is a technique suitable for elemental analysis in human nail samples. The concentration of elements Ca, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Se could be among the factors used for the diagnosis of colon cancer risk in men.
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