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H C Mota

Publications and source records attributed to H C Mota.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

(HP)Ge Measurement of spectra for diagnostic X-ray beams.

The X-ray spectra applied in diagnostic radiology to the energy range between 50 and 125 kVp, were experimentally determined using a high-purity germanium detector, (HP)Ge, coupled to a multichannel analyser. A simple stripping procedure was implemented, according to that described by Seelentag and Panzer, to correct the pulse height distribution and then to determine the photon spectra. The measurements were performed for those conditions where the X-ray beam is transmitted through Pb filters 0.2-0.7 mm thick. It was necessary to estimate the effective dose in the same way that it is done for radiology diagnosis room shielding projects. The spectra were also determined to the X-ray qualities recommended by the IEC for primary diagnostic X-ray and for X-ray beams attenuated by aluminium filters 2.5-42.5 mm thick. The spectra obtained were compared with data derived from the literature presenting good agreement.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1991

Influence of detector size in photon beam profile measurements.

Correction is necessary to account for the detector size in clinical dosimetry of photon and electron beams. This correction is due to the absorbed dose gradient present in a finite-size detector. Further corrections are necessary when the detector and phantom materials are not the same. These corrections are due to the perturbation in the charged-particle fluence. Generally these corrections are applied to measurements along the central axis of the beam. Cross beam profile measurements, however, are not usually corrected for detector size. The ionization profile is also usually assumed to be equivalent to the absorbed dose profile. We have corrected the ionization chamber size effect by two approaches: extrapolation of measurements to zero detector size and deconvolution of measurements using a simple model for the detector response function. We have measured absorbed dose profiles to water using a small water-equivalent plastic scintillation detector. Film profile measurements were also studied. The ionization profile corrected for detector size and absorbed dose profile were not equal, probably due to loss of charged-particle equilibrium in the beam edges. For ionization chamber measurements, knowledge of the charged-particle spectrum is needed to convert ionization to absorbed dose to water. This is not necessary for relative absorbed dose measurements under charged-particle equilibrium. Film has been shown to be a straightforward and reliable method for cross beam profile measurements.

Film Dosimetry↗
PubMed1990

Influence of hip prostheses on high energy photon dose distributions.

Radiotherapy treatment of patients having a hip prosthesis is a common problem facing dosimetrists and physicists when the treatment plan requires irradiation of the pelvic area. To quantify the perturbation of these devices, attenuation studies were done with 6 and 18 MV photon beams using various hip prostheses models with varying size and composition. These studies have shown that an attenuation of as much as 50% can be found in a single beam profile under the prosthesis. We have studied the capability of a dose planning system to predict the transmission of these devices as compared with measurements.

Alloys↗
PubMed1988

Posterior spinal cord block: a dosimetric study.

To determine the optimal width of a midline posterior spinal block (MPSB) (to avoid delivering too great a dose to the cord and too small a dose to adjacent tissue), the authors determined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging normal ranges of cord depth and width and correlated them with film dosimetric data. In 59 randomly selected patients there was a wide range for both depth and width. The average depths of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cord were 6.7 cm +/- 1.4 and 5.4 cm +/- 1.3, respectively. The average cord width was 1.6 cm +/- 0.4. Optimal cord block width as a function of cord width was determined for a 6-MV photon beam. The optimal cord block width at the surface (half-value layer [HVL] thickness = 6) varied from 1.5 to 3.0 cm for cord widths of 0.8-2.4 cm, which correspond to two standard deviations from the average. There was no significant dependence on depth of the cord. For optimal treatment outcome, the MPSB width may have to be determined for each patient individually.

Film Dosimetry↗
PubMed1982

[Short term hospitalization, with permanent presence of parents, in emergency pediatric situations].

In our experience it is possible to consider short-length stays in many pediatric emergency situations. Parental company of the child during short-length hospitalisations is useful and necessary, and not only well tolerated but even desired by the health staff. Acute gastroenteritis is a typical example of a medical routine situation where a short-length stay yields benefits. Of 57 patients with severe dehydration, 54 (94.7%) were able to return home within 48 h after admission. The evolution after returning home of 55 other patients, where the dehydration rate was not taken into account, was very satisfactory in 85.4% of them following only dietary guidance. Permanent parental presence at the side of the child alters the classical activity of an emergency department, and stimulates the health staff to think about new ideas.

Acute Disease↗