PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Particle Accelerators”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

Metallic dust collectors for low velocity impacts.

Experiments simulating the non-destructive collection of cosmic dust are conducted at the laboratory of the Lehrstuhl fur Raumfahrttechnik (LRT) of the Technische Universitat Munchen (TUM). The electromagnetic accelerator setup is described, which is capable of obtaining an impact velocity between 10 and 400 m/s with particle masses up to 1 g. The evaluation method of the ratio of collected to impacting particles is given. Various metallic surface structures were tested with respect to their collection efficiency using different types of particles from 1 to 500 micrometers in size for simulation of cosmic dust. The simulation results are presented with emphasis on collection mechanisms. Particular influences on the collection mechanisms are discussed.

Aluminum↗

Energy spectra, angular spread, fluence profiles and dose distributions of 6 and 18 MV photon beams: results of monte carlo simulations for a varian 2100EX accelerator.

The purpose of this study is to provide detailed characteristics of incident photon beams for different field sizes and beam energies. This information is critical to the future development of accurate treatment planning systems. It also enhances our knowledge of radiotherapy photon beams. The EGS4 Monte Carlo code, BEAM, has been used to simulate 6 and 18 MV photon beams from a Varian Clinac-2100EX accelerator. A simulated realistic beam is stored in a phase space data file, which contains details of each particle's complete history including where it has been and where it has interacted. The phase space files are analysed to obtain energy spectra, angular distribution, fluence profile and mean energy profiles at the phantom surface for particles separated according to their charge and history. The accuracy of a simulated beam is validated by the excellent agreement between the Monte Carlo calculated and measured dose distributions. Measured depth-dose curves are obtained from depth-ionization curves by accounting for newly introduced chamber fluence corrections and the stopping-power ratios for realistic beams. The study presents calculated depth-dose components from different particles as well as calculated surface dose and contribution from different particles to surface dose across the field. It is shown that the increase of surface dose with the increase of the field size is mainly due to the increase of incident contaminant charged particles. At 6 MV, the incident charged particles contribute 7% to 21% of maximum dose at the surface when the field size increases from 10 x 10 to 40 x 40 cm2. At 18 MV, their contributions are up to 11% and 29% of maximum dose at the surface for 10 x 10 cm2 and 40 x 40 cm2 fields respectively. However, the fluence of these incident charged particles is less than 1% of incident photon fluence in all cases.

Electrons↗

Arc technique for total-body irradiation by a 42-MV betatron.

An arc technique for total-body irradiation (TBI) has been developed using a Siemens 42-MV betatron. Dose is administered with the isocenter approximately one-third the distance from source to patient. A modified inverse-square function for a beam arcing isocentrically was derived and confirmed experimentally. Relationships between stationary and arcing beam equilibrium and depth doses have been established theoretically and experimentally. Depth doses for TBI by 42-MV beams are compared with those for 60Co and 4-MV beams. The simplicity of setup and short treatment times are comparable to setup and treatment times of 60Co and linear accelerator TBI techniques.

Humans↗

Evaluation of the Therac 6 linear accelerator for radiation therapy.

The Therac 6 is new generation of low-energy linear accelerator. It incorporates a PDP-11/05 computer for beam control, treatment-factor input, and beam shutdown in the event of failure of the system. The performance of the unit has not been hindered by computer or software malfunction, and the computer has provided an excellent means for preventive maintenance and repair. Dosimetry parameters are similar to other 6 MV x-ray beams, and comparison to 60Co therapy beams shows that this unit may be more like 60Co units in penumbra and absence of off-axis peaking than other low-energy accelerators.

Cobalt Radioisotopes↗

Vrx: a verify-record system for radiotherapy.

A system of computer programs has been created to allow the entry of radiotherapy treatment details as defined by the physician, the verification of the machine parameters at every treatment, and the recording of the entire course of treatment. Various utility programs are available to simplify the use and maintenance of the system. The majority of the code is written in FORTRAN-77, the remainder in MACRO-11. The system has been implemented on a PDP 11/60 minicomputer for use with a Mevatron linear accelerator, the implementation required minor hardware changes to the accelerator.

Computers↗

The role of osteoclast differentiation in aseptic loosening.

The major cause of orthopaedic implant loosening is thought to be accelerated osteoclastic bone resorption due to the action of cytokines produced in response to phagocytosis of implant-derived wear particles. This accelerated osteoclastic bone resorption could be due to increases in any of the following processes: recruitment of osteoclast precursors to the local microenvironment, differentiation of precursors into mature multinucleated osteoclasts. activation of mature osteoclasts, and/or survival of osteoclasts. Our studies have focused on differentiation and survival to complement work by others who have focused on recruitment of precursors and activation. Taken together, our studies and those of other investigators provide strong evidence that increased recruitment of osteoclast precursors and their subsequent differentiation play major roles in wear particle-induced osteolysis. In contrast, increased osteoclast activation and survival appear to play minor roles. These studies suggest that development of therapeutic interventions that reduce either recruitment or differentiation of osteoclast precursors would improve the performance of orthopaedic implants.

Bone Resorption↗

Development of a Monte Carlo model for the Brainlab microMLC.

Stereotactic radiosurgery with several static conformal beams shaped by a micro multileaf collimator (microMLC) is used to treat small irregularly shaped brain lesions. Our goal is to perform Monte Carlo calculations of dose distributions for certain treatment plans as a verification tool. A dedicated microMLC component module for the BEAMnrc code was developed as part of this project and was incorporated in a model of the Varian CL2300 linear accelerator 6 MV photon beam. As an initial validation of the code, the leaf geometry was visualized by tracing particles through the component module and recording their position each time a leaf boundary was crossed. The leaf dimensions were measured and the leaf material density and interleaf air gap were chosen to match the simulated leaf leakage profiles with film measurements in a solid water phantom. A comparison between Monte Carlo calculations and measurements (diode, radiographic film) was performed for square and irregularly shaped fields incident on flat and homogeneous water phantoms. Results show that Monte Carlo calculations agree with measured dose distributions to within 2% and/or 1 mm except for field size smaller than 1.2 cm diameter where agreement is within 5% due to uncertainties in measured output factors.

Algorithms↗